Poor return to center with PSC steering

[afusco1222]

That very likely has nothing to do with the PSC setup - assuming it is installed correctly. You have a steering issue somewhere unrelated to the PSC. Have you done a dry steer test?

The PSC ram only sees pressure when there is significant resistance to turning the tires. At all other times - including driving down the highway - it provides zero assist. If you disconnect the drag link from the pitman arm and try to turn, nothing happens because there is no resistance. Now if you go full lock, the steering gear sees resistance, and only then the ram will move. That is the difference between and assist setup like you have, and full hydro.

Finally got to diagnose some more after the holiday and thank you @NashvilleTJ for responding.

I should clarify my setup. I only have the PSC steering gear, no ram assist. I have a full Currie steering system, track bar, savvy arms, etc all with less than 10k miles on them. I do not believe my issue is with my joints or TREs and I can post pictures/videos of my dry steering test this weekend when I have more time. My TJ drove great before the box and starting experiencing these issues right after the install of the PSC gear box. The first steering gear would not turn left easily and was replaced by PSC. The second has this massive dead spot.

For the sake of ruling out all possibilities of bad components, I replaced the upper and lower steering shaft with the Borgeson unit with no change to dead spot. Take a look at the videos (before the dry steering test). Can someone tell me if this much play is normal on their TJ? Since the replacement of the steering shafts, now I have a very annoying squeak that you can hear in the background of the videos. Just another thing to fix once I get this figured out.

In the first video, you can see the steering shaft turning the steering gear input with no movement of the pitman arm. In the second video is the amount of play in the steering wheel.

 

[afusco1222]

It's not normal. Mine has no issues.

Glad to hear that this isn't normal. PSC is sending over an email with steps of what they want to see to help me diagnose this issue. Hopefully they can help out next week.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Finally got to diagnose some more after the holiday and thank you @NashvilleTJ for responding.

I should clarify my setup. I only have the PSC steering gear, no ram assist. I have a full Currie steering system, track bar, savvy arms, etc all with less than 10k miles on them. I do not believe my issue is with my joints or TREs and I can post pictures/videos of my dry steering test this weekend when I have more time. My TJ drove great before the box and starting experiencing these issues right after the install of the PSC gear box. The first steering gear would not turn left easily and was replaced by PSC. The second has this massive dead spot.

For the sake of ruling out all possibilities of bad components, I replaced the upper and lower steering shaft with the Borgeson unit with no change to dead spot. Take a look at the videos (before the dry steering test). Can someone tell me if this much play is normal on their TJ? Since the replacement of the steering shafts, now I have a very annoying squeak that you can hear in the background of the videos. Just another thing to fix once I get this figured out.

In the first video, you can see the steering shaft turning the steering gear input with no movement of the pitman arm. In the second video is the amount of play in the steering wheel.

Apologies. I incorrectly assumed you were referencing a hydro assist setup. Hopefully PSC’s guidance will help diagnose and correct the gear issue.

 

[afusco1222]

Update from PSC and my new steering gear. After working with their support team, Kelvin and Austin helped me get a third box to my door. This steering gear looked different than the last two and more updated. After a conversation with Austin, it seemed like PSC got a bad batch of bushing and my first two boxes were within the build dates of those bushings. After replacing the new steering gear, it seems like everything is working perfectly. No slop, or massive dead spot. Return to center is back to normal and I'm looking forward to driving the Jeep again. Even though it was a pain in the ass to replace the gear three times with a Sway-Loc, the Jeep drives better than before.

 

[speeding_infraction]

Finally got to diagnose some more after the holiday and thank you @NashvilleTJ for responding.

I should clarify my setup. I only have the PSC steering gear, no ram assist. I have a full Currie steering system, track bar, savvy arms, etc all with less than 10k miles on them. I do not believe my issue is with my joints or TREs and I can post pictures/videos of my dry steering test this weekend when I have more time. My TJ drove great before the box and starting experiencing these issues right after the install of the PSC gear box. The first steering gear would not turn left easily and was replaced by PSC. The second has this massive dead spot.

For the sake of ruling out all possibilities of bad components, I replaced the upper and lower steering shaft with the Borgeson unit with no change to dead spot. Take a look at the videos (before the dry steering test). Can someone tell me if this much play is normal on their TJ? Since the replacement of the steering shafts, now I have a very annoying squeak that you can hear in the background of the videos. Just another thing to fix once I get this figured out.

In the first video, you can see the steering shaft turning the steering gear input with no movement of the pitman arm. In the second video is the amount of play in the steering wheel.

Don't like reviving dead threads, but my jeep has the exact same issue. Were you also getting death wobble going around bumpy corners?

 

[afusco1222]

Don't like reviving dead threads, but my jeep has the exact same issue. Were you also getting death wobble going around bumpy corners?

No. That sounds like a bad suspension component. I would check control arm bushings first and then check ball joints and TREs.

 

[PG.]

Also dealing with same. In his video mine does the same with a redhead box. I have hardly any return to center. I did dry steer test with it running and seemed iffy on the box. May also be a weak power steering pump on mine anyway. Still diagnosing but I’v moved on for the moment with cycling the suspension for interference and bump stops.

 

[B00mb00m]

Interesting notes here. I’ve had a dead spot for some time. I’ve tightened the backlash some. I need to make a call to PSC also. Sounds like they’re good to work with.