Steering play too much! What to do?

5StarRising · 04-16-2007, 01:17 AM

Gotta 78 Cj5 project, when driving this thing I can hit a pot hole and almost loose control and wreck. I found the majority of the free play to be in my steering tube ends that mount to the spindles (ball joints) I replaced the tube and joints with a brand new set up and still have the movement freeplay. When I tighten down the nuts on the joint the ball joint itself will spin inside of the socket under the boot and It will not let me tighten it anymore. Does this sound like the tapered holes on the spindles are worn out? Is this common on these old things? What to do, a few tips from the veterans would be great.. Thanks

**thantos858** · 04-16-2007, 02:04 AM

replace all the bushings. while doing that check all the bolts and connections for play. See if anything is bent or stretched from years of abuse. Could also be play from the steering box. I know on my 74 i tightend up the box and replaced the steering stabalizer it was a lot smoother.

jeepmor · 04-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Do a search for jeepmor and steering. I did an extensive laundry list a month or two ago and pretty much went through the whole system for what the check, replace and/or tighten to improve steering. Only think I know I left out was ball joints.

Regardless, give it a try, I'm not writing it up all over again.

5StarRising · 04-16-2007, 10:25 PM

Thantos.. Is there bushings in the holes where the steering tie rod ends go? I believe the holes are tapered.. Amazingly my upper and lower control arm bushings are ok, but the problem lies in the steering. If some one turns the steering wheel and you watch where the play is, you will see the steering tube travel with out moving the wheels for about and 1" in either direction..

Jeepmor I searched for that info and found a ton of other stuff, can you send me a link to the exact article you had.. Thanks

Mr.Crowley · 04-16-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StarRising

Thantos.. Is there bushings in the holes where the steering tie rod ends go? I believe the holes are tapered..

yes there tapered,unless they have been flipped..then they could be reamed for larger TRE's or for bushings...something sounds worn or something..any chance of pics?

5StarRising · 04-17-2007, 02:31 AM

They havent been flipped, when I got it, it was bone stock, and beat to s**t, the stock steering bar was bent and it seemed to have just as much free play now as it did then before changing bar and ends. Ill take a few pics..

Rob

5StarRising · 04-17-2007, 02:54 AM

heres some pics

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/ballhair_2006/100_2969.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/ballhair_2006/100_2965.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/ballhair_2006/100_2970.jpg

**thantos858** · 04-17-2007, 04:58 AM

cant see much from them the last one its dark. Did you get under it and see how much you could move each part by hand. Have you also checked the fluid i know its strange but it helps to get the simple done before going more indepth and costly. just make sure everything is tightend down to spec and lubed up correctly. If bolts are spinning then something is worn to much and probably needs to be replaced. Might also try a alignment shop it worked on my pickup before the jeep that had loose steering.

CJ7Memphis · 04-17-2007, 04:28 PM

Check the bearings in the bell coupler. I had a ton of play before I replaced them.

Dresnick · 04-17-2007, 04:50 PM

I had a ton of play in my CJ and it turned out the steering box mounting bolts were lose.

kbtriumph · 04-17-2007, 06:37 PM

Did you check the spring bushings?

Hit the TRE nuts with a rattle gun, I bet they will tighten right up.

5StarRising · 04-18-2007, 12:15 AM

OK so Im a little retarded when it comes to front ends, where is the bell coupler located? And what and where are spring bushings lol? I know that the knuckle holes are worn out, have not tryed the impact gun on the TRE's yet but I can see the TRE boots are already starting to want to rip cause the TRE is so far up in the knuckle. Hmmm what about a set of oversized TRE's for possibly a different Vehicle? I know the proper thing to do would be to replace the knuckles, but time and money are scarse. I'll have to do that later, but for now if I could just get by, that would be sweet!!

5StarRising · 04-18-2007, 12:18 AM

KB if your talking suspension leaf SPRING bushings, they are new and tight..

Mr.Crowley · 04-18-2007, 06:49 PM

possibly braze the holes and ream them...

5StarRising · 04-22-2007, 05:01 AM

Ok I got all the play out of my steering, I ended up adding a washer to each TRE and it was enough to tighten it up. Question though, The steering wheel will continue to turn almost a complete rotation after the wheel stop bolts bottom out, this causes the front frame to flex, is there a way to adjust and have the steering wheel stop when the wheel stopper bolts bottom out?

04-17-2007, 04:28 PM	#9
CJ7Memphis Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 18 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	Check the bearings in the bell coupler. I had a ton of play before I replaced them. __________________ 79 CJ7, 258 I6, T150, Dana 20, 3 1/2" lift, 33" Buckshot mudders

04-17-2007, 06:37 PM	#11
kbtriumph Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 494 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	Did you check the spring bushings? Hit the TRE nuts with a rattle gun, I bet they will tighten right up. __________________ '43 GPW Rock Crawler '74 CJ6 Safari '98 TJ DD

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04-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#3
jeepmor Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 677 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	Do a search for jeepmor and steering. I did an extensive laundry list a month or two ago and pretty much went through the whole system for what the check, replace and/or tighten to improve steering. Only think I know I left out was ball joints. Regardless, give it a try, I'm not writing it up all over again.

04-16-2007, 10:25 PM	#4
5StarRising Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto CA Posts: 56 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	Thantos.. Is there bushings in the holes where the steering tie rod ends go? I believe the holes are tapered.. Amazingly my upper and lower control arm bushings are ok, but the problem lies in the steering. If some one turns the steering wheel and you watch where the play is, you will see the steering tube travel with out moving the wheels for about and 1" in either direction.. Jeepmor I searched for that info and found a ton of other stuff, can you send me a link to the exact article you had.. Thanks

04-17-2007, 02:31 AM	#6
5StarRising Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto CA Posts: 56 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	They havent been flipped, when I got it, it was bone stock, and beat to s**t, the stock steering bar was bent and it seemed to have just as much free play now as it did then before changing bar and ends. Ill take a few pics.. Rob

04-17-2007, 02:54 AM	#7
5StarRising Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto CA Posts: 56 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	heres some pics http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/ballhair_2006/100_2969.jpg http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/ballhair_2006/100_2965.jpg http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/ballhair_2006/100_2970.jpg

04-17-2007, 04:50 PM	#10
Dresnick Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fort Leavenworth, KS Posts: 16 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	I had a ton of play in my CJ and it turned out the steering box mounting bolts were lose.

04-18-2007, 12:15 AM	#12
5StarRising Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto CA Posts: 56 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	OK so Im a little retarded when it comes to front ends, where is the bell coupler located? And what and where are spring bushings lol? I know that the knuckle holes are worn out, have not tryed the impact gun on the TRE's yet but I can see the TRE boots are already starting to want to rip cause the TRE is so far up in the knuckle. Hmmm what about a set of oversized TRE's for possibly a different Vehicle? I know the proper thing to do would be to replace the knuckles, but time and money are scarse. I'll have to do that later, but for now if I could just get by, that would be sweet!!

04-18-2007, 12:18 AM	#13
5StarRising Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto CA Posts: 56 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	KB if your talking suspension leaf SPRING bushings, they are new and tight..

04-22-2007, 05:01 AM	#15
5StarRising Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto CA Posts: 56 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps iTrader Rating	Ok I got all the play out of my steering, I ended up adding a washer to each TRE and it was enough to tighten it up. Question though, The steering wheel will continue to turn almost a complete rotation after the wheel stop bolts bottom out, this causes the front frame to flex, is there a way to adjust and have the steering wheel stop when the wheel stopper bolts bottom out?