SLOPPY STEERING? (FIXED)

[HVACMASTER]

2000 TJ RUNNING 33" , HAVE RANCHO STEERING STABILIZER.  HAVE NOTICED JEEP SEEMING ROAD CRAZY.  UPNOVER DROVE MY JEEP HOME FROM CASSVILLE AND REMARKED ABOUT BEING ALL OVER ROAD.  WIFE DROVE AND SAYS SHE WON'T DRIVE WANTS TO JUMP LANES AT ANY GIVEN TIME.  FELT STEERING SHAFT INTO STEERING BOX, NOTED ABOUT 1/8 TO 1/4 TURN OF FREE PLAY.  WONDERING IF THIS IS NORMAL PLAY, HOW TIGHT IS EVERYONES ELSE STEERING?  IS THIS ADJUSTABLE OR IS BOX IN NEED OF UPGRADING?  ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT TO KEEP ME BETWEEN THE DITCHES.

[GURU]

TJ's have had some problems with the boxes, but not enough to be concerned with.

I would check the track bar bolts and make sure that there is no play in the bar.

[HVACMASTER]

Was able to adjust play out of steering box with adjustment on top of box.  Thanks GURU, I was also able to find an annoying pop, which was the track bar moving on the alxe.  Got steering box tightened, track bar and even a loose pitman arm tightened, I'm ready to wheel Sunday.

[LibertyPatriot]

Good thing nothing came off when Jim was driving it back from Cassville.  He would have thought he was jinxed.

[DKR]

Was able to adjust play out of steering box with adjustment on top of box.  Thanks GURU, I was also able to find an annoying pop, which was the track bar moving on the alxe.  Got steering box tightened, track bar and even a loose pitman arm tightened, I'm ready to wheel Sunday.

Hey Rick, can you step me through what you did to tighten up your steering?  I have a TJ too and it's ALL over the place, but my tie rods are good, wheels are continuously balance (centramatic) and track bar is tight...

Thanks!

[HVACMASTER]

WITH MINE YOU COULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FROM ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK TO 2 O'CLOCK WITHOUT TURNING THE TIRE, THAT MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING BOX.  YOU CAN ALSO GRAB THE STEERING SHAFT WHERE IT GOES INTO THE STEERING BOX AND SEE HOW MUCH FREE ROTATION IT HAS.  ON THE TOP OF THE STEERING BOX THERE IS AN ALLEN ADJUSTMENT SCREW AND A JAM NUT.  LOOSEN JAM NUT AND TURN IN ALLEN SCREW SLIGHTLY UNIT PLAY IS GONE, DON'T OVER TIGHTEN.