.....That the JK's 16:1 steering ratio seems more like 20:1 and may in fact be that slow? I hate the slowness of it and especially the 15 degrees to either side of center. The only other JK I've driven was a 2dr X exactly like the one I bought awhile later and it had very quick response. It was set up just like I set this one with same tires, wheels and lift height. Mine takes about a full turn of the wheel to turn 90 degrees and the other one which was a rental in Moab took about a half turn of the wheel. I read that the 4dr X may have a quicker and more expensive steering gearbox. Maybe the one I rented had one of those as it was one of the first ones produced. It had 15000 miles on it when I rented it in October of '07.
I have designed a long pitman arm to achieve about 12:1 steering and will post a writeup when I get it tested. There will be pics......

 

My steering sucks hairy balls too...

corey d

 

The 2dr and 4dr do have different steering box part numbers. Put one of each next to each other and see if the wheels turn different amounts with the same amount of steering wheel input.

What do you mean "Mine takes about a full turn of the wheel to turn 90 degrees and the other one which was a rental in Moab took about a half turn of the wheel."
I don't know of any vehicle (other than some lawn mowers) that can turn the wheels 90 degrees.

 

Put one of each next to each other and see --------Uh, I don't see that happening in the short term.


I don't know of any vehicle that can turn the wheels 90 degrees--------ya, me neither but at most intersections one's JK must turn 90 degrees left or right.

 

Seems like that would reduce your mechanical advantage over the wheels. Maybe not a factor on the road, but could be bad for some situations off road.

 

It depends how far you swing out.........you can't just say turn 90 degrees. You can't really judge by that....

 

x3 here the steering on these things suck. It's like steering a bowl of jello. Replaced the tie rod/drag link and the stabilizer with beefier aftermarket parts and that helped a lot. Still stuck with the cheap ass steering gear, steering shaft and ball joints though.

 

Here is the completed pitman arm project. I wanted to weld this up but the Hobart Handler 180 couldn't penetrate the 3/4 inch thickness of the parts and so I had a locally notable shop do it. I asked Bob the shop foreman how many amps it woud take to do it and he replied about 200. I asked him if a Lincoln 225 ac welder, the ubiquitous buzz box, would do it and he said, probably. Lastly, I asked what welder in his shop full of coffin sized welders he would use and he said "hhmmmm, I'm not sure". This is what he returned to me fully painted and he seemed as happy with the result as I was/am with prospect of a quick turning JK.


I've driven a few miles since the install and am real pleased with the improvement. It turns faster and tracks better without the center steering vagueness which is communinally hated. I'll take it out for 50 miles or so today to pick up a Lincoln 225 ( 6 months old for just $150, yeeehaww!! ) and report more observations. More pics can be found here.

http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j2.../Pitman%20Arm/

Btw, I tested the arm by inserting it into the hitch receiver and lifting the JK with a floor jack using the arm as a lever.

 

I have not but some of you have driven both the 2dr and 4dr X and may have noticed the difference if any in steering quickness. Can you post your observation?

 

Do you have a 2 or 4 DR?