I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The Jeep just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes after a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is locked for a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight again.
I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.
Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel the catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping turn.
Could be several things, so check: Steering box mounting brackets Tie rod ends Drag link ends Steering wheel shaft joints Have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth as you inspect these items.
And lastly (after everything else is checked/fixed) you might try adjusting the load bolt in the steering box. It has a lock nut on it and should be visible on the top of the steering box through the bumper.
The grabbing you feel could be a ball joint about to fail and let the wheel fall off.....
Normally you can see this before the wheel actually does fall off. If you look close at the wheels from the front you can see if they are pointing straight up and down. You can even use a level on them if the eye doesn't pick it up.
If you have a failed ball joint, that wheel usually will lean in or out at the top. It is usually pretty obvious.
You also can get under when someone cranks the steering from pin to pin and watch the moving parts. Usually you can see play in any of the tie rod ends when doing this. Pay close attention to the track bar bushing too. That is the rod that goes from the passenger side axle to the drivers side frame.
There also is a u-joint on the steering column just below the brake MC near the firewall. These get sloppy.
Steering boxes have also been known to crack or break loose from the frame.
You cannot adjust the steering box while it is on the Jeep so if the slop is in the box, you will need to remove it to set it back up. There is a bearing preload bolt in the top of the box. Folks mistakenly play with this to 'tighten' up the box. This normally causes total box failure in short order. The adjustment plug for side to side play in the steering wheel is the plug where the steering column goes in. I have the box setup directions if that turns out to be it.
My steering wheel had about 8" of play when I got my CJ7. No one part was 'bad', they all just were sloppy. The affect of all of them a little loose was bad.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >
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