Here's what I wrote up.
If your steering system has a lot of play in the steering wheel, there are some things you can check and do to make it a bit more responsive. While a steering wheel with play may not be a big deal to the regular driver of the Jeep, family members who drive it may find it a safety and reaction time issue.
With that in mind, I set forward to improve my steering response.
Tools you will/may need:
- 10mm socket/wrench to remove plastic Jeep cover over swaybar
- 16mm socket
- 5/8” open wrench
- allen wrenches
- sockets to remove bumper and/or fog lights as necessary
- PB Blaster or other penetrating lubricant
- brake cleaner (optional)
- a helper
Before you start adjusting the steering box backlash, check ALL linkages under the Jeep in the steering. This means check your trackbar ends, tie rod ends, drag link ends, etc. Even a little play in any of these joints can lead to play, or possibly unsafe disconnecting.
Once all links are tightened (or replaced if worn), you are ready to tackle the steering box backlash.
My TJ has an integrated winch plate on the Jeeperman bumper, so I had to get it out of the way. If you have a stock bumper, this may not be an issue, but if you have a winch plate, you will likely need to move it.
I used a 19 MM socket to remove 3 of the 4 bolts holding my bumper on. I also had to loosen/disconnect my steering box skid. Do this using the necessary sockets, as different makers use different size bolts (I had reused a Torx bolt from my old stock bumper for this).
With 3 of the 4 bolts holding the bumper on removed, I slid it out of the way. This gave me enough room to work on the steering box backlash and I didn’t have to remove the winch completely.
Removing the bumper is probably faster if you don’t have a winch, etc as you will either need to tighten it all back down on the test drives or have it off. Your call.
Now that the bumper is out of the way, you’ll see a bolt with a hole on the end. That is the screw you’ll be adjusting, but you need to loosen the lock nut underneath it. If it is too tight, you can use a 16 MM socket to loosen it. Once loose, use the 5/8” open ended wrench to loosen it. Be sure to use the appropriate sized allen wrench to keep the center adjusting screw from turning while loosening the lock nut.
Once the lock nut is loose, use the allen wrench to turn the adjusting screw ¼ (MAX) to the right (clockwise). Tighten everything back down and make the Jeep ready to drive (reattach bumper, etc) or move it out of the way.
Test drive it and see how it feels. If it is still loose, continue to adjust it at most ¼ turn at a time.