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Sloppy Steering! do i need a new steering box?

F

Fish81Scram

New member
City
North Caldwell
State
NJ
Hey guys.. hoping to get some knowledge from the collective.. i have a narrow track '81 CJ8 and i find my steering even after replacing almost all componets is still sloppy.. maybe i have high expectation but i find it has a good deal of play and hoping to get it dailed in. at this point the onlything i have left to swap is the steering box.. do you guys think this will help get ride of the slop? also what the goto recommendation for a solid steering box? i dont off road much so not looking for anything that has offroad type specifications.

thanks everyone!
 
To get real simple… have someone turn the staring wheel left/right while you are inspecting the front end components. Is there play or movement anywhere that it shouldn’t be? Shackles, spring bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends? That’s a start.
 
Randyzzz said:
To get real simple… have someone turn the staring wheel left/right while you are inspecting the front end components. Is there play or movement anywhere that it shouldn’t be? Shackles, spring bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends? That’s a start.
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After you have done that, and all other components are eliminated, you can adjust the lash setting on your box. Looking down in front of the radiator, in the right “hole” is a threaded rod with a hex in the end and a jamb nut. Loosen the nut, turn the threaded rod 1/8 of a turn, tighten the nut. Test drive. Rinse, repeat if it is better, but not great. Don’t adjust this too tight or the box will get destroyed.
 
Spieg said:
If you can find one, a steering box for an H1 Hummer is pretty heavy duty and bolts right in.
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To be clear, do @Randyzzz's suggestion first and take care of any play you see that shouldn't be there, then you can try ag4ever's. Replacing the steering box should be the very last thing you try unless it's leaking or somehow clearly messed up. Much more common for something to be loose/worn out/broken in the front end than for the box to need replaced.

You'll also want to look at the steering rod from the wheel to the box while your helper turns the wheel back and forth to see if there's play in it as well.
 
bigwalton said:
To be clear, do @Randyzzz's suggestion first and take care of any play you see that shouldn't be there, then you can try ag4ever's. Replacing the steering box should be the very last thing you try unless it's leaking or somehow clearly messed up. Much more common for something to be loose/worn out/broken in the front end than for the box to need replaced.

You'll also want to look at the steering rod from the wheel to the box while your helper turns the wheel back and forth to see if there's play in it as well.
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I replaced my box years ago thinking that was the slop. Nope, it was mostly in the steering shaft between the column and box.

Some in the ball joints and tie rod ends as well.
 
Yes, though we don’t have a “rag joint”, there are many places in the steering column that could cause sloppiness.

As others have said, the box replacement should be the last option if all else checks out correct.
 
Here's the one I put in my 8 direct bolt-in. advanceautoparts.com. If my internet research is correct it's for a jeep J20 with 16.5 tires, giving a better turning ratio. (don't pay attention to the price)
 
I've been wondering the same thing about my steering box. I just replaced all the bushings on my front end and still have a decent amount of play in the steering shaft. I called the manufacturer and they said there should be about 10° of play. The clicking you hear in the video below is happening in the steering box. Someone on Facebook suggested I replaced this part https://www.crownautomotive.net/Steering-Shaft-Boot-Kit/8132676K.html

 
If the slop is in the lower steering column, use this:

www.wolffeng.com

M109SS Lower Steering Column Cartridge Bearing

Wolff Engineering M109SS Lower Steering Column Cartridge Bearing for Saginaw columns with 2" jacket and 1" shaft. This cartridge bearing is designed around a precision, sealed deep-groove radial ball bearing. The cartridge body is constructed of acetal and is precisely toleranced to insure a...
www.wolffeng.com
 
I see a lot of play due to the axle shifting left to right on the bushings/shackles. This should be a fairly linear connection with minimal side to side play. The next thing I see a lot of is steering shaft slip, like in Emile’s video. I feel that there should be no slop whatsoever. Lastly, power steering boxes seem to have a bit of internal looseness that goes away when the fluid is under pressure.
 
My old CJ7 had some slop. I replaced the lower column bearing with a crown unit and 95ish% of the slop went away. Never heard a bad thing about the Wolff units expect the price and sometimes a wait for them to be in stock. For my non lifted, street driven 31" tired CJ, I figured the Wolff unit would be kinda overkill.
 
I searched for some info on my issue and came up with this thread.....Sorry to revive an old thread, but I just had the 'rag joint' (I know it isn't one, but not sure what is called- see pic) which goes between the steering box and the column shaft strip out. Has anyone else had this occur? The shaft is about the only thing left I've not replaced so I'm thinking about getting the heavy duty shaft I've seen around. Does anyone have any thoughts on the best place to get such a thing?

I'm looking at the Borgeson HD shaft.

Thanks
 

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Coming into this late as well. New ball joints...after everything else on the front end of the NT 5 was done, which was needed, but didn't put it to bed. Went down to NC to see our grand daughter and I brought down knuckles with new ball joints. Once done it was like night and day. No more darting or hanging in a tire run. Wouldn't recommend playing with the steering gear worm tension can compound your current issue.
 
Borgeson shaft installed.

I didn't realise how my old shaft was causing issues as my truck drove so well. But then the old shaft broke.... and now I'm amazed at how easily it steers. It never wandered (at least not since the new axles and steering box), but I did sometimes get the power steering squeal when parking unless I goosed the throttle. Now it turns as easy as a Caddie.
 

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A little advice please. I have studied this thread as my 83 CJ8 has sloppy steering also. I just had the front end rebuilt and put in a small lift but the steering is still quite loose. Following the suggestions on this thread I have isolated the slop to the steering box. Is this an indication it should be replaced despite the above comments that replacing the box is the last thing to consider?
I sure appreciate any help, I’m just a driver, not a mechanic.
 
Front end rebuilt. That leaves the steering shaft, steering box bracket (get a HD 1 piece) or box
 
ag4ever said:
If the slop is in the lower steering column, use this:

www.wolffeng.com

M109SS Lower Steering Column Cartridge Bearing

Wolff Engineering M109SS Lower Steering Column Cartridge Bearing for Saginaw columns with 2" jacket and 1" shaft. This cartridge bearing is designed around a precision, sealed deep-groove radial ball bearing. The cartridge body is constructed of acetal and is precisely toleranced to insure a...
www.wolffeng.com
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When we are talking about play in the shaft/column, it would be a rotational play. Or in other words, angular slop as the shaft rotates (something that could be measureed in degrees). So I don't understand how side-to-side or lateral play (which would be measure in fractions of an inch) would increase the angular play? Can anyone explain? If I turn the wheel through an arc of say 90Degrees (1/4 turn) and in the process the shaft moves left or right 1/8" don't I still get a full 90Degreees of rotation throughout the shaft??
 
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