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Now that I have my Jeep in the garage working on the fan belt issue (another post), I need to look at the steering issue. There is too much play in the steering. Funny thing is that at start up, there is much more play. When it warms up, it seems to tighten up. BUT at times I feel a slide in the steering. I am thinking maybe 2 problems. One in the power Steering pump. The other may actually be in the steering column. Is there an exploded view of the steering column I can get to start checking it out. I do plan to go to a salvage yard and look at those vehicles too before I disassemble mine.
Thanks  

testing the steering usually takes 2 people..   one sitting in the drivers seat working the steering wheel back and forth slightly..

the other under the hood or under the car.  checking to see where there is slack...

where one part moves.. and the part attached to it does not move instantly...

there have been problems at the steering coupling..

there have been problems with the steering box needing to have the adjustments done..

there have been many more problems with the steering linkage..  where the tie rod ends wear.. allowing the steering input to not instantly be transfered to the wheels..

and the ultimate in problems with the track bar and the track bar bracket..

the track bar inspection is easy to do..     open the drivers window..  either with the engine running or off.. stand beside the jeep..    rock the steering wheel back and forth.. while looking at the fender just above the front tires..    if the body moves back and forth over the tires.. you have a serious problem...  

the track bar.. keeps the front end under the jeep..  it counteracts the steering input..   the steering box pushes the linkage left or right..  the track bar keeps the front suspension centered..   the rubber bushing at the passenger side of the track bar on the axle gets slightly loose...  the tie rod end of the track bar at the frame rail wears.. comes loose..  i have even found the brackets come loose..  play in the track bar usually results in death wobble..

see if you can stand looking down at the steering box..  see if you can see the input coupling and the pitman arm..  see if the relay of motion is instant..    if not.. below..

while laying under the front of the jeep.. with another person working the steering wheel back and forth just to the limit of the free play..   you will want to look at the pitman shaft where it sticks out of the bottom of the steering box.. see if its moving back and forth slightly.. less is better..

please don't try to adjust the allen set screw with the lock nut on the top of the steering box unless you completely understand what the adjustment does..  its not how tight you make the adjustment..  the adjustment changes the gap between the gears inside..  this can only be adjusted with the wheels straight..  you have to be able to grab the coupling.. and feel how much play there is.. and NOT remove all of the play.. doing so will jam the box up.. it takes 2 tools to adjust it.. i normally use 2 ball end extensions. a tee handle on the one with the allen bit tool on the screw.. and a ratchet or breaker bar on the other with the crow foot line wrench on the nut.. so you can hold the nut slightly loose..  then adjust the height of the set screw to reduce the play between the pitman shaft gear and the sliding gear inside the box..  

Seems funny that the 'problem' is better when the tilt steering wheel is tipped more in the upper positions. This may indicate the problem is in the steering column in the joints?  

rock the steering wheel slowly back and forth...  just to the limit of the play..

do so with you reaching thru the window..   while you or another friend examine the steering column connection to the steering box..

there is a RAG joint in there someplace..

you could also have an issue in the steering column...

you could have lost the bearings in the upper part of the column.. so the upper shaft is NOT centered as you turn it..

does the column wobble???  

the bracket that attaches the tilt hinge to the column tube can come loose..  causing all kinds of weird problems..  

Thanks. This weekend, I'll be doing it. Life is chaotic so limited time to address it. But this weekend. I will !
Thanks