Kyleinreallife Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 I'm getting a steering wobble from 40-45 mph. All my linkage seems tight, bushings are a bit worn, but the wobble has about 2 inches of play. There's a lot of slop in my steering box. When I check it, it was all the way tighten, surprisingly, I backed it all the way out which adjusted most of the slop out but, still have about a 1/3turn of the wheel in slack...could that be the source of the wobble? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 I'm getting a steering wobble from 40-45 mph. All my linkage seems tight, bushings are a bit worn, but the wobble has about 2 inches of play. There's a lot of slop in my steering box. When I check it, it was all the way tighten, surprisingly, I backed it all the way out which adjusted most of the slop out but, still have about a 1/3turn of the wheel in slack...could that be the source of the wobble? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk This doesn't make sense. To reduce slop in the steering box, the over-center adjustment screw is turned in, not out. If you have slop when it's turned in as far as it will go, then it's time for a replacement steering box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyleinreallife Posted August 22, 2017 Author Share Posted August 22, 2017 I'm getting a steering wobble from 40-45 mph. All my linkage seems tight, bushings are a bit worn, but the wobble has about 2 inches of play. There's a lot of slop in my steering box. When I check it, it was all the way tighten, surprisingly, I backed it all the way out which adjusted most of the slop out but, still have about a 1/3turn of the wheel in slack...could that be the source of the wobble? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk This doesn't make sense. To reduce slop in the steering box, the over-center adjustment screw is turned in, not out. If you have slop when it's turned in as far as it will go, then it's time for a replacement steering box. I understand that, which is why I was puzzled that dialing it out removed some of the slop....anyone know much about the internals of it? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokinn Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I wouldn't recommend buying a rebuilt one if you can avoid it. I had mine rebuilt by a local company that does that and had a slower worm gear (from a ZJ I believe) installed. He also lowered the psi in the power steering pump to about 9psi IIRC. It's a much nicer steering experience now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I wouldn't recommend buying a rebuilt one if you can avoid it. I had mine rebuilt by a local company that does that and had a slower worm gear (from a ZJ I believe) installed. He also lowered the psi in the power steering pump to about 9psi IIRC. It's a much nicer steering experience now. Why would you want slower steering? Personally, I want faster. (But ... I don't do any rock crawling these days.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokinn Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 I found it to be hyper responsive thus requiring hyper vigilance when just cruising down the road. Granted, replacing most of the suspension and steering components improved the need to correct the wheel also but I like the feel of putting a little more intention into the wheel when cruising and I don't have a sense of it being too slow around town either. Perhaps fast and slow aren't the proper terms. I haven't had direct experience with towing from pre and post rebuild and thus can't verify myself, but the rebuilder said I would also find with the slower gear that what was being towed would have less of an appearance of a tail being wagged. Reducing pressure in the power steering pump has made it sound a lot less like it's ready for lift off also. Whether the pressure was above what is normal for an MJ I can't say but he did say it really didn't need to be as high as it was and still do its job properly. The steering box was totally shot and from what I could gather buying a remanufactured one was a crap shoot with low odds of it lasting very long which is why I had a local guy with a good reputation rebuild it for me. The one in it was a reman, just to prove the point. So far I'm happy with the result. Cost was $150. Not all that much more than a remanufactured one and I find doing things more than once from insufficient quality control to be highly annoying. Besides, I like supporting the local economy and stay away from cheap Chinese crap when ever I can. Sorry if the answer was overly long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 The factory steering box ratio is 14:1. When I needed a box for the 2001 XJ I was fixing up for my daughter, I got a ZJ box (at Hornbrod's advice). That has a 12.7:1 ratio. That was nice, but I think for my good MJ I may go for a 10:1 box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokinn Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Sounds like we are thinking in the same vein. I'd be curious about the 10:1 ratio when you do it. I imagine I think I might prefer is as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Sounds like we are thinking in the same vein. I'd be curious about the 10:1 ratio when you do it. I imagine I think I might prefer is as well. ?? 10:1 is faster than 14:1, not slower. Sounds to me like we're thinking in opposite veins, not the same. Stock box is 3-1/2 turns lock-to-lock. The 12.7:1 box is 3 turns lock-to-lock. A 10:1 box should be approximately 2-1/2 turns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Faster is better for all things. Except making love. :chillin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokinn Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Then my terminology is backwards and thus my description faulty. The ZJ worm gear got me the effect I was looking for. Thanks for the correction and clarification. :bowdown: I seem to recall a preference by some to the "slow hand." :chillin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Faster is better for all things. Except making love. :chillin: And rock crawling with monster tires. A slower steering ratio is usually considered to be better for that. In fact, the off-road package in the very early XJs (and possibly MJs) came with an 18:1 steering box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Faster is better for all things. Except making love. :chillin: And rock crawling with monster tires. A slower steering ratio is usually considered to be better for that. In fact, the off-road package in the very early XJs (and possibly MJs) came with an 18:1 steering box. And I'm sure you don't do either of the above anymore. :peek: :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokinn Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Nice after the fact edit there. The second sentence wasn't in your original post. An attempt at a little levity on my part(seems these things are easy to misunderstand in this cyber world ours) turns into a personal attack response from you. My apologies if you thought I was being somehow denigrating toward you. It wasn't meant as such. Have a nice day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Nice after the fact edit there. The second sentence wasn't in your original post. An attempt at a little levity on my part(seems these things are easy to misunderstand in this cyber world ours) turns into a personal attack response from you. My apologies if you thought I was being somehow denigrating toward you. It wasn't meant as such. Have a nice day. ??? Who edited what, and who attacked whom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyleinreallife Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 K guys back to jeeps. I'm looking to swap to the 6, I have and 87. What year donor xj should I be looking for? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 K guys back to jeeps. I'm looking to swap to the 6, I have and 87. What year donor xj should I be looking for? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Start a new topic. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 K guys back to jeeps. I'm looking to swap to the 6, I have and 87. What year donor xj should I be looking for? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Start a new topic. :thumbsup: ^^^ Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 The factory steering box ratio is 14:1. When I needed a box for the 2001 XJ I was fixing up for my daughter, I got a ZJ box (at Hornbrod's advice). That has a 12.7:1 ratio. That was nice, but I think for my good MJ I may go for a 10:1 box. Where are you going to find a 10:1 box? Special order? From an old dirt track stock car? :yes: They would be super twitchy on the road. 12:1 was the quickest factory bolt-in Saginaw box I know of, and they are super hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 The factory steering box ratio is 14:1. When I needed a box for the 2001 XJ I was fixing up for my daughter, I got a ZJ box (at Hornbrod's advice). That has a 12.7:1 ratio. That was nice, but I think for my good MJ I may go for a 10:1 box. Where are you going to find a 10:1 box? Special order? From an old dirt track stock car? :yes: They would be super twitchy on the road. 12:1 was the quickest factory bolt-in Saginaw box I know of, and they are super hard to find. AGR Steering offers Saginaw boxes with a 10:1 ratio. I don't think it would be especially twitchy at all -- it would be about like newer cars with rackety pinion steering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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