hey guys..so i drive my xj everyday to work 4 1/2 lift on 33s nothing special..but my steering wheel all of the sudden just has play in it an moves about 2 inches in every direction..obviously somthing is loose but what could it be? i have droped thhe colum last summer to do an ignition switch an dont see how i would tighten the colum itself? any tips?

 

it sounds like your tilt knuckle.

if so, it's easier to just replace the whole column.

 

x2
I dont think it is easier to swap columns by any means, the fix is easy and free just takes more patience.
Sounds like the bolts just came loose in the tilt assembly, easy fix just takes a bit of time. This is assuming you have an older XJ with the GM style steering column.

I know this is not the same car but exact same process: Link

 

i have to agree with outkast...seen it before

 

i dont have tilt and mine was loose but it turned out it was missing the two bolts that bolt it to the firewall. probably not your problem though.

 

A common problem with GM and Jeeps with a GM column w/tilt. Outkast is right a cheap fix, 4 bolts to tighten in the tilt bowl. A little difficult to get to. Need a very thin wall socket. 3 are pretty easy 1 is difficult. tightening 3 will do it.

 

And when you have a trail beater like mine it is even easier, pull the wheel off and start swinging a ball-peen until everything is out of the way!

 

Easy to do if you pay very close attention your first time and keep the computer in the shop i have a picture in my album of my column tore apart. i think it would be easier to do it with the column out of the jeep.

 

yea its a 90 xj and i pulled the wheel off an under it is were the wheel bolts to but idk how the rest comes apart..i think i need a certien tool b/c the whole colum is inclosed in hard plastic with no acecces to it

 

To get down to everything all you really need is a steering wheel puller, lock ring tool, screwdrivers, and the Torx bit for the loose bolts. The biggest pain in the *** is getting the lock ring off. After that its all about remembering how everything was in there for reassembly.

 

Hmm, outkast your making me re-consider my column swap.

 

yea it was a loose knuckle and i ened up deleteing 90% of everything in there b/c it was to much of a pain in the *** so i no longer have blinkers haha

 

Column swaps are pain. There is a very good write up in the write up section of course lol. just get your tool, pay attention and go for it!

 

I actually found removing it was quite easy. Hardest part I think is gonna be swapping over my key cylinder. I just put mine now in about 8 months ago, and it was a real PITA. Now I gotta do it again.