I'm having a bit of an issue that is making me pull my hair out (what little I have left). Just so everyone is up to speed, I have a 4" lift, Currie control arms, JKS front trackbar, Currie steering, Factory steering box (with about 65,000 miles) and 35's. My jeep feels a bit like it has bump steer, but its not a consistent pull one way or another. That crosses bump steer out in my mind. Doing a dry steer test, I can feel a subtle clunk in the steering, right off center (like ± 10°). It almost feels like its coming from one of the intermediate shaft U-joints. The clunking noise is emanating from the general area of the U-joint on the end of the steering column. I can feel something in the trackbar and the drag link as well. Watching the front of the jeep, it seems steering input wants to shift the body just a little bit, side to side, like something in the trackbar is loose, but its nothing I can see. There isn't any perceptible play in any of my TRE's.
I have a suspicion about my intermediate shaft bearing...so I ordered a used one to tear apart and see if I can match it up with something readily available. I've never heard of a steering shaft u-joint going bad, but I guess its possible.
Anything else I should be focusing on before I tear the steering links and trackbar all apart? It really is bothersome and kind of ruins the driving experience of an otherwise well behaved jeep.
I have a suspicion about my intermediate shaft bearing...so I ordered a used one to tear apart and see if I can match it up with something readily available. I've never heard of a steering shaft u-joint going bad, but I guess its possible.
Anything else I should be focusing on before I tear the steering links and trackbar all apart? It really is bothersome and kind of ruins the driving experience of an otherwise well behaved jeep.