casadelennie

Hey guys,

I need help, i have a 98 Jeep XJ that has play in the steering wheel.
i have replaced the tie rods, drag links, steering stab, power steering box, ect. so replace pretty much everything to do with my steering. For the life of me i dont know why i still have play in the steering wheel. please help. im out of ideas.

RED RIVER

does it "wander" while driving or is it really "slop while stopped" ?

casadelennie

its got play when im stopped and moving. its not a death wobble. like when im driving i can move the wheel at least 2" play in both directions

RED RIVER

Besides jacking it up and getting both wheels off the ground and shaking it down would be to check to see if the pitman arm is seated and tight where it attaches at the steering box.

RED RIVER

Other thought since you replaced everything but the column. Is to check under the hood and see if there is play in the column when someone turns the steering wheel.

casadelennie

Awesome thank you i will check both of those.

cruiser54

No track bar?

thebyus

The worm in the steering box is loose. You need to tighten it up like a 1/2 turn MAX. Work in VERY small increments (1/16th of a turn at time). You need to remove the electric aux fan from behind the radiator (two screws and an electric snap clip), then you will see the hex head bolt on top of the steering box. (When I did it, I found a GREAT writeup with pics, but I can't find it anymore!)

Remember, righty tighty. Adjust it JUST ENOUGH so that 95% of the slop is gone. This is a VERY delicate adjustment. If you over-tighten it, you risk deforming the worm and wrecking the box. I have also heard horror stories of the whole box seizing once the engine bay (and hence the steering box) heats up.

You are essentially reducing the tolerance between the gear and the worm drive. You still want there to be SOME space between the two, just not as much as you have now (doing gears is essentially the same thing, that is what backlash is!).

I adjusted mine 2 years ago and am still running the original stock box on 35's that I drive to the trail and wheel HARD. Steering is still solid and true. Reality is, though, next time it starts to get sloppy, I will probably have to swap out boxes.

casadelennie

hey thebyus, thanks. ya i seen something about tightening that on youtube. i just figured since it was a new box that it probably wasnt that. i was leaning towards the steering column. but im going to check out what you said before i spend the money on the column. thank you again for the help. i really am hoping that is the issue

RED RIVER

If you adjust the tension screw on the worm gear, make sure to test drive where you can go around corners and see if the steering wheel will return to center without much help. if you have to manually turn the wheel back to center, your worm is too tight.. LOL

Fred/N0AZZ

If its a new box it should be fine. Did you check the track bar for tightness?

casadelennie

track bar is new as well. i did everything with steering and suspension other then new shocks/coils and the steering column

thebyus

x2

Sorry, missed that you had put in a new box! Scratch what I said, though, if it is remanufactured box there is a chance that it is loose, but I would doubt it.

andrewmp6

How much play does it have in it?If your not use to a steering box they do have a tiny bit of play in them even brand new.

investinwaffles

Yes, the "saginaw" style boxes will always have some sort of play.

You could try tightening the adjuster screw to tighten it up - but have you had a friend turn the wheel while while you looked to see where the play seems to be coming from?

My friends are pretty useless but even they were able to sit there and turn the wheel for 5 minutes without complaining too much