New tires, new tirerods and it still wanders from side to side

[243]

With the engine running, I can move the steering wheel a very small amount and see the tires move as well. I have replaced the tie-rods with Moog parts, have new tires inflated correctly and still get some side to side wandering.

Could this be the steering box?

The only other possibility is the rag joint and is does not appear to have rotational play in it.

I can hardly keep this Jeep staight on the road.

[Iron Horse]

Did you get it aligned after new parts installed? Steering stabilizer? Hmmmm....

[243]

Yep, had it aligned but that doesn't mean caca since NTB did it. Heck, all there is is a toe adjustment.

[Michael]

Could be play in the steering gear. Same on mine. Replaced everything and still had play. Replaced the gear and gone. Handles great. You only want about 1" of play. Any more then your gear may need to be adjusted or just replaced.

[Brown Bear]

It may also be bad or loose pieces in the steering linkage or axles, or even wheel bearings. It could also be bad body mounts too, I've seen shevy's list to the side whilst going do the road to the point that you had to tie the steering wheel down just to keep it straight.

[Narnian]

I thought Jeeps were supposed to sway from side to side You know, like in the commercial where is shakes all the mud off . . . ?

[Michael]

Sure in 4 low.... You can jack up the front of the rig and grab the wheel and move it side to side up and down. If it moves( without the suspension/steering moving) the bearings need to be replaced or repacked. Or even worse. The Ball Joints. Look under and see if you have any Ball joint travel. I replaced the bearings first and then all the steering ,leaving me with the steering gear(PIA) Once I did that the steering is awesome. Good luck. I totally spent about $260 and did the entire front end except the ball joints. No labor of course. And bloody knuckles...LOL :eek:

[River Beast]

243,

Balljoints are possibility as well... but if you had it aligned and they didn't check them..... you wouldn't know unless you checke them yourself.

Also... there is more that can be done for alignment... degreed spindle shims and degreed upper balljoint adjustment sleeves... this type of alignment correction is $100 + to have done... but if it needs it, do it. 'Good' alignment shops have the capabilities and the 'know how'... Pep Boys and like places do not.

Also... check the bolts securing your steering box to your frame. Mine had come loose long ago and a buddy noticed the box flexing off the frame when I was turning. If it is loose, check the frame for stress cracks just in case.

[Julian Sharp]

I had the same problem replaced the drag link only and cleared it up - was wandering all over the place. Not that expensive!

[ClarkstonGT]

I have the same problem right now. My Jeep handled OK, but I replaced the steering gear box with an Advance Autoparts rebuild because it was leaking and I just like new parts. After that, the steering got really squirrely. I replaced everything up front including bearings, tie rod ends, etc. Still handled like crap. I finally took it to a mechanic today who says he thinks the box itself is bad (now he tells me). He thinks its binding internally. Before I replaced the box, you could turn the steering wheel with your pinky finger. After, you really had to muscle it. It is almost impossible to hold in a straight line. I called Advance and they will replace it. Now, I get to spend Saturday swapping steering boxes. I guess what I am trying to say is that those boxes can be flaky so you may want to look there.

[ November 29, 2001: Message edited by: ClarkstonGT ]

[jeepbob]

I have not found a 74 up FSJ that did not have wore out universal joint at the top of the steering shaft where it meets the column. This is usually the cause of wandering as there will be slop in the shaft. and the usual check which is to grab the steering shaft and twist it back and forth to check for slop in the steering gear will not show it unless you look at the steering wheel. These joints are not rebuildable so I usually replace the shaft with a chevy pick up shaft. I also have seen the joints frozen up which makes for some hard steering.