AllenTC2

Slowly but surely I am tackling my XJ's issues. Now I'm looking at steering.

When I turn to the left, I get 2+ rotations of the steering wheel and the Jeep makes a nice, tight turn. When I turn to the right however, I get less than 1.5 complete turns of the steering wheel and it swings wide.

Is that normal? I can't think of a reason why it'd be like that and I can't find anything in the Hayne's manual about it.

jedijeb

I don't know that much about the steering yet, but I do know there is a bolt that works as a stop on how far the knuckle can rotate, maybe that got adjusted out at some time and is preventing you to turn right as far as you should.

XJRed96

Try disconnecting the tie rod ends from the knuckles and try turning the wheel again, if its normal after that your problem is somewhere in the knuckles, if it's still the same try disconnecting the stabilizer, if it's still the same it's a good possibility that it's in the steering gear, i have seen them go bad and cause this problem on other jeep models.

XJRed96

thats assuming that this is stock suspension and stock tire sizes

AllenTC2

Well, all that stuff was a bit beyond my ability, so I took it to a service center. They say it was:

1) Steering gearbox
2) Stabilizer
3) Sway bar links

I'm also gonna need new shocks sometime in the near future. Bleh.

Thanks guys, I do appreciate the help! I'm also learning that "Jeep" really is an acronym! LOL But on the plus side, I should have a good, reliable, safe vehicle to go traipsing around Mexico/Central America with one of these days!

PocketsEmpty

They are likely wrong on at least two of those items. Swaybar endlinks have nothing to do with steering, and a stabilizer also as not much to do with how your steering is functioning. Chances are they are worn out if you're all stock, and steering gearbox is probably just a shot in the dark for them. They are not hard to replace. Steering is notoriously not 100% tight in the Cherokees. I've read a lot of reports of people who put new steering boxes in and have the same feeling.

AllenTC2

I reckon I'll find out tomorrow evening.

It is all stock, at least as far as I know. The previous owner never said anything about modding it. And it's not the "tightness" of the steering that I was having issues with. I expected it to steer "sloppy".

jedijeb

If the stabilizer was messed up and not allowing movement all the way in one direction I could see that being a problem, but not something that happens a lot. Sway bar link bushings were probably shot, with new ones you should have less lean in the curves, but they shouldnt affect the steering unless they were totally bent around and in the way of the other components.

I hope they get it working, is always fun to play with an XJ when it is working

AllenTC2

Well, that much is certainly true. The feel is MUCH improved. And I can steer properly now. They also replaced the pitman arm. Bad news is the apparently broke the clock spring while doing all that. LOL

Next up.....new shocks. Monroe Sensa-Tracs all around, with the Load Adjust version in the back.

XJRed96

rookie mistake on the clockspring i hope they didn't hit you with the cost on replacing it.

sycoglitch

They really got you with a stabilizer and sway bar ends lol. You have that its all good so the fixed it feeling. Did you look and make sure everything is new. And yea, THEY need to fix your clockspring. And why did they replace the pitman arm. Just the TRE of the drag link is needed

AllenTC2

I don't think I got taken for a ride (no pun intended). New stabilizer, bushings, steering gearbox and pitman arm (apparently the old one would not come off the gearbox) installed and it steers properly now. It also doesn't roll in turns so much. And no, the clock spring isn't at my cost.