Steering...again
- Thread starter 132JKPNW
- Start date
Maybe i need to clear this up a bit, the steering wheel in the driveway feels like it has always felt, tight, with what i though was normal "slop". The difference now is how it recently has transferred that slop to my driving input/ corrections. Its much more of a pain in the ass now than say...3 weeks ago (no significant event). Thats really whats concerning me now. BTW, my 3yr/36000K warranty expired last month...
Not necessarily. Have you verified what your toe-in is set at and maybe you went over this already but, have you verified that your track bar bolts are tightened to 125 ft. lbs. of torque?
If you're steering box feels nice and tight in your driveway, you most likely do NOT have a problem with your steering box. As WJCO mentioned, I would remove your steering stabilizer and see if that makes any difference.
No chance because i now live in MS and don't bother wheeling down here except a one a year trip to stoney lonesome in North Alabama last February.
Not 125ftlbs! Ill go check that now...
WJCO
Meme King
It sure doesn't sound like your gear box is the problem, but it is strange that it got worse a few weeks ago. Double check track bar ends too. A shifting track bar end can cause some really weird handling. Also, if you do find the cause and it is a factory component, sometimes a dealer may be able to help with a claim after warranty has just expired where you only pay a portion, worth asking about. Not sure in your situation, but you have to find out what is causing it first.
getting the jeep back on stands right now to re check everything, in the mean time, how much can my wheel bearings or hub assembly cause the flighty feeling in your experience. Again, they don't seem that bad, but I'm not a mechanic either.
You should be tightening your track bar bolts with the full weight of your Jeep on the ground.
How much caster do you have? Or, do you even have adjustable front lower control arms to set it?
WJCO
Meme King
When checking wheel bearings at 12oclock and 6 oclock, they should have ZERO play. If you feel play, make sure it's not your ball joints, if ball joint play is bad enough, it can feel like wheel bearing play. With a jack or jack stand under the axle, use a prybar under the tire and pry up on it while you visually look at the ball joints. If they move visually at all, they're likely bad. OEM specs are right around .060 (1/16").
I would bump them up to 28 or 29, but I doubt that has anything to do with your issue.
Not sure but it's the metalcloak game changer arb edition. Installed by Northridge4x4 in Silverdale wa three years ago. Haven't adjusted it since, only checked for tightness.
Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
If anything, you'd have more flightiness with MORE air in your tires.
Anything look wrong with this...track bar bushing frame side
Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
Last edited:
Click on the link below to see a write-up I did that will help you to figure things out.
http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?3861-Basic-Do-it-Yourself-Jeep-JK-Wrangler-Front-End-Alignment
Check your caster and see where it's at. Flightiness at highway speeds is typically something you'd feel with too little caster.
Not necessarily.
It drive great down the highway. I do 75-80 with zero issues...unless it's windy just the shitty roads that send me all over the place, way more than it used too
Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
WJCO
Meme King
Almost looks like it's rubbing on one side of the bracket, but what really matters is that the sleeve inside is clamped between the brackets when you tighten the bolt. The accurate way to check that bushing is with the vehicle on the ground, have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you look for movement there.
Sorry, thought I saw you mention something about having this problem of yours most noticeable at around 45-55 mph.
Going back to where we started, have you checked the list of things mentioned above?
checked and tight, thanks though