When driving, have to constantly correct steering wheel. You get a floating feel as you go down the road. Upon inspection I observed the tie rod tube flexing as well as the pitman arm also moving, along with steering box. I checked and I see a heavier tie rod tube is available, along with stiffeners for the horns were the steering box is located. Will this stop or eliminate all that movement.



Suggestions on parts and sites for them.
Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.
Dennis

 

Play in steering is caused by worn or loose parts.
Replace or tighten.

 

I would upgrade to heavier duty steering.

Serious offroad is what I am going with, but there are tons of options. Steering box brace, double-shear trackbar, etc. would all be worthwhile also.

 

Are you stock or running lift/larger tires? How many miles are on your rig? Hsve you checked condition or the tightness of your current steering components? I had the same issues with my steering plus death wobble when i first purchased my jeep. Instead of replacing one component at a time i went ahead and did the majority all at once (ball joints, tre's, pitman arm, steering stabilizer, ect.) I know that a zj tie rod is a little beefier than the stock xj so that is some food for thought

 

Thank you all. I did not give you all the facts.
I have Dana 44 1988 Jeep Wagoner front diff. with a TNT truss. All the ball joints were replaced with new, . New is always a question{double meaning}. and every thing is tight.
Tires are 285 x 17" with a 6" lift
The steering box is good but as you go down the road as I said earlier it wanders and your always correcting. I can turn the wheel when parked a over a quarter turn from center left to right and the wheels do not turn, there's that much play in it.
Dennis

 

If you got the money go cross over steering.Its not the cheapest option but will be better off road.

 

Sound like you might be in need of a new steering box. You could try tightening the adjuster nut on top but, with that much play it may be to late for that to help much

 

Something is worn out or loose!!

Get someone to turn wheel while you watch underneath.

With that much play you should be able to see something.

 

I would check the rag/universal joint on the steering shaft from the firewall to the steering box as well. Had a bronco that did the same thing.

 

Yeah check the rag joint also, good idea. I had to weld mine cause i stripped all the splines out of it.

 

The steering box shouldn't move.

1) make sure the steering box spacer is intact.
2) make sure the bolts are tight.

 

Search for the bleepinjeep steering box adjust video if you need to. 1/8 of a turn made a big difference for mine. Try it before dumping money into parts since it's free.
The output shaft on my steering box moves a hair when turning.

 

Is it play in your steering or is your trac bar wasted? a loose trac bar will give all those symptoms.

 

Do what I said in post #8 before you start buying parts you don't need!

 

Check for loose parts, then get an alignment check. Checks are free any NTB, Tire Kingdom, Big O tires, or Merchants. I imagine they are free elsewhere too, but I work for NTB and we do them for free. I check mine regularly, but surprisingly, my alignment, despite bouncing my tires off of just about everything, rarely requires adjustment.

Basically, check for loose parts and check alignment.