LJ wandering left and right

[JohnDoe]

Agree with this as something I replaced when I upgraded my steering. I also installed a steering riser to align it with the body lift which looks like you have as well. Full disclosure: it may not actually improve anything but damn your Jeep build is so nice you might as well not cheap out there just in case it does help.

Also, I don't think it affects the steering but your antirock arm angle seems a big high to me and my OCD. I would make sure it clears everything above just in case but mine is much closer to level which is consistent with what I have seen.

Will do, I’ll let you know if it makes any noticeable improvement.

 

[Ericshere03]

Thanks, appreciate it. And I checked the shaft and sure enough there was some play in it. Ordered the Mopar replacement which will be here by Wednesday. I’ll let you know how it feels post-install.

If you throw that shaft away, throw it my way!

You can take the shaft to a machine shop to press that joint nice and tight (slip joint, not the universal joints). It would be good for a spare … it’s a cheezy design that has more in common with a dodge neon than a dodge truck … sadly.

 

[AjRagno]

Dang bro! That’s front end is all done up! That’s the axle and steering box I eventually want in my LJ. ANYWAYS seeing as you have a brand new front end, and often neglected/forgotten component is the intermediate steering shaft.

I been driving these Jeeps for decades and now that they’re getting older I notice the intermediate shafts are all getting sloppy. It’s the short steering shaft that connects the steering column and pops out the firewall. There is a slip joint that gets sloppy and that slip lets the steering sway around in the dead zone … I JUST swapped mine out for a mopar replacement. But previously I’ve taken the shafts to my local driveline/steering shop and they put them in their press to tighten up the slip shaft. It’s basically a square shaft in a square hole that listens up with age. Might even make a rattling sound coming from the firewall as low speed. I’ve never seen or heard of a bad universal joint on the shafts, just that stupid slip joint.

You can test it by popping the hood and shaking the shaft that comes out of the firewall, you’ll feel when there is slop in there… there shouldn’t be ANY slop

Is it Mopar 55315014AD that you’ve ordered?

My upper shaft has up/down and side to side play at the firewall as well as a clunk at slow speed but there is no movement when twisting, which is what I’d expect if it were worn. What sort of play is not normal?

 

[TheBoogieman]

Did @Irun clean underneath that Jeep after you wheeled it?
p.s. Forget that. I see dirt that he wouldn't leave. His shipping charges to Canada are horrible anyway.

 

[Ericshere03]

Is it Mopar 55315014AD that you’ve ordered?

My upper shaft has up/down and side to side play at the firewall as well as a clunk at slow speed but there is no movement when twisting, which is what I’d expect if it were worn. What sort of play is not normal?

Yes … also check the pillow mount, the the white thing that mounts to the frame. When changing the upper shaft it’s a good idea to clean that pillow mount, there is a needle bearing in there. I cleaned mine and lubricated it since I was right there anyways.

 

[AjRagno]

I just

Yes … also check the pillow mount, the the white thing that mounts to the frame. When changing the upper shaft it’s a good idea to clean that pillow mount, there is a needle bearing in there. I cleaned mine and lubricated it since I was right there anyways.

I just checked the upper steering shaft from the cab side as well and the only movement is at the firewall. The mount you’re referring to here is solid.

My steering is pretty vague, particularly above 60MPH. If I rotate the steering wheel or shaft, everything rotates the same amount, including the splines on the steering gear, but there is play that needs to be taken up before the pitman arm moves.

At 263,000 miles I can accept that parts are worn out but I’d like to confirm any issue before spending time and money to replace more parts.

 

[JohnDoe]

Completed the dry steer test. Would like people’s opinion;

The only ‘loose’ connection/joint I could find was where the pitman arm connects to the drag link.

Laying directly below the drag link while pushing up on it there’s a very small amount of give…and I mean fucking small. I can’t tell if it’s a possible culprit to my steering woes or if I’m chasing a pipe dream?

The parts store 10 minutes down the road has a new Moog pitman arm in stock for $75 (Cad).

I’ll wait for people’s answers. Thanks.

 

[JohnDoe]

Everything looks good but your toe-in is a little light at only a total of .12 after adding up the .06 toe-in on the left and right sides. Factory spec on total toe-in is .30 total so I'd give it a bit more toe-in. Caster looks fine. I'd also reinstall the and connect the rear antiswaybar, it really helps. Having both antiswaybars installed and connected helps balance how the axles move in relation to each other. I'm running an Antirock up front together with the factory antiswaybar in the rear to which I simply added longer links due to my 4" suspension lift.

I just drove the LJ back home from the alignment shop. I can’t express my gratitude enough to you for the recommendation of .30 toe-in.

Remarkably better. No more left and right wandering, was able to have a completely comfortable and relaxing drive at 75mph with one finger on the wheel.

A tiny little bit of slop left in the steering which I’m asssuming will be taken care of when the new steering shaft gets in later today.

 

[Ericshere03]

I just drove the LJ back home from the alignment shop. I can’t express my gratitude enough to you for the recommendation of .30 toe-in.

Remarkably better. No more left and right wandering, was able to have a completely comfortable and relaxing drive at 75mph with one finger on the wheel.

A tiny little bit of slop left in the steering which I’m asssuming will be taken care of when the new steering shaft gets in later today.

Well done … this weekend I did a heater core and did the steering shaft with a mopar replacement as well as new MOOG steering linkage (ZJ upgrade), cheap Monroe stabilizer and it’s almost annoyingly tight. It actually drive better WITHOUT a stabilizer than with.