Loose wobbly steering cause???

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:28 pm

To help narrow down what is actually the cause,have someone in the drivers seat,with the key on but engine off have them slowly rock the steering wheel from side to side,only a 1/4 turn either way is enough and make sure the wheels are on the ground.Then you get under the front end and observe the outer/inner tie rod ends and pretty much everything under the front and you should see what is moving when the wheels are not.

Changing a rack in a KJ is not real hard,I did one in MOAB in a camp ground,on the dirt and only took about 4 hours.It's just slightly more then the average shade tree mechanic skill.

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:14 pm

Yea I need to do just that... I remember reading here that someone said they only saw the problem when they jacked up one tire off the ground at a time (under LCA) and then turned the wheel with the engine off.

Ive read your posts about that day at MOAB 100 times as i search for info on the rack replacement.

I have the 02KJ which i believe has the heavy duty cooling (extra small radiator) so that will make it more difficult. Plus all the stuff about the differential and LCA's being in the way right?

Hopefully it will stop raining by tomorrow so I can get under there and start formulating a plan of attack to get that sucker out. Cant come out the side where the wheel wells are eh? I cant picture the setup in my head right now.

THanks

jdumont · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:28 am

darn, i just got under there to map out the steering rack removal and that does not seem pretty at all! It seems like you have to separate the linkage to the steering wheel totally blind. I cant even see where it disconnects there....

Supposedly the rack comes out the engine compartment!? That also seems like a fairytale. I have a friend coming over in a little bit to man the wheel while i look around underneath.

While I was under there I did shake twist and pull the tie rods and there is no movement other than the ball rotating in the sockets on the outers. I noticed that the passenger side seems to rotate a little easier than the drivers though.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:25 am

jdumont wrote:

darn, i just got under there to map out the steering rack removal and that does not seem pretty at all! It seems like you have to separate the linkage to the steering wheel totally blind. I cant even see where it disconnects there....

Supposedly the rack comes out the engine compartment!? That also seems like a fairytale. I have a friend coming over in a little bit to man the wheel while i look around underneath.

While I was under there I did shake twist and pull the tie rods and there is no movement other than the ball rotating in the sockets on the outers. I noticed that the passenger side seems to rotate a little easier than the drivers though.

Do you have HD cooling(mechanical fan)? If so removing the fan and shroud makes removing the rack easier,and yes I pulled the rack out of the engine compartment,right next to the upper radiator hose.Make darn sure you lock the steering wheel in place with a ratchet strap or something to keep it from turning.Unhooking the steering shaft from the rack is easy,just one bolt and it slides off,the PS pump pressure line and oil filter needs to be removed also to make room.

jdumont · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:58 pm

Ok cool so it comes out the passenger side. Yea i have HD cooling, I think. I have the small auxiliary radiator if that signifies HD cooling? Should I remove the airbox too or is that not necessary? How about the radiator hose?

Any special tools necessary to remove the fan or shroud? Never messed with those.

So do i have to remove any axle shafts or lower the diff or anything or do i just untether the rack and then fish it up to the top? I imagine that removing the tie rods would make it easier (smaller) to fish up there?

Josh

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:42 pm

jdumont wrote:

Ok cool so it comes out the passenger side. Yea i have HD cooling, I think. I have the small auxiliary radiator if that signifies HD cooling? Should I remove the airbox too or is that not necessary? How about the radiator hose?

Any special tools necessary to remove the fan or shroud? Never messed with those.

So do i have to remove any axle shafts or lower the diff or anything or do i just untether the rack and then fish it up to the top? I imagine that removing the tie rods would make it easier (smaller) to fish up there?

Josh

The upper radiator hose is on the drivers side,not passenger side.To have HD cooling you would have the electric fan and a mechanical fan.Yes special tools are needed to remove the mechanical fan.Removing the inner tie rod ends does make it easier to remove.The passenger side diff mount needs to be loosened,you can not completely remove it though.

jdumont · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:58 pm

Sry i dont know what i was thinking. Just went out and checked it out. I def have the HD cooling with two fans. What type of tool to get the fan off? Rentable at autozone?
How easy is it to get the fans and shroud out?

So the diff mounts need to be loosened on the pass side. No A-arm removal though like the Chiltons and FSM say?

Thanks for the assistance

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:07 pm

jdumont wrote:

Sry i dont know what i was thinking. Just went out and checked it out. I def have the HD cooling with two fans. What type of tool to get the fan off? Rentable at autozone?
How easy is it to get the fans and shroud out?

So the diff mounts need to be loosened on the pass side. No A-arm removal though like the Chiltons and FSM say?

Thanks for the assistance

You may be able to rent the tools to remove the mechanical fan,it's a real big,and thin wrench,ask for a Chrysler clutch fan wrench,you will need the spanner wrench also to hold the WP pulley still.The shroud is one electrical connector(passenger side on top)and a few 10mm bolts.No a-arm removal required,just loosen the passenger side diff mount for clearance.

jdumont · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:25 pm

Awesome, thanks.

Spanner wrench like this? http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/lis44180.html

Clutch wrench? http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/lis41730.html

Hopefully I can rent them. Hate to buy tools ill prob only use once.

Looks like Auto Zone has this and will prob rent. This this the KJ is one of these sizes?

http://tinyurl.com/d72als

Dude, this info is invaluable!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:30 pm

jdumont wrote:

Awesome, thanks.

Spanner wrench like this? http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/lis44180.html

Clutch wrench? http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/lis41730.html

Hopefully I can rent them. Hate to buy tools ill prob only use once.

Dude, this info is invaluable!

The spanner wrench will work but the clutch wrench set may not since they do not list for use on a 4.7 or 3.7,sorry I do not know the actual size.There's only about 10 different sizes those wrenches come in.Personally I use a airhammer to remove clutch fans,just a slight tap on one of the flat edges and they loosen up or tighten with my 12" long blunt tip bit.

jdumont · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:38 pm

Ok, ill have to run to autozone tomorrow am and see what they can do for me. Hopefully i can get all my ducks in a row this week and do the job this weekend.

Would I HAVE to remove the mechanical fan or might I be able to sneak it by only doing the electrical fan? I imagine no special tools necessary to remove the elec fan right?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:44 pm

jdumont wrote:

Ok, ill have to run to autozone tomorrow am and see what they can do for me. Hopefully i can get all my ducks in a row this week and do the job this weekend.

Would I HAVE to remove the mechanical fan or might I be able to sneak it by only doing the electrical fan? I imagine no special tools necessary to remove the elec fan right?

You will not get the shroud off,which holds the electric fan,without removing the mechanical fan.

jdumont · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:17 pm

of course.... thats a tight squeeze to access the fan then eh? Best from below or above?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 pm

jdumont wrote:

of course.... thats a tight squeeze to access the fan then eh? Best from below or above?

Above,loosen fan shroud and remove mechanical fan and pull both out at the same time.

jdumont · **Posted:** Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:04 am

Ok cool, so this may sound like a dumb question but if/once i can get the rack out ill have the steering wheel locked like you said. How do i know the new rack will be in the same position that the old one was in when i removed it? Is that just an eyeball thing to make sure the new rack looks centered?

Also in the Chiltons book it says to "mark the intermediate shaft coupler with paint prior to disassembly". What is the purpose of that if youre replacing the steering gear anyways? Doesnt the coupler join the steering shaft and the old rack assy?

Later in that section it says to "Raise the steering gear into position and connect the intermediate shaft, aligning the marks"

I think all i need now is a little clarification on the diff mount thing and ill be ready to make a go at this next weekend! Provided I can get the part of course.

Thanks again bro
Josh

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:59 am

The remaned rack will come pretty much centered.

jdumont · **Posted:** Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:40 pm

Hi, I found this write up from last year. Do you think this would fit my application also? It doesnt seem like he has the HD cooling but aside from an extra fan to remove it should be the same right?

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... hlight=fan

Thanks

jdumont · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:01 am

Bought my new (reman) steering rack and bushings last night from Rock Auto. $225 with a $75 core charge for the rack and $13 each for the Moog bushings. Thats about $75 cheaper than the best price I could get local. Autozone had the exact same one for $309 + a $110 core charge!

Taking Friday off work to attack this thing!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:42 am

jdumont wrote:

Bought my new (reman) steering rack and bushings last night from Rock Auto. $225 with a $75 core charge for the rack and $13 each for the Moog bushings. Thats about $75 cheaper than the best price I could get local. Autozone had the exact same one for $309 + a $110 core charge!

Taking Friday off work to attack this thing!

The remaned rack already has the bushings and inner tie rod ends installed.

jdumont · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:21 am

darn! Ill try to call them this AM and see whats what with that.
Thanks!

So i'm only loosening the rear diff mount bolt or am I removing it completely and letting the axle droop as far as it can go (supported by a jack of course).

Loose wobbly steering cause???

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