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[Jamie_stafford]

Hi all, I adjusted the steering box on my zj and now the steering won't Re centre from 1/4 turn each way, it tries to after that but goes tight at that 1/4 turn, any ideas?

[LairdScooby]

It sounds like you may have over tightend the adjuster on the steering box - try slackening the adjuster very slightly to see if there is any improvement.

Can i ask why you adjusted it in the first place?

[Jamie_stafford]

I will have another tinker with it, it had quite a lot of play and would wander all over the road,

[LairdScooby]

Sounds like a plan! Also worth checking the steering box mounting bolts and the little alloy spider-spacer thing between the steering box and chassis rail as these have a nasty habit of breaking, especially if the steering box mounting bolts are loose. If the box is loose, it can also damage your chassis :





That was during the repairs i had to do to mine, here's a later shot :



Not pretty but solid!

[Jamie_stafford]

Thanks for the help! It's all solid there but I have adjusted it but it's still too stiff, ive been looking at how to videos on YouTube and they all undo anti clockwise, mine seems to be opposite thread?

[LairdScooby]

Which bit do you mean is opposite thread?

[General Confusion]

I think he is talking about the adjuster with the lock nut on it.
IIRC mine was a right hand thread as well.
You have to be careful not to over tighten it or you will f#*k the steering box.

[LairdScooby]

What the General said! ^^^^^^

If it still wanders all over the road then it could be worth checking your front shocks, all the ball joints in the steering system and also the bushes on the front suspension. Something else that causes a bit of wandering is weak rear springs...........

[isle of man]

***warning***

This thread can contain some SHIT, pigeon shit !!!

[bgbazz]

What the General said! ^^^^^^

If it still wanders all over the road then it could be worth checking your front shocks, all the ball joints in the steering system and also the bushes on the front suspension. Something else that causes a bit of wandering is weak rear springs...........

   with all of what they've said. Even worn/sloppy tie rod ends will give you the 'wanders'...I had a L/ Cruiser which was famous for it...until I replaced them. 

[Mike Pavelin]

Sounds like a plan! Also worth checking the steering box mounting bolts and the little alloy spider-spacer thing between the steering box and chassis rail as these have a nasty habit of breaking, especially if the steering box mounting bolts are loose. If the box is loose, it can also damage your chassis :





That was during the repairs i had to do to mine, here's a later shot :



Not pretty but solid!

LOL. XJs were subject to a recall for that. If you'd taken that to a dealer they would have repaired it properly free of charge.

[LairdScooby]

Now you tell me!  Well it's done now with 2mm thick steel so i doubt it will need doing again. Isn't there a time/mileage limit on recalls like that though?

[Mike Pavelin]

No, it was a safety recall on all RHD '93 to '96 models, it still stands.

[LairdScooby]

Crikey - maybe i should get it to a Jeep dealer and let them redo it then. I had haalf a turn on the steering wheel in either direction before the wheels moved so it wasn't safe to drive so had to do something though.