Does My “New” Steering Box Look Defective?

Breto31

Breto31

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
398
Location
Kentucky
I’m trying to illuminate some play in my steering wheel, so I had a remanufactured box put on a couple of weeks ago. It did not change the play at all. I know the remanufactured boxes are considered trash, but I really didn’t (and don’t) want to spend $800 on a box.

I was showing this video to some people and they suggested that maybe the remanufactured box was bad too.

The video was taken with the jeep turned off, and you can see the steering shaft moving, but hardly anything is moving on the steering box. It’s about 1”-2” play in either direction from 12:00.
 

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Breto31 said:
I’m trying to illuminate some play in my steering wheel, so I had a remanufactured box put on a couple of weeks ago. It did not change the play at all. I know the remanufactured boxes are considered trash, but I really didn’t (and don’t) want to spend $800 on a box.

I was showing this video to some people and they suggested that maybe the remanufactured box was bad too.

The video was taken with the jeep turned off, and you can see the steering shaft moving, but hardly anything is moving on the steering box. It’s about 1”-2” play in either direction from 12:00.
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The sector shaft has some play but the 1-2" is perfectly normal with the rig turned off.
 
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@Breto31 messaged me regarding this, and we did have a conversation. I'm of the opinion this box is just a bad reman, but I strongly recommended the OP post publicly to get a second and 3rd opinion before throwing more money at the problem. So all advice is welcome.

I suggested the OP consider the new PSC box, as it tends to be the most problem-free box available (that I know of), but it is obviously an expensive bullet to bite.
 
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Here’s a list of current front end upgrades I’ve made while chasing a “darting” issue.

• New Core 4x4 T1 front upper-lower control arms (recently adjusted the caster from 5.0* to 7.0* per Core 4x4 length specs).
• ZJ tie rod/track bar upgrade.
• New tie rod ends (when doing the ZJ upgrades.
• New front upper/lower ball joints.
• New (reman) steering gear box.
• Removed DPA and went back to stock.
• Multiple alignments, including a self alignment.

I also changed the driver side axle shaft, axle shaft ujoint, and hub assembly chasing a wheel shimmy that was solved by upgrading from cheap steel rims to allow rims.
 
I took my TJ in for an alignment today after adjusting the caster on it. Just wanted to make sure everything was all set. After the adjustments, the caster is at 6.21° on the driver's side, and 5.98° on the passenger. Better than the 4.8° I was running before.

I had quite the PM convo with @Steel City 06 over the weekend about my "darting" issue. He mentioned checking the sway bar links, as a lot of times body roll can be mistaken for steering issues. Today, while they had it on the rack, they let me get under it and check out some things. The front sway bar links were solid, but the driver's side rear link was really bad - I could shake it and move it by hand - the passenger rear link felt solid, but I could also move it by hand since the driver's side was so bad. Almost like there was no bushing there. I ordered some replacement links/bushings from Zone Offroad (my lift is a Zone lift), and they should be here later this week. Hoping this can at least help correct some of the "darting" I'm experiencing.

Any thoughts on that? It was a relatively inexpensive update that needed to be done regardless. Hopefully it fixes my problem, or at least helps. I can deal with the steering wheel play, as long as it's not the root cause of the darting.
 
For anyone that was following this - I solved the darting issue. It was actually a bad rear sway bar link (like, a REALLY bad one). It had been rusted/dry rotted so bad that there was basically no bushing left. I replaced both rear links (front links to come soon), and the problem is gone. I just replaced them with the same Zone links that were on it from the PO (I have a Zone lift).

I still have the steering wheel play issue, but it no longer feels like a roller coaster.

Appreciate all the help!
 
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I had play develop in my reman box shortly after installing. I tightened up the sector shaft adjuster just a tiny bit. Not saying that is the proper way to go about it. But it worked for me.
 
Gollywomper said:
I had play develop in my reman box shortly after installing. I tightened up the sector shaft adjuster just a tiny bit. Not saying that is the proper way to go about it. But it worked for me.
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I’m assuming the sector shaft is the nut on the top of the gear box? I tried tightening mine (only about a single 1/4 turn), and it didn’t do anything for me. Should I try more?
 
Perhaps it will help. If you go too far it will start to effect your return to center. I believe I went a bit farther than 1/4 turn. Can try it as the next option is to swap it as defective for another box.
 
Breto31 said:
I’m assuming the sector shaft is the nut on the top of the gear box? I tried tightening mine (only about a single 1/4 turn), and it didn’t do anything for me. Should I try more?
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Yeah, go ahead and tighten the fuck out of it. That way when you finish killing your crap steering gear you can get on here and bitch at the folks that tell you that's a good idea because god only knows why we even try to explain over and over what that does and what that causes and why you shouldn't touch shit you know crap about.
 
mrblaine said:
Yeah, go ahead and tighten the fuck out of it. That way when you finish killing your crap steering gear you can get on here and bitch at the folks that tell you that's a good idea because god only knows why we even try to explain over and over what that does and what that causes and why you shouldn't touch shit you know crap about.
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Lol. What would be your suggestion, besides a new PSC box? Swap it out in hopes of getting a better scabbed together unit without excessive play?
Unfortunately remanned units are not good anymore.
 
Gollywomper said:
Lol. What would be your suggestion, besides a new PSC box? Swap it out in hopes of getting a better scabbed together unit without excessive play?
Unfortunately remanned units are not good anymore.
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You've never seen me recommend a new PSC. You do see me say that there should be another way since the core bank is fubar and we can't get good remans consistently because of the worn bores.

My point above was if you are going to tell someone to fuck with the lash screw, explain the rest of it so that bullshit method is not continually perpetuated as fixing anything.
 
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mrblaine said:
You've never seen me recommend a new PSC. You do see me say that there should be another way since the core bank is fubar and we can't get good remans consistently because of the worn bores.

My point above was if you are going to tell someone to fuck with the lash screw, explain the rest of it so that bullshit method is not continually perpetuated as fixing anything.
Click to expand...
No I have not seen that from you. It was recommended earlier in this thread. I was hesitant to suggest any adjustment for that very reason.
 
mrblaine said:
Yeah, go ahead and tighten the fuck out of it. That way when you finish killing your crap steering gear you can get on here and bitch at the folks that tell you that's a good idea because god only knows why we even try to explain over and over what that does and what that causes and why you shouldn't touch shit you know crap about.
Click to expand...
I know what tightening the lash does to the gear box. I tried the lash thing a few weeks ago. I only turned it about one single 1/4 turn. When it didn’t do anything, I didn’t turn it any more because I know the effect it has on the box.

Anyway, do you have another suggestion as to why the steering would have about 1-2” of play in either direction? My wheel can move 1-2” left or right with very minimal movement in the wheels. This is with the vehicle on or off. Doesn’t matter. My other vehicle doesn’t do that, and my Jeep didn’t do that until about a year ago or so.

Should I be looking at something in the steering shaft? Something in the gear box? The box I put on is a remanufactured box from Orielly. I know they’re not the best, I know they have a history of crapping out, but I didn’t want to drop $500+ on some of the ones people recommend here.

I honestly don’t think it was the gear box because the new feels the exact same as the old one did.
 
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