steering death

[Benskate1]

well, ive always had a little play in my steering wheel, and it has gotten much worse over time, i now have some 4 to 5 inches in both directoins. i believe its this bearing in the steering box. who knows a good place to pick up a steering box or bearing for an 86 cherokee?

[MudderChuck]

I dislike, wasting money and changing parts, that might be the problem. Crawl under your vehicle, with a flashlight and have someone turn the steering wheel left and right of center about an inch a couple of hundred times and check each joint closley. Paying special attention to the tie rod ends, the shaft leaving the steering box and the one entering the steering box. The track bar mounts, top and bottom and the pitman arm joint at the linkage. Might try, supporting your vehicle by the axle and doing the same thing again, watching out of the corner of your eye, how far the steering wheel has to be turned, before the tires begin to turn. Also use your ears, there are often tell tale clicks and ticks.
If someone is turning the steering wheel a total of an inch or two from center and the pitman arm isn´t moving, probably time for a rebuilt steering box. I´ve never had much luck at adjusting steering boxes, either the adjustment didn´t do much or things were rusted solid. Afraid I´d break it, trying to fix it.
I´ve ordered rebuilt boxes from Lares. corp. ( www.larescorp.com ) in the past, but they have grown, they may not accept single orders anymore. Used to be a good place to have custom boxes made, different ratio´s, faster turning etc.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[Bounty__Hunter]

If all the tierod ends check out, there is an adjustment in the steering box, I believe it's an allen head set screw, be very careful to not overadjust.

[MudderChuck]

That allen head screw, on the top of the steering box, seems to have more to do, with the centering of the steering wheel, than removing the play from the shafts. Though it does have some effect. Like BH said, overtightening, can cause serious, stiffness in the steering. Have had some luck loosening the lock nut by the steering box imput shaft and tightening the spanner type ring, a little. But don´t know, if I´d try it, on my daily driver, mostly on my fun trucks. Book says the box, has to be removed and the spanner adjusted, while turning the imput shaft, with an inch pound torque wrench.

[Benskate1]

well the pitman arm is rather loose and moves abit, that is what steers me towards the gear box.

[MudderChuck]

I´ve stuck a big block of wood, between the steering arm, connected to the pitman arm and used a big C clamp, to clamp it tight, to something immovable (on my YJ). Play in the steering box, shows up real good, as will a loose, ball type joint, at the end of the pitman arm. At the same time, with the axle supported (the wheels off the ground), twist the tire, front and rear, have someone watch the steering parts. Things are often, a combination of a little here and a little there adding up to a lot. Don´t forget the top, track bar joint (often the major problem).

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[Benskate1]

well i dropped 200 bones on a new box, and now its all good. no more crap. thanks though for all the ideas, it turns out after further inspectoni the entire sector shaft in the box was shattered. so yep.

[MudderChuck]

The last steering box I had go out (excessive play), seemed to be because the trac bar upper joint had play and the front end shifting left and right, hammered on the end of the pitman arm pretty good. Lossening up the sector shaft. Wasn´t a gradual thing, the trac bar and box both went out about the same time. Probably drove it with the loose trac bar a little to long.

[sparkyshotrods25]

i AGREE WITH HIM,CHECK EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST.I HAVE HAD TWO GRANDS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND,I FINALLY FOUND A GEAR BOX THAT WASNT AROUND 400 BUCKS.I BOUGHT ONE AUTO ZONE(NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE THOSE BY YOU)BUT IT WAS ONLY 150 BUCKS.THE FRONT END I CHECKED 6 TIMES AND TOOK IT TO A COUPLE PLACES,AND THE STEERING SHAFT SEEMED TO BE TIGHT EVEN THOUGHT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE PIN FOR THE UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS OF THE SHAFT.THERE IS PLAY IN THE WHEEL AND EVERYTIME I HIT A BUMP THE WHEELS TURN AND I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT.SO YOU BE THE JUDGE