Play in the steering wheel

[Jacob]

So here is my issue: I have rebuilt my entire front end(to my knowledge), yet I'm still having steering wheel issues. I have a 3.5in lift with 30s, a PSC performance steering box, cross control arms, steering stabilizer..etc the only thing I have yet to replace is the upper control arms, however as far as I'm concerned wouldn't fix the pull I get from stopping quickly(from higher speeds(50 or so) down to a brake happy driver in front of me. I constantly having to catch where the steering wheel has play and drive from there. Any suggestions as to what it could be? Would replacing the Power steering pump be the fix I'm looking for?

Here are pics for reference:

 

[Imapepper]

If it pulls one direction or the other I would guess the problem is in your braking system if it tracks normally otherwise?Your description is a little confusing to me, sorry

 

[Jacob]

If it pulls one direction or the other I would guess the problem is in your braking system if it tracks normally otherwise?Your description is a little confusing to me, sorry

I realize my explanation is a little weird, but I have already replaced my brake system to handle the wheels I have. I guess what I'm trying to say is the steering wheel isn't as tight as it should be. I can't confidently "steer with one finger" as they say. I guess the explanation isn't as good as if someone were to actually drive it. I installed the performance steering box and that helped, but didn't eliminate the issue. It's definitely a steering wheel issue as opposed to a front end alignment issue, as some would suggest.

Hopefully this explanation is a little better

 

[Imapepper]

Are you saying the pitman arm on the steering box does not move when you turn the steering wheel just a little bit? Have you examined your steering shaft u-joint? How old is steering gear box?

 

[Jacob]

Are you saying the pitman arm on the steering box does not move when you turn the steering wheel just a little bit? Have you examined your steering shaft u-joint? How old is steering gear box?

The Performance steering box is 7 months old, and I will definitely check out the pitarm and(or) the steering shaft u-joint. Thank you for the quick and informative replies

 

[Drizit]

I strongly suspect it's the steering shaft joints, it could also be related to the steering box itself but probably not. If you don't have any slop in the joints see if there is an excessive dead spot in the box.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

 

[ac_]

It looks like you have some custom steering linkage.

So as already stated if your jeep is pulling one way or the other when you hit your brakes it sounds like you have a caliper or line issue. A good way to see this is check the brake pads on each side and see if they are wearing evenly if not then you probably have a stuck caliper or a collapsing line.

As far as your steering there is a test you can do also.

Have someone inside the jeep wiggle the the steering wheel back and forth and have them keep doing it while you are investigating. You can follow the torsion down the steering arm under the hood to your box to your pitman arm and out to your tie rods. If your steering linkage is moving but your tires are not look for something loose. That is a good test.

To test your ball joints, lift a front tire off of the ground enough to get a big prybar underneath it then put a block of wood down adjacent to the tire but under the prybar. so the end of the prybar is under the tire and you are teetering it off of some wood. then have your buddy push down and release and watch the ball joints for looseness. It is hard to describe I hope this makes sense. basically wiggle the tire from underneath with the prybar and you should see balljoints moving if they are bad.

That should be enough to get you started on your way to finding an issue.

You are going to need to people to do those tests, but at least the tests are free!

 

[Jacob]

It looks like you have some custom steering linkage.

So as already stated if your jeep is pulling one way or the other when you hit your brakes it sounds like you have a caliper or line issue. A good way to see this is check the brake pads on each side and see if they are wearing evenly if not then you probably have a stuck caliper or a collapsing line.

As far as your steering there is a test you can do also.

Have someone inside the jeep wiggle the the steering wheel back and forth and have them keep doing it while you are investigating. You can follow the torsion down the steering arm under the hood to your box to your pitman arm and out to your tie rods. If your steering linkage is moving but your tires are not look for something loose. That is a good test.

To test your ball joints, lift a front tire off of the ground enough to get a big prybar underneath it then put a block of wood down adjacent to the tire but under the prybar. so the end of the prybar is under the tire and you are teetering it off of some wood. then have your buddy push down and release and watch the ball joints for looseness. It is hard to describe I hope this makes sense. basically wiggle the tire from underneath with the prybar and you should see balljoints moving if they are bad.

That should be enough to get you started on your way to finding an issue.

You are going to need to people to do those tests, but at least the tests are free!

Hey! My goodness, apologies for such a delayed response. I will definitely give those tests a try as installing a new lower steering arm helped a lot, but accentuated another underlying issue.

 

[jeepins]

Does this only happen when you're hitting the brakes or does the Jeep drift while headed down the highway as well?

Mine drifted all over the place but knew my tie rods were worn after doing the buddy test described above. I replaced my entire steering system and it's tight and responsive as can be.

 

[Paparock1]

check you axle (front and rear) track. Make sure they are parallel to each other. I measured from the axle tube to a body mount on each side of the jeep. From what I read those are the most reliable points on a jeep and are the same distance left and right side, again from what I read. both my axles were off by 3/8 of an inch in opposite directions. I forgot to add that my jeep passed all the steering test.

what I noticed happening on mine that got me looking at it. was the weight transfer on the jeep when braking and accelerating. When braking hard it would dart Left hard and when correcting I would overcompensate and then dart the other way. Then under heavy acceleration it would dart to the right hard. As the weight moved forward or back it would dart in the direction that my axles were pointing (out of alignment). I adjusted my axles and now it drives real nice, one finger when braking and over rough roads. I hope this helps some.

 

[msplant]

I’m having a similar issue but my issue does not change is not related to the front suspension parts. I just picked up my first TJ and there is a lot of play in the steering even before the gearbox is engaged, that is the play I want to fix. Admittedly I will be doing other front end fixes in the near future but I don’t think any of that would cause the ply I’m experiencing.

I took it to a mechanic who just changed the steering gearbox and said it was leaking but the play is still present. So there is a brand new gearbox and I have examined where the shaft is moving and followed it all the way to the top of the gearbox, it’s moving at that connection but only starts to move petmin arm after literally inches of movement of the steering wheel.

The mechanic is saying it’s everything after the petmin arm, U joints, tires, ball joints, etc. basically I feel like he is looking in all the wrong places.

I just had my wife move the steering wheel with the Jeep off, and she was able to rotate the steering significantly back and forth before it was “hard” so with power steering off she was right in the play area and the shaft seems to have immediate response to the whee turning, all the way along the shaft but right at the bolt that holds onto the steering box I can see it doesn’t move the box gear the shaft is just moving back and forth without even engaging the gears.

I’ll admit I am new to TJ and new to mechanics but I’m a fairly logical guy and to me it doesn’t even seem to be the shaft, it looks like it’s the gears which I just replaced!!

Can you guys help me understand if it’s feasible that the lower shaft may not be engaging and therefor needs repacked? the connection at the bottom may be stripped or something? Honestly I still think it’s he gearbox so I was debating trying to adjust it but I’m not sure it would cause that much play.

It does appear someone put spacers on the springs, I’m guessing 1.25” based on my measurements and I’m running 31’s.

I have looked at a hundred articles on here and I expected the gear box to fix it. Any chance or way to test if it’s a bad replacement gearbox?? Need help here - o can post a video of the play.

 

[Lfuerb]

I’m having a similar issue but my issue does not change is not related to the front suspension parts. I just picked up my first TJ and there is a lot of play in the steering even before the gearbox is engaged, that is the play I want to fix. Admittedly I will be doing other front end fixes in the near future but I don’t think any of that would cause the ply I’m experiencing.

I took it to a mechanic who just changed the steering gearbox and said it was leaking but the play is still present. So there is a brand new gearbox and I have examined where the shaft is moving and followed it all the way to the top of the gearbox, it’s moving at that connection but only starts to move petmin arm after literally inches of movement of the steering wheel.

The mechanic is saying it’s everything after the petmin arm, U joints, tires, ball joints, etc. basically I feel like he is looking in all the wrong places.

I just had my wife move the steering wheel with the Jeep off, and she was able to rotate the steering significantly back and forth before it was “hard” so with power steering off she was right in the play area and the shaft seems to have immediate response to the whee turning, all the way along the shaft but right at the bolt that holds onto the steering box I can see it doesn’t move the box gear the shaft is just moving back and forth without even engaging the gears.

I’ll admit I am new to TJ and new to mechanics but I’m a fairly logical guy and to me it doesn’t even seem to be the shaft, it looks like it’s the gears which I just replaced!!

Can you guys help me understand if it’s feasible that the lower shaft may not be engaging and therefor needs repacked? the connection at the bottom may be stripped or something? Honestly I still think it’s he gearbox so I was debating trying to adjust it but I’m not sure it would cause that much play.

It does appear someone put spacers on the springs, I’m guessing 1.25” based on my measurements and I’m running 31’s.

I have looked at a hundred articles on here and I expected the gear box to fix it. Any chance or way to test if it’s a bad replacement gearbox?? Need help here - o can post a video of the play.

Hi Msplant,

I'm having a similar issue to the one you described. Did you get yours resolved?

 

[Goatman]

If you can turn the steering wheel and the input of the steering box is not rotating then the issue is before the box. Try to tighten any connection from the steering wheel to the box. This could include the nut under the horn pad. If after this and you still have the same slop I am stumped. All rag joints, all u-joints, everything is good, not much else. Steering wheel is tight with good splines, steering box with good splines. If you can turn the steering wheel and the input IS turning the steering box input proportionaly and the output (pitman arm shaft) is not rotating imedeatly and tightly, then the issue is the steering box. If the steering box output shaft is rotating properly and the pitman arm is not then either the output splines are stripped or the pitman nut is loose. If you turn the steering wheel and everything thru the pitman arm is correct then either a tie rod joint, pitman joint, drag link joint, or drag link rod, tie rod is bad. If ALL so far is good then you are looking to ball joints, control arms, track bar areas.

 

[01TJ-Blues]

You can also adjust the steering box itself, it has an Allen and lock nut on top of he steering box that you can use to adjust play within the actual steering box.


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[Philthy]

When I had play in the steering wheel, it turned out to be horrible ball joints. You could just lift them out with your hand. Tie rod ends were nasty too. Basically ended up replacing the steering assembly, track bar, ball joints, and one of the axle shafts. Cost me about 2500 in just labor and parts from the shop. Not to mention the other stuff i had to provide.

I do all my own work now. lol

 

[Bird]

You can also adjust the steering box itself, it has an Allen and lock nut on top of he steering box that you can use to adjust play within the actual steering box.


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This is true but be very careful not to over tighten, find the sweet spot.

 

[Goatman]

Be very careful. You are adjusting the steering box the same as adjusting pinion in an axle. I would go check all other points first. If you go through all the steering like I outlined you will discover if this is THE problem or one of many small problems. There needs to be some play in the steering box. Not much, but some. If you think this is the issue find either a GOOD mechanic or an OLD farmer.

 

[Lfuerb]

I ended up replacing my steering box with a cheap one from Rock Auto. I don't seem to have a dead spot anymore, but the steering feels much more soft/sensitive.
When the old steering gearbox was on, I tightened it (clockwise) about 1/4 of a turn and kept testing the wheel, but no difference was observed. The box started leaking oil, likely from the constant adjustment.

 

[astjp2]

You can also adjust the steering box itself, it has an Allen and lock nut on top of he steering box that you can use to adjust play within the actual steering box.


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I would not recommend doing this unless you are a really good mechanic, some of the posters on here seem to be lacking the experience to be messing with the adjustment of the box.

 

[astjp2]

When I had play in the steering wheel, it turned out to be horrible ball joints. You could just lift them out with your hand. Tie rod ends were nasty too. Basically ended up replacing the steering assembly, track bar, ball joints, and one of the axle shafts. Cost me about 2500 in just labor and parts from the shop. Not to mention the other stuff i had to provide.

I do all my own work now. lol

Expensive lesson but one that you learned.