could be a few diff things. Pointless to try and guess. If it was me, I would try it both ways. In my experience front end problems do not always show themself just sitting there in the driveway. Sometimes it takes getting them off the ground and shaking things around. Sometimes it takes the weight of the vehicle to make things bind up and duplicate. I would try it both ways. Your experience may be different.

 

My steering got so loose that eventually I had to hold on with two hands to make it around corners. I had someone rock the steering wheel while I sat underneath and looked at the sector shaft coming out of the box. It was moving sideways.

After a lot of bitching dealer replaced it under warranty.

I would love an aftermarket box, but I think currently the only aftermarket box is a hydro assist from PSC and I have no need for that. If someone knows of another please chime in..

 

You are correct. When it comes to the front end and you want to find something loose you need to get the front end off the floor. I'll have to wait until next weekend though. Thanks!

 

I'll have to pay for mine if thats the case. The PSC is nice, but too $$$ and I use 35" tires which doesn't beg for a hydro assist.

 

i thought the steering box has adjustment on the top? mine has a little play but nothing serious yet. usually theres a hex set srew and a jam nut on the top of the box. I'm sure i'll have to do it soon but like on the ol ford's if you over tighten it the steering wheel won't re-center after making a turn, the adjustment is minimal, like a 1/8 of a turn at a time if i remember corectly. but try it and see, mark the bolt where it is now and turn it slightly, see what happens

 

Everything I have read says to never touch that screw as you can mess thins up bad.

 

Are you sure you aren't just feeling the "flighty" feel that you get from too little caster? If you lifted 3" and added 35's then you need to adj your caster.

 

When I was at 3" I didn't have this problem. Then my caster was at 7. I know too high. I did have driveline vibes at 55mph. Now I'm at 5" and my caster is at 0. Only had time to get it checked out. Next weekend I'll get my JK aligned. Everything is off, so we'll have to see. I just feel that that the jeep reacts late to my steering.

 

oh ya for sure, it can end up in bad news but any ol school mech will do it by feel although theres an actual mesurement with a micrometer. the worst that'll happen is that the steering wheel won't re-center itself you'll have to manually steer the thing. But i've done it on big rigs at work and no prob as long as you mark your initall position of the screw and go a little bit at a time in a flat parking lot.

 

I read that you are supposed to do it with the wheels off the ground? Then somewhere else I read u are supposed to actually remove the box to do it. What is the exact procedure and how often should it be done?