Steering Wheel Loose!

[jzak]

Hey Guys,

I recently bought a 1981 CJ5 . It's a great rig. One of the few problems i'm running into is that the steering wheel is really loose. When I mean loose, I mean that you can jiggle it around very easily, and when your driving the steering is very imprecise. I'm constantly correcting it. I've owned CJ's in the past, so i've got experience on how the steering should be.

My mechanic said that some of the bolts attaching the steering wheel column could be loose. He checked it out, and they where fine. He also did a tire alignment with only a little improvement in the steering. I also put in a new rancho steering stabilizer, and new shocks.

I think one of the problems could be that the previous owner was a short guy, and I think he was using the steering wheel to hoist himself into the vehicle.

Am I looking at a new steering column here? Any help would be great!

Thanks!

 

[Torxhead]

The upper steering column does have a couple of bearings in it, you could replace those, that is what I did. Some guys go to the GM tilt column for easier access into the rig.

 

[jzak]

The upper steering column does have a couple of bearings in it, you could replace those, that is what I did. Some guys go to the GM tilt column for easier access into the rig.

Thanks Bud! I'll look into that.

 

[tarry99]

Hey Guys,

I recently bought a 1981 CJ5 . It's a great rig. One of the few problems i'm running into is that the steering wheel is really loose. When I mean loose, I mean that you can jiggle it around very easily, and when your driving the steering is very imprecise. I'm constantly correcting it. I've owned CJ's in the past, so i've got experience on how the steering should be.

My mechanic said that some of the bolts attaching the steering wheel column could be loose. He checked it out, and they where fine. He also did a tire alignment with only a little improvement in the steering. I also put in a new rancho steering stabilizer, and new shocks.

I think one of the problems could be that the previous owner was a short guy, and I think he was using the steering wheel to hoist himself into the vehicle.

Am I looking at a new steering column here? Any help would be great!

Thanks!

Be a little more precise ........is it the rotation of the wheel and how that reacts to the steering and the front tires that seem loose? or is it just the physical mounting of the column to the dash and its supports that are loose? or is the steering wheel loose up & down between the column and steering wheel?

Lots of parts from A-B

If its loose all the way to the tire........start checking all the joints, coming down from the column to the steering gear box to the drag link to the spindles and the ball joints all the way to the bearings on the hubs......everything should be a 1:1 ratio.......have someone inside move the wheel while someone else is watching outside.

 

[jzak]

Be a little more precise ........is it the rotation of the wheel and how that reacts to the steering and the front tires that seem loose? or is it just the physical mounting of the column to the dash and its supports that are loose? or is the steering wheel loose up & down between the column and steering wheel?

Lots of parts from A-B

If its loose all the way to the tire........start checking all the joints, coming down from the column to the steering gear box to the drag link to the spindles and the ball joints all the way to the bearings on the hubs......everything should be a 1:1 ratio.......have someone inside move the wheel while someone else is watching outside.

Not really sure i'm totally understanding your followup up questions.

To try to clarify, I think i'm dealing with two issues here. The first is that the entire upper steering column is loose. The second issue is the steering sensitively. I have to rotate the steering wheel a couple inches, before it even starts turning the wheels

Tie Rod ends, Ball Joints, Steering stabilizer, and tire alignment are all good.

I hope that helps.

 

[bptactical]

You need to rebuild the upper half of the column. Do a Googlation for "GM Tilt Steering Column Rebuild" and ye shall have the knowledge you seek.
The input movement before the vehicle reacts can be a number of things, sloppy tie rods, drag link, play in the box etc.

 

[jzak]

You need to rebuild the upper half of the column. Do a Googlation for "GM Tilt Steering Column Rebuild" and ye shall have the knowledge you seek.
The input movement before the vehicle reacts can be a number of things, sloppy tie rods, drag link, play in the box etc.

Thanks for the feedback guys! I think maybe the first thing i should do is rebuild the upper steering column. Hopefully that'll fix the other problem.

 

[Torxhead]

There is also a steering shaft coupler located prior to the lower shaft going into the steering box that can be a factor also, btw.

 

[bptactical]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I think maybe the first thing i should do is rebuild the upper steering column. Hopefully that'll fix the other problem.

Sure won't hurt it any....

 

[mtnwhlr]

There is also a steering shaft coupler located prior to the lower shaft going into the steering box that can be a factor also, btw.

I've had to replace it to fix mine.

 

[jzjames]

play in the box etc.

Wow, this would be my guess.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Is it a tilt column? The top half of the column is what keeps it steady. If its a tilt column there is 4 screws that hold it tight and are notorious for coming loose.

other then that there are 2 bearings that hold the top part together.

If there is alot of slop in the shaft then the plastic ball that holds the 2 shaft haves together for the tilt function could be shot. If its a non tilt it would just be the bearings causing the slop. This advice is only for loose steering column not steering, you need to determine where your play is.