Steering Linkage Pop....Somewhere...

[SoCalManche]

I snagged my MJ back in 2018, and it's always had a "pop" in the steering; I attributed this to a botched steering box. Well, after finally really looking at the issue, something just does not seem right. Pop continues, but I don't necessarily know if it's the box? I've checked the trackbar for slop/play, a ZJ tie rod (NIB) has been installed, and ball joints seem fine. 

 

Does this look like abnormal articulation? The springs are bowing out a tad, and I've had a suspicion that maybe when the previous owner did the long arm mod with adjustable control arms, that maybe the axle isn't fully where it needs to be? Any help is much appreciated.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ipypqy31hcVElrb1Nv1ch95pTDBgvwE1/view?usp=sharing

[Pete M]

I can see your track bar bracket moving

[SoCalManche]

1 hour ago, Pete M said:

I can see your track bar bracket moving

Holy hell, I can finally see it. You're right! Oh...that's not good....lol. 

 

THANK YOU PETE.

[Pete M]

your body is moving way too much relative to the axle so that helps narrow down where to look.

 

also, sawing the wheel back and forth rapidly from like 10-2 oclock works better at finding movement than the slow back and forth.   

[Minuit]

Yep - saw it right away. The body moving over the axle when steering is 100% a sign of track bar looseness, putting aside the fact that it's clear in the video. Had it even worse on my 89. Resolve the looseness and look from there.

 

Tightening that up should make your truck drive considerably better too.

[cruiser54]

Loosening up track bars was such an issue when these platforms were new, that during Pre-Delivery Inspection, we tightened the bolts trackbar bracket to frame. 

[AZJeff]

8 hours ago, cruiser54 said:

Loosening up track bars was such an issue when these platforms were new, that during Pre-Delivery Inspection, we tightened the bolts trackbar bracket to frame. 

The spec. for track bar nuts (depending on which ones) is no more than about 90 ft-lbs.   While that is high, I would torque them ALL to about 100 ft-lbs, and use self-locking nuts or Loctite on the nuts.   They are either 7/16 or 1/2 inch diameter, and the limit for grade 8 with dry threads is supposed to be 110 ft.-lbs, so I don't think they are overtorqued at 100.

 

It seems those nuts have a propensity to loosen up relatively easily, for whatever reason.

[Pete M]

while you're in there, check the frame for any cracking between the track bar bracket and the steering box.   

[AZJeff]

2 hours ago, Pete M said:

while you're in there, check the frame for any cracking between the track bar bracket and the steering box.   

Good point.

[cruiser54]

The reason they loosen up is the torque spec was too low at the factory.

10 more foot pounds added to that low spec ain't gonna help.

During the PDI, we used a foot long wrench and hung our whole body weight on it while the Jeep was on the lift. I weighed 185 pounds back then. I weigh that today also.....

The bolts moved about 1/4 turn.

[AZJeff]

15 hours ago, cruiser54 said:

The reason they loosen up is the torque spec was too low at the factory.

10 more foot pounds added to that low spec ain't gonna help.

During the PDI, we used a foot long wrench and hung our whole body weight on it while the Jeep was on the lift. I weighed 185 pounds back then. I weigh that today also.....

The bolts moved about 1/4 turn.

Gee, Cruiser.  That would imply you were torquing them to 185 ft-lbs or more.  I guess the bolts are strong enough to handle it

[cruiser54]

Yup. No 110 ft/lbs for me!!

 

I've used my 3/8 drive impact also. No worries.