Hey all good people!

so I have a very floating jeep xj 1990
when checking the components with wheels on the ground it all looks good. Then I hear the clunk.

I checked the steering box bolts etc and looks good, but the problem is the u-joints in the steering shaft. Both of them have around 1 mm play sideways when I move them with both hands. From what I understand there should be 0 play all directions.

could this alone be the cause for very floaty steering (wouldn’t revisit the highway for sure) , and can I compensate by tightening the hex on the steering box or is that the most stupid thing you’ve ever heard?

I guess a replacement steering shaft will be the outcome of this question, just wanted to confirm …

 

If lean more towards the steering components for a sloppy steering feel vs the shaft. There is more give in the multiple connection points between the box and the wheels to develop slop than the slight play your describing in the steering shaft joints.

There are a number of posts about the adjustment screw on top of the box, some swear by a little adjustment others have a terrible time of it. I never mess with them myself soo best of luck if you do.

 

Thanks

Yes after some further digging and checking turns out the slop is in the steering box, will test to tighten it up. I can turn the shaft maybe 10 degrees just by rocking back and forth by hand. If it’s supposed to be 0 then no wonders I’m floating around in the streets.😑

 

If you are going to adjust the box, dont do it until there is no slop. It will be too tight once you fire it up and will bind. There needs to still be a little slop. It will be trial and error.

 

Yep, that play in your steering shaft U-joints is definitely causing the floaty feeling especially at speed. Tightening the steering box hex won’t fix it; that’s just for gear lash, not sloppy U-joints. A new steering shaft (or at least rebuilding those joints) is the real fix. Worth doing before hitting the highway again.

 

Here are 1 clip showing me just moving the shaft with my hand, pitman arm not moving at all and another one with the pitman arm at work (going far with the steering wheel that is)

I don’t know but it seems like the amount of play in the steering box is alot. At slow speed the steering feels good although not responsive the first 10-15 degrees from center. I have looked over the steering box mounting brace and bolts.

what I’m wondering is how do I know if the steering box is shot? My idea is to tighten it up and see what happens and then swap out the steering shaft for one with zero slack in the U-joints.