My steering box has 2 inches of play before anything past it moves, what should I do to solve this? Is adjusting the bolt on the box a safe way, or what because my steering isn't the best when going fast.
Steering box play
- Thread starter Max hennessy
- Start date
Sounds like your box is done, you can try the adjustment on the top but most likely will not be of any help.
You can try local recycle yards for another box. I just went through this and went to a new PSC box due to the lift and larger tires. I see you are running 35 inch tires so I would recommend a more robust system like PSC, beware, it is costly.
You can try local recycle yards for another box. I just went through this and went to a new PSC box due to the lift and larger tires. I see you are running 35 inch tires so I would recommend a more robust system like PSC, beware, it is costly.
But my box is like half a year old, so I dont want to have to buy another. But I guess you cant go wrong with psc.
Yes I did the dry test the steering shafts are good and the tierods and all, the box is a remanufactured
The remanufactured boxes are a crap shoot at best, since its not that old did it have a warranty?
Brian83
TJ Enthusiast
Check your steering shaft. My gear box was toast, put on a new box and still have more movement in the steering wheel then I should. Its all in lower steering shaft.
Is this 2" of play measured at the steering wheel or at the input shaft? They are vastly different. How about degrees of movement? That would be consistent wherever it is measured from. Two inches measured at the steering wheel may be cleared up with the adjustment on the box. Two inches at the input of the box and I would not feel safe to even drive it.
Its 2 inches of play at the wheel, so how much do you turn the adjustment bolt on the box to tighten it up?
Very easy to over tighten the steering box. Be absolutely certain that is the single and only place in the entire steering system including ball joints and wheel bearings that is loose. I can't say this strongly enough. Be certain that every other part of the entire steering system is 100% before you decide to play with the steering box. 100%.
Now, if you are still going to adjust the steering box be certain you have marked the current position of the screw. Then loosen the jam nut and give the screw a half turn at the most. Re-tighten the jam nut and go for a drive. If you can see no improvement then stop. Put the screw back to its original position and jam nut. If you can't feel a difference in a 1/2 turn adjustment then the problem lies somewhere else. Keep looking to find what is actually the problem. Over tightening the steering box is not something to be played with. You can cause real problems by over tightening the adjustment. Jus like setting the pinion too tight in an axle differential.
Now, if you are still going to adjust the steering box be certain you have marked the current position of the screw. Then loosen the jam nut and give the screw a half turn at the most. Re-tighten the jam nut and go for a drive. If you can see no improvement then stop. Put the screw back to its original position and jam nut. If you can't feel a difference in a 1/2 turn adjustment then the problem lies somewhere else. Keep looking to find what is actually the problem. Over tightening the steering box is not something to be played with. You can cause real problems by over tightening the adjustment. Jus like setting the pinion too tight in an axle differential.
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