Nester

Caster is set at -8, which is borderline red. It did help to a small degree.

xj_maniac_newb

-8 is extremely in the red. Your caster should be set AT LEAST around 2 or 3. Best is around 5-8. My jeep was set at a little below -1 for a while and it was a nightmare to drive. Set it to around 3 (best i could get it with my setup) and it drives normal now. I'd recommend you resetting your caster. Are you on stock arms on a high lift height or something? I cant imagine the caster angle being that bad. It would be undriveable.

Ianf406

Things I would try/consider...

1. Adjusting the screw on the steering box
2. http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoAlignment.htm

Is your Right Hand Drive? didnt see if you live in the states or not.

xjheep92

I just replaced my steering box and lower steering shaft. That fixed the loosness and binding issues I was having. Then I looked at my alignment sheet from the last time it was done.
it was only set to .93+ caster so I shortened my upper arms to add more caster. I only turned them in 4 turns but it Made a big difference.

xjheep92

Do you mean + 8 ? If your on stock arms there is no way it could be -8 anyway.... Stock arms/no lift its prob not a caster issue

xj_maniac_newb

He may have. Unless he's on like 6" of lift with stock arms. Which would be pretty scary.

billyonemate

Is there any play in the steering box mount bolts? Have you considered a c-rok steering box support plate ?

http://c-rok4x4.com/Products-SteeringBox.html

billyonemate

Nester i had the same issues as you.
Over the last week i have replaced Tie Rod Ends, Track Bar, Front Sway Bar Bushes, Front Shocks, Steering Damper.

My XJ now feels much tighter and has lost the looseness you describe, but i still need to do some minor correction of the steering wheel as i drive, i think that is common to all XJ's.

I am not sure which component has tightened up the handling for me, maybe a combination of all of them, but it does sound like one of the components you replaced is susspect, that or some play in a mounting.

Hope that helps

dohc91gli

I have the same loosness in my 2000. I tracked it down to the steering box needing adjustment. I'll do that this week and tell you all how it panned out.

billyonemate

In the end setting the toe in fixed mine. I took it to a shop who told me it was aligned correct. Load of crap, when I measured myself was toeing out instead of in, adjusted it and made a huge difference. Moral: Don't trust the shops, do it yourself!

BlueRidgeMark

Better yet, don't drag up zombie threads.

Cherokoolguy

Had a similar problem on mine, turned out it was just a few loose bolts in the steering components. I would at least go through with a wrench or whatnot and give all of the bolts a good turn. If that does not work, then it would be good to check/change the bushings. Hope this helps in some way

EEVEE

i replaced my track bar recently at 201k miles after a bad previous owner and tightened ALOT of the steering up and dont have to correct the steering as much as i used to before and doesnt feel like you have to hold the steering wheel from either the left or right side, alot of the death wobble went away and felt like a brand new ride but of course im gonna screw it up when i do my front end rebuild and all this other well needed parts. oh but when you replace it dont be shocked if your steering wheel isnt centered anymore just adjust the drag link its a one person job but 2 helps

4wheeldrivenewbie

I just picked up a rebuilt box and popped it in I still have some play the new box isn't perfect you might have to adjust it somewhat yourself only one problem.

Most companys tell you not to touch it or you void everything on the part so even if you take it out which is a lot of work and try to send it back the shipping will kill you.

So I'm at a crossroad should I have my box checked and adjusted correctly if needed or try and send it back and ask for a replacement keep that in mind

Marc in az

I have the exact same problem in my XJ. And NO it is not suppose to be like that. When it was new it tracked the road perfectly, no wandering a little left or a little right like it does now. But 320,000 miles later I am starting to have this problem.
To start with, I replaced the leaf springs and coils. I made it sit up higher like a new xj and putting it into 4 x4 became alot easier too. who knew. But immediately following those replacements I had death wobble. Replaced the motor mounts, trans mount and track bar and went and had it realigned. But now the steering seems loose and it pulled to the right when braking. So I replaced both rotors and calipers. still loose. I changed all the tie rods and the one that connects it to the pitman arm. Man those where loose for sure!! And now it is definitely riding alot better. but guess what. . . there is still play in the steering !!! I changed out one upper control arm (just to see how hard it was going to be) and it rides even better! but still has the steering slop. I am going to change out the other 3 control arms but I got a feeling we are narrowing it down here. Ball joints or steering box. I am leaning towards steering box because if the ball joints were worn out I think the symptoms might be different. So have you figured it out yet ?? Anyone ? I'd like to know too. At the rate I am replacing parts I am sure I am almost there. lol . . .