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 Post subject: Steering issue
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:01 pm 
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OK, replaced the UCA's from JBA (due to a first gen prototype breaking). Had alignment completed. Did not solve the steering issue.....and my steering wheel is even more turned/rotated to the left to drive straight.

1. Steering feels loose. Especially at highway speeds on curves. Squirrely.
2. When I hit manhole cover craters, the wheel feels like it wants to go in another direction and I can feel the KJ shift over.
3. When I am slowly pulling out of a straight parking space and turning the wheel quite a bit, I get a loud clunk noise. People are turning to look and probably think I hit the car next to me with my bumper.

Ideas to problems? LCAs? Bushings (anti-sway bar bushings)? shafts? tie rods? power steering? Other?

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 Post subject: Re: Steering issue
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:06 pm 
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Are you "sure" the alignment is right?
Sounds like it isn't
Steering wheel can be centered

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 Post subject: Re: Steering issue
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:22 pm 
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I figured that since I never had that issue before after alignments.

Still doesn't solve my squirrely steering I had before my UCA broke though.

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 Post subject: Re: Steering issue
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:44 pm 
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A bad alignment can cause "loose" steering feeling from extreme negitive/positive camber and/or to little caster or extreme cross caster.

Noises means loose or worn parts which can help create the "loose" steering feeling.


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 Post subject: Re: Steering issue
PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:59 pm 
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Took it back to Firestone and they did some adjustments and it is now feeling tighter and mostly a straight steering wheel. A lot better than before. I am wondering about the bushings at the bottom of the struts to the LCA. They look like they have degraded a lot on the exterior (without unbolting them).

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2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod

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 Post subject: Re: Steering issue
PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:08 pm 
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Your Jeep is 8 years old and has certainly been worked harder than most KJ's, so I would say that replacing the bushings might not be a bad idea.

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 Post subject: Re: Steering issue
PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:29 pm 
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Steering rack bushings can make your steering feel that way. Had that problem on my old liberty.

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