i think my steering box might be going bad ? i hear a metallic sounding clank coming from i think the steering box...if i wiggle the steering wheel back and forth slightly..with the engine off...when im driving i can also hear that clank even if i dont move the steering wheel.... also while I'm driving i get a vibration in the steering wheel around 45 mph... sometimes , not always... i checked everything made sure nothing was lose... steering does feel like their is alittle more play in it .. i have 37's with beadlocks...
so i was just wondering what the symptoms of a bad steering box where ? thanks for the help

 

Look for side play in the lower shaft where it exits the steering box.
Look for input shaft rotation with no output shaft rotation.

Be careful about condemning the steering box.
Any other steering component, including ball joints, can cause noises and looseness.

Look the entire system over while someone else rotates the steering wheel back and forth.

edit to add:

Suspension components should be looked at, too.

 

thanks .. ill look it over and see if i can find anything... i just read some stories about people having to replace their steering box so that started me thinking.. but i hope it is not the steering box.. ill investigate alittle more

 

I'd check the shafts first, and the knuckles. I've broken all the components a couple times. I also broke the steering box before. The box broke when I was at a crazy angle with all the wieght of the jeep on the front driver wheel, and I cranked it to turn--IOW is was a situation that is ordinary. The shafts/knuckle broke just from wheeling over rocks and taking a few hits faster than I should have been going.

I finally put in a PSC Hydro (I had 37's at the time).

There are a couple thread on here that talk about steering shaft problems.

 

will the PSC hydro kit fix the problem with the steering wheel becoming off center after off-roading. i made a k-turn in na tight ass parking lot and my driver side front tire hit a curb and the steering wheel became off center again and was wondering if the PSC will cure this?

 

No. The steering wheel is off because something is giving or bending, frequently the tie rod. even a slight bend in the tire can move your wheel. My wife's rubi has never had the steering wheel off center. I had an angle iron welded to her tie rod. Beefed up C's help too (her's are still stock though).

There are a couple threads that describe how to recenter your wheel. It is a common affliction.