Steering wheel too loose caught on VIDEO , please help w issue
03-19-2016, 03:23 PM
#1
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Steering wheel too loose caught on VIDEO , please help w issue
Hey guys ,
So I have an 07 jku sahara w/ a 4" RC lift ,AEV lower control arm brackets, dual RC steering stabilizer and 35's w aftermarket wheels. I just recently took it to a jeep expert shop to have it aligned . its been lifted for over a year now but I feel like i always need to have my hands on the wheel,its a daily driver and never off road
as you can see in the video the steering wheel is not as tight as it should be OR maybe everyones jeep is like this and I'm going crazy . I know its not a sportscar and I've owned jk, tj and YJ but i really feel the steering should be tighter then this
Please share input or any advice on items i can purchase to make my on road driving experience a much better one , i added a youtube link
https://youtu.be/s82z5GYyFR8
So I have an 07 jku sahara w/ a 4" RC lift ,AEV lower control arm brackets, dual RC steering stabilizer and 35's w aftermarket wheels. I just recently took it to a jeep expert shop to have it aligned . its been lifted for over a year now but I feel like i always need to have my hands on the wheel,its a daily driver and never off road
as you can see in the video the steering wheel is not as tight as it should be OR maybe everyones jeep is like this and I'm going crazy . I know its not a sportscar and I've owned jk, tj and YJ but i really feel the steering should be tighter then this
Please share input or any advice on items i can purchase to make my on road driving experience a much better one , i added a youtube link
https://youtu.be/s82z5GYyFR8
03-19-2016, 03:37 PM
#2
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thats about what mine is maybe a luttle tighter but not to much somthing to check would be the steering shock i replaced mine a couple weeks ago and it helped a bit. Hopefully someone with alittle more knowledge on jk steering will chime in.
~sam
Happy Jeeping
~sam
Happy Jeeping
03-19-2016, 03:48 PM
#3
JK Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 3,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How many miles ?
Fwiw i ran thE RC dual stabs and it made the steering worse after a while. Removed and sold .. The buyer said they started to leak and threw em
In the garbage. First step .. Get rid of them. Or at least run one.
Have you read Plan man's DW/shimmy thread?
Fwiw i ran thE RC dual stabs and it made the steering worse after a while. Removed and sold .. The buyer said they started to leak and threw em
In the garbage. First step .. Get rid of them. Or at least run one.
Have you read Plan man's DW/shimmy thread?
03-19-2016, 04:03 PM
#4
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Im honestly thinking about replacing with a complete new lift kit let alone the stabilizer , honestly not to impressed with RC's onroad ability , pretty rough ride in my opinion but I'm checking first to see if there is anything that may be more important to replace for now because i can deal with the rough shocks
I'm at about 130000 now . No I haven't , do you have the link so i can take a peak
I'm at about 130000 now . No I haven't , do you have the link so i can take a peak
03-19-2016, 04:31 PM
#5
JK Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CT
Posts: 3,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
03-19-2016, 05:11 PM
#6
JK Jedi Master
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 0
Received 162 Likes
on
154 Posts
You have a drop pitman and trackbar bracket dropping from the frame? What are the alignment specs?
That writeup is a great resource for checking torque and finding worn components. After reading through it, you could also find a few threads on adjusting the steering box and see what you think.
That writeup is a great resource for checking torque and finding worn components. After reading through it, you could also find a few threads on adjusting the steering box and see what you think.
03-19-2016, 05:37 PM
#7
JK Super Freak
Very likely a bad ends on you drag link.
Have someone sit in the Jeep with it running, (so you have power steering helping), and have them wiggle the wheel like that with it sitting on level ground. While they wiggle the wheel, crawl under the front end and find where the worn out part is. Most likely the drag link (the part connecting the pitman arm to the passenger side wheel). Mine is bad, not as bad as yours, but it is doing basically the same thing. With it being that worn, you should be able to see the looseness without having to touch it, but go ahead and grab on to it at the adjuster sleeve in the middle and see what it feels like, you will be able to feel it clunking and rattling as the steering box moves the pitman arm back and forth.
Happy Jeeping.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
Have someone sit in the Jeep with it running, (so you have power steering helping), and have them wiggle the wheel like that with it sitting on level ground. While they wiggle the wheel, crawl under the front end and find where the worn out part is. Most likely the drag link (the part connecting the pitman arm to the passenger side wheel). Mine is bad, not as bad as yours, but it is doing basically the same thing. With it being that worn, you should be able to see the looseness without having to touch it, but go ahead and grab on to it at the adjuster sleeve in the middle and see what it feels like, you will be able to feel it clunking and rattling as the steering box moves the pitman arm back and forth.
Happy Jeeping.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
Trending Topics
03-20-2016, 07:37 AM
#8
JK Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd start with removing the dual steering stabilizer set up . It would not hurt to run none until you narrow down what is wrong . then run one at the most , I still run none with 35-1250-17s. Then I would have someone help you do the dry steering test . Look at every connection on the front end and feel it also for any clunk and watch for TRE movement . Then jack it up a little and check the ball joints.
03-20-2016, 05:57 PM
#9
JK Newbie
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MI
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very likely a bad ends on you drag link.
Have someone sit in the Jeep with it running, (so you have power steering helping), and have them wiggle the wheel like that with it sitting on level ground. While they wiggle the wheel, crawl under the front end and find where the worn out part is. Most likely the drag link (the part connecting the pitman arm to the passenger side wheel). Mine is bad, not as bad as yours, but it is doing basically the same thing. With it being that worn, you should be able to see the looseness without having to touch it, but go ahead and grab on to it at the adjuster sleeve in the middle and see what it feels like, you will be able to feel it clunking and rattling as the steering box moves the pitman arm back and forth.
Happy Jeeping.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
Have someone sit in the Jeep with it running, (so you have power steering helping), and have them wiggle the wheel like that with it sitting on level ground. While they wiggle the wheel, crawl under the front end and find where the worn out part is. Most likely the drag link (the part connecting the pitman arm to the passenger side wheel). Mine is bad, not as bad as yours, but it is doing basically the same thing. With it being that worn, you should be able to see the looseness without having to touch it, but go ahead and grab on to it at the adjuster sleeve in the middle and see what it feels like, you will be able to feel it clunking and rattling as the steering box moves the pitman arm back and forth.
Happy Jeeping.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
03-20-2016, 06:59 PM
#10
JK Super Freak
Will see what I can do for a video, but it might take a bit. My calendar is pretty full these days.
The Jeep JK steering system is pretty straight forward though. You have the tie rod, the drag link, wheel bearings, and ball joints. There is the steering stabilizer, but it generally just masks problems rather than causes them. (There are exceptions to ever rule, so no need to flame me on that one).
If you follow the steps I described in my previous post, and apply it to every part you will find your problem. Tie rods and drag links both have "tie-rod ends." When these ware out they become loose, if they are loose enough for you to feel it in your steering, you will be able to see it and feet it in the part itself. When following the practice from my previous post, anything that you find loose in the steering components is worn out and should be replaced, no exceptions. There should be no play in any of you steering components on a Jeep JK. Yes they will turn a bit (clock wise/counter-clock wise, as they are all basically ball and socket joints) but there should be no lateral play.
For the wheel bearings and ball joints, jack up one front tire at a time (with the jack under either axle side lower control arm mount to lift one wheel at a time). With the jeep turned off and the wheels pointed strait, grab the front and back of the tire, and try to move it, pushing and pulling at each end of the tire back and forth to see what it does. Keep an eye on the steering components (i.e. Tie rod). If the wheel will move independently of the steering components then you have a bad wheel bearing. Next, place a pry bar between the lifted tire and the ground surface, and have a friend attempt to pry the tire up repetitively, in quick jerking motions. While they do this look at the ball joints, if there is any up and down movement (I.e. Compression of the ball joints when prying up on the wheel), then the ball joints are bad, and need to be replaced.
Again, from the original video posted my money is on the drag link being bad. If the drag link is tight, and the rest of the steering components are as well, then it has to be in the steering gear box, or the linkage from the steering wheel to the box. Both are far less likely.
Hope this helps.
Happy Jeeping.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
The Jeep JK steering system is pretty straight forward though. You have the tie rod, the drag link, wheel bearings, and ball joints. There is the steering stabilizer, but it generally just masks problems rather than causes them. (There are exceptions to ever rule, so no need to flame me on that one).
If you follow the steps I described in my previous post, and apply it to every part you will find your problem. Tie rods and drag links both have "tie-rod ends." When these ware out they become loose, if they are loose enough for you to feel it in your steering, you will be able to see it and feet it in the part itself. When following the practice from my previous post, anything that you find loose in the steering components is worn out and should be replaced, no exceptions. There should be no play in any of you steering components on a Jeep JK. Yes they will turn a bit (clock wise/counter-clock wise, as they are all basically ball and socket joints) but there should be no lateral play.
For the wheel bearings and ball joints, jack up one front tire at a time (with the jack under either axle side lower control arm mount to lift one wheel at a time). With the jeep turned off and the wheels pointed strait, grab the front and back of the tire, and try to move it, pushing and pulling at each end of the tire back and forth to see what it does. Keep an eye on the steering components (i.e. Tie rod). If the wheel will move independently of the steering components then you have a bad wheel bearing. Next, place a pry bar between the lifted tire and the ground surface, and have a friend attempt to pry the tire up repetitively, in quick jerking motions. While they do this look at the ball joints, if there is any up and down movement (I.e. Compression of the ball joints when prying up on the wheel), then the ball joints are bad, and need to be replaced.
Again, from the original video posted my money is on the drag link being bad. If the drag link is tight, and the rest of the steering components are as well, then it has to be in the steering gear box, or the linkage from the steering wheel to the box. Both are far less likely.
Hope this helps.
Happy Jeeping.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
Last edited by tjkamp; 03-20-2016 at 07:04 PM.