OK, so I was out doing some trail riding the other night with some friends, nothing real bad just sand and some hills. I was going up a sand hill (hill had trees on both sides of it), my left front caught the edge so to speak of the hill jerked the wheels to the left made a huge bang and now the steering wheel is turned almost 90 degrees to the right when I drive straight. If I had my hands on the spokes of the wheel, they would normally be at 9 and 3, now they are at 11 and 5. When I take my hands off of the wheel, jeep still goes straight, doesn't pull to the left or anything so I would say that the wheel alignment is okay. I have looked under the front end and don't see any bars bent or anything that doesn't look normal. I am asking for help on fixing this problem but I cannot tell what happened in the steering underneath to cause this problem. Any ideas on what may have happened to the steering, what I need to look for, how to fix???? Oh, I have a 95 YJ
Steering Wheel not straight, alignment good
jt95wrangler
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
Joined
·
7 Posts
OK, so I was out doing some trail riding the other night with some friends, nothing real bad just sand and some hills. I was going up a sand hill (hill had trees on both sides of it), my left front caught the edge so to speak of the hill jerked the wheels to the left made a huge bang and now the steering wheel is turned almost 90 degrees to the right when I drive straight. If I had my hands on the spokes of the wheel, they would normally be at 9 and 3, now they are at 11 and 5. When I take my hands off of the wheel, jeep still goes straight, doesn't pull to the left or anything so I would say that the wheel alignment is okay. I have looked under the front end and don't see any bars bent or anything that doesn't look normal. I am asking for help on fixing this problem but I cannot tell what happened in the steering underneath to cause this problem. Any ideas on what may have happened to the steering, what I need to look for, how to fix???? Oh, I have a 95 YJ
Check your track bar. That sounds like the description of a busted track bar. 1/2" to the driver side track, and that is = to 90* at the wheel roughly.
Joined
·
14,339 Posts
I would take some time to double, double check everything. The DL could have moved if the tie rod slipped... the springs could have moved causing this to happen. Hard to say???... but if everything checks out, you can re-set your steering wheel by re-setting the DL with your tires pointing straight. I'd check shackles, u-bolts, spring mounts, tie rod, ect.
WRM :cheers:
WRM :cheers:
Joined
·
2,757 Posts
wow the same thing happened to me, i have dont see anything either. jack a$$ at the wheel alment place told me i spun the gears in the steering box, replaced it went back and nothing. he tried to ajust my drag link and couldnt, im gonna try another place that mightve some more muscle. If they cant im gonna just replace it. Im sure that will fix the problem. im not sure what got bent but it could have been the threads jumping. If u find anything out lemme know.
Joined
·
7 Posts
Okay, so I have done some more "investigating" on what the problem could be and have come up with this. Pitman arm has jumped a few teeth/gears on steering box. Could be what the big bang that I heard was. When the wheels are straight, pitman arm is straight down the centerline of jeep, steering wheel not straight. I'm guessing that the solution would be to get the wheels straight, pull the pitman arm, turn the steering wheel to where it is straight and reattach pitman arm. Your thoughts?
Joined
·
1,480 Posts
if it the track bar just take it off and throw it away.. you don't need that..
but I think you need a new steering box.
Joined
·
1,480 Posts
If you lift the jeep without lengthening the drag link then your steering wheel will be off center. The original poster has a different situation, where the gears in the steering box jumped due to an impact.
I see lots of different questions on steering alignment. There are several factors that can cause the steering wheel to not be aligned with the wheels. #1 reason is a misadjusted drag link #2 reason is damaged linkage (drag link, or track bar) #3 reason is damage to the actual steering gear.
There's a good writeup on STU's site.http://www.stu-offroad.com/steering.asp
This is a good explination of how alignments are done, and how it all works.
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm
There's a good writeup on STU's site.http://www.stu-offroad.com/steering.asp
This is a good explination of how alignments are done, and how it all works.
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm
Joined
·
114 Posts
i have a similar problem, my jeep pulls to the right and my steering wheel when im driving "straight" is, instead of 9 and 3, at 6 and 12 ha
i haven't taken the time to adjust the tie rod or anything but im sure that would help in some way, but hell what do i know
i haven't taken the time to adjust the tie rod or anything but im sure that would help in some way, but hell what do i know
Joined
·
4,485 Posts
yeap like they said it could be off because of lifting and not adjusting or if you bought and after market drag link and its too long neither of these are the OPs problems you probably just slipped a gear in the box
If it's pulling, I suggest an alignment.
Joined
·
27 Posts
I have a similar issue but it seems it is not the steering box. With the engine off (no power steering) I can turn the steering wheel without the front tires moving. Takes some force but it puts my steering wheel way off center. I looks under the hood and it seems there is a rubber "connection" between the upper shaft with the U joint and the lower shaft that goes to the box. The lower shaft keys into this joint and into the rubber insert. The rubber once was fixed into the end of this upper shaft but is is broken loose and turns rather than transferring the force to the lower shaft and box.
The guy I bought the jeep from hose clamped a piece of radiator hose around this union to keep it from slipping.
Guess I need a whole new steering shaft?
The guy I bought the jeep from hose clamped a piece of radiator hose around this union to keep it from slipping.
Guess I need a whole new steering shaft?
Joined
·
27 Posts
Update. I figured out what is going on with mine. There is a keyed insert that locks the lower shaft to the upper universal assy that is missing and the splined shaft has moved down so the only thing that is giving me steering control is the rubber isolator. It could have come loose at anytime !!!! glad I caught this one. New steering shaft going in NOW!
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
