Wandering steering

MattFogel

MattFogel

Member
Original poster
Joined
Apr 11, 2019
Messages
31
Location
Colorado
I have a 2004 jeep wrangler with a 2" lift and 31 inch tires that wanders on the interstate. its very difficult to keep the car in the center of the lane. I have a couple of inches of play in the steering too. but it feels like the tires are changing directions. I was driving on some snowy roads a couple of weeks ago on a straight away and just started fish tailing like the car was making turns on its own. but it honestly doesnt even feel safe on clear roads takes all my concentration to keep it in my lane. I just had an alignment done (and checked a second time) and the suspension components checked by two mechanics and they both said it was good.

I was reading about it on here and people were talking about caster angles. my caster angles are 5 degrees. which seems about normal. I guess 7 degrees is optimal. but would that really make the car feel unsafe to drive? I am making longer commutes now for work but it seems like something that has only recently started. but maybe i just havent noticed it.

I want to go ahead and replace the steering box. but both of the mechanics are unsure if that will fix the problem. they both seem to think its a normal thing. when driving over 65mph.

anyone have advice or experienced the same problem?
 
When is the last time you set your toe-in? Does it have a dropped pitman arm, track bar bracket, or any other steering modifications?
 
You touched on one of the problems with Caster; while 5* is a little low it shouldn't cause you to wander...
Check for steering box play, tie rod end at the pitman arm and other tie rod ends.
 
All good posts...and don't rule out the front hub unit bearings ..they can make one float and impossible to set toe accurately.

On the flip side ...I own one that was undrivable safely over 50...today I can run 70 with 33" tires on beadlock rims with one finger ...lifted 4". Am I special? Lord no. Good (and correct) components, proper alignment and good, well balanced tires will produce that most every time. I really don't even have the best components out there on mine, but I learned so much here I was able to make it all work.
 
Mine was feeling all jittery when I bought it. New steering linkage, alignment, etc. It wasn't until I brought the tire pressure down to 26 psi that the Jeep suddenly felt stable. For some reason the tires had been pumped up to like 35 psi. I had checked them when I got it, but apparently my pressure gauge was 💩. Was at my friends house talking about it and used his tire pressure gauge. Mine was way off. Re-set tires using his gauge and all was cured. Bought a new gauge the next day.
Also, if the steering wheel isn't properly centered then the steering will never feel right.
Easy enough to see if the steering box is toast. Engine off, have a buddy turn the wheel back and forth while you watch to see how much the steering box input turns before the pitman arm starts to move. If there is a lot of play in the box then it either needs replacing or at a minimum to be tightened up.
 
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