Extreme Steering Wheel Wobble

[gary1414]

Hi All

Took apart the steering column in my 81 CJ5 (Tilt) fully expecting to see shot bearings or the infamous torx bolts loose or missing but that wasn't the case.

I replace the upper and lower bearings anyway and resembled everything with zero improvement.

It's feels almost like there is nothing holding the top of the steering shaft in place at all, with a huge amount of side to side play.

Anybody run in to something like this before?

Thanks!

 

[Torxhead]

I would say that it is quite common with the CJ. The lower steering coupler is usually the problem. Borgeson came out with a replacement shaft, but they are quite proud of it.

 

[gary1414]

Thanks Torxhead - The column is out of the Jeep on the bench so the problem is somewhere within that unit. Wish I could post a short video!

 

[JeeperChris]

Two things I had always heard about steering problems (in old Chevys) - first is some weird little piece that looks like a round piece of tire that acts as a sort of cushion in the bottom portion of the shaft, and the second is the worm gear in the box.

Any chance it's one of those?

I'm assuming the joints at the tie rod ends are all good? How about axle bearings?

 

[gary1414]

Hey JeeperChris - Yep all good. The steering shaft itself just moves all over the place within the steering column like the upper bearings are bad but I just replaced them

 

[JeeperChris]

So you mean you can grab the wheel and shake the whole thing all over?

I was thinking the turning the wheel back and forth wasn't making the tires turn.

 

[gary1414]

Yeah pretty much. The column isn't' in the vehicle but if I put it back it would insert into the intermediate shaft and move the wheels just fine.

But the steering wheel would move probably an inch in every direction right up where you grab the steering wheel.

May have to tear it back apart after the Superbowl

 

[JeeperChris]

Any chance it could be the underdash bracketing that everything is bolted to?

 

[jp360cj]

He said the column isn't in the Jeep. It sounds like he is talking about the very upper part of the steering shaft (where the steering wheel bolts) moving up/down/side to side (not rotationally) in relation to the housing.

OP, interested in what you find. Did you replace both upper bearing and the lower bearing (firewall side)? I have a buddy with a similar issue in his tilt column and he's planning to replace the bearings and figured it would fix the problem.

 

[gary1414]

I sure thought it was the bearings, but I replaced all three and there was no improvement at all. Upper kit contains two bearings and lower kit contains one.

Something about the way this part went in didn't feel right but I don't see any other way to do it. Seems like it took more effort than it should have to get the lock plate down far enough to get the snap ring in place.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JEEP-WRANG...NG-COLUMN-UPPER-BEARING-KIT-ETC-/272321698632

 

[gary1414]

The upper bearing race was not slid down on the steering shaft correctly.
It was slightly crooked and didn't slide down far enough to engage the bearings.

It made it much easier to have someone push up on the shaft so I could see it go in, and keep pressure on it until the lock plate was pushed down and the c-clip installed.

This is what happens when a Network Engineer tries to be a mechanic

Thanks to all who replied.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

How much play do you have now?
LG

 

[jp360cj]

The upper bearing race was not slid down on the steering shaft correctly.
It was slightly crooked and didn't slide down far enough to engage the bearings.

It made it much easier to have someone push up on the shaft so I could see it go in, and keep pressure on it until the lock plate was pushed down and the c-clip installed.

This is what happens when a Network Engineer tries to be a mechanic

Thanks to all who replied.

Great to hear you got it figured out!

Just to clarify, you are saying to push up on the part of the shaft that comes out of the firewall (where the lower shaft hooks up)? Asking because I'll be helping another CJer do the same on his tilt column in the next couple of months.

 

[gary1414]

How much play do you have now?
LG

No play at all......just need to learn stop pulling myself in with the steering wheel now!

 

[gary1414]

jp360cj -

Yes for me anyway pushing up on the shaft until it contacts the lower bearing (which is it's normal operating position) exposed more of the
top part of the shaft so I could see the upper race slide onto it.

Otherwise, the shaft will be pulled up into position when you install the lock place and if that race isn't seated right and you keep tightening
it up anyway you will bend the race retainer and you'll have to buy another one on ebay for 5 bucks and not be able to drive your jeep for a week

In retrospect I would have left the column in the vehicle and just pulled the housing out.

 

[jp360cj]

jp360cj -

Yes for me anyway pushing up on the shaft until it contacts the lower bearing (which is it's normal operating position) exposed more of the
top part of the shaft so I could see the upper race slide onto it.

Otherwise, the shaft will be pulled up into position when you install the lock place and if that race isn't seated right and you keep tightening
it up anyway you will bend the race retainer and you'll have to buy another one on ebay for 5 bucks and not be able to drive your jeep for a week

In retrospect I would have left the column in the vehicle and just pulled the housing out.

Thanks for the tips! We plan on leaving the column in also.

The guy I'm helping would be tickled to only go a week without driving his Jeep! It's been sitting almost 2 years from when he started a rewire with a Painless wiring harness. He's hoping to have it back on the road by summertime, but I have my doubts.

 

[jafo]

Hi All

Took apart the steering column in my 81 CJ5 (Tilt) fully expecting to see shot bearings or the infamous torx bolts loose or missing but that wasn't the case.

I replace the upper and lower bearings anyway and resembled everything with zero improvement.

It's feels almost like there is nothing holding the top of the steering shaft in place at all, with a huge amount of side to side play.

Anybody run in to something like this before?

Thanks!

I believe there are four hex screws deep in the column around where the pivot ball is at that are probably a little loose. You basically have to take the upper column apart to get to them. You should look at the pivot ball as well. You have to have some specific tools to take it apart. I would suggest getting an original factory manual and looking at it closely and deciding if you can do it or not. Column work isn't for everyone. You may want to have a mechanic tackle the job. Dunno. I've done this a couple times. I took my screws out and loctite them back in. But it didn't take all the wobble out. Probably bearings. I'll get those next time around. But I'd bank on those screws being part of your problem.