My jeep is trying to kill me...

[Wrangl3r93]

Well the steering in my jeep has never been what I'd call tight but since I put my lift on it's getting progressively worse. Right after the lift before i got it aligned i was scared to drive it. The guy who aligned it told me there is slack in the gear box and he tried but no getting rid of it. She drives straight as an arrow but it's me that's gonna kill myself with this steering. If i try to adjust my course i have to turn the wheel a good ways then it seems to oversteer so i'm constantly fighting to keep her on the road, but if i get her straight and let go of the wheel she'll drive straight all day. I know i've been saying it forever now but getting my tires in no later than a month and I'm scared they'll only make it worse. I'm guessing gear box but is there anywhere else i should be looking and how much is this gonna run me?

 

[Dorivin]

Check out your drive shaft, I am getting the death wabble due to my drive shaft being messed up. Could be a number of things though, I can't really think of anything off the top of my head.

 

[lethaldose]

thats kinda the way mine is i believe most of my slack is in the gearbox as well .... did the guy tell you how to help adjust the lash on the gearbox ?? ... also have you replaced all the basic stuff like tierods ect..

 

[Utah_jeepster]

What you need to do is have a friend turn the steering wheel as you lay in front of your jeep, left and right while the jeep is running and when its off.
This will tell you if any of your tie-rod ends are blown, and where the play is coming from.(watching the pit man arm as he turns/long time will mean the gear box). Seeing laterial movment in the whole axle could mean nex bushings in the leaf springs.
Also look at your idler-arm and other steering componets, if there bent this could cause some flexing while turning the steering wheel.

 

[Wrangl3r93]

Ok lifted it and tried to find where the loose steering is coming from. Pitman arm. It shifts around a little before the steering connects. I'm gonna try tightening it when i get home from work tonight not sure if i can get it to stop

 

[lethaldose]

i read from an article i googled up about adjusting the gearbox lash/preload and it said the lock nut and adjuster is on the top of the box .. if that might help any ....

 

[mud4feet]

From what Utah said and how you replied, sounds like you need to be shopping for a gearbox (if adjusting it doesn't cure it).

 

[Wrangl3r93]

How much is that gonna cost me?
Someone:Hey what'd you get for christmas?
Me:A gear box!
That same someone: heck yeah i've always wanted one of those!