What do you mean it will not self center? Do you mean the steering wheel is not centered when driving in a straight line? Also, i have the same problem with the play, what direction did you turn the allen? Post your findings.

 

What do you mean it will not self center? Do you mean the steering wheel is not centered when driving in a straight line?

No, that's not what I mean. The steering wheel is centered fine when going in a straight line.

By self-center, I mean this: as you go round a corner, then start to straighten up, if you take both hands off the steering wheel, it will (more or less) return to center position.

This still happens, but to a lesser degree than before.

Also, i have the same problem with the play, what direction did you turn the allen? Post your findings.

I turned the bolt clockwise, 1/6th of a turn at a time.

So far all going well

 

I've researched this in the past. My conclusion not a smart thing to do.
Did you remove the box ?

 

I've also seen the same "don't do it" posts, but I didn't come across a single "I did it, and this is what happened" post.

I figured if it wasn't meant to be adjusted, they wouldn't have provided such a convenient adjustment bolt.

The alignment is spot on. There is (was) just a bit of play in the steering box, which has now been adjusted out.

 

Id be looking into your alignment before messing with the steering box

 

Awesome, I'm going to give mine a try.

 

Well after 1/2 turn of the screw, the play is all gone!!!! i did make sure i had nothing worn out or damaged before i adjusted it. So much better now!! Thanks for all the help guys.

 

It doesn't take much. This is a problem in Dodge Rams too. I adjusted my steering box in my 2500 and it did help for a while. Eventually the play came back and I ended up convincing the dealership to give me a new box. It might wear the worm gear out inside, but the way I look at it might as well have tighter steering until it goes bad. You can have the box rebuilt too by sending it to redhead and they will upgrade the seals too.

 

Wrangler Sahara 2009, 45k miles, stock everything.

Hi all,

I've had a small amount of play in my steering since I bought the Jeep in March. I had someone wiggle the wheel back & forth, while I examined all the linkages and ball joints. I concluded that the play (or at least the majority of it) was in the steering box.

So I did some searching, and found the procedure for adjusting the steering box. I loosened the 5/8th nut, and carefully turned in the Allen bolt, 1/8th of a turn at a time. This has removed most of the play, but has also left the steering wheel feeling tighter, in the sense that it does not self-center when going in a straight line.

Is that too tight? Do I need to loosen it a bit?

Thanks,

First of all, our Wranglers do not have Rack and Pinion steering boxes, so some play is normal, because of the worm gear design. My 2013 with 3000 miles on it has some.
It is not advisable for somebody inexperienced to be adjusting free play in a steering box. Some of them have to been set with a inch pound torque wrench. If you get them too tight, your steering may become dangerous and it may cause the worm gear bearings to fail! This is not a good idea!:nonono:

 

I know they are not rack and pinion, but that's no excuse for excessive play.

I haven't come across a single post where someone says they've adjusted it and that caused problems. Lots of warnings like yours, but no first hand experience of problems.

If the box wasn't meant to be adjusted, there would be no adjustment screw. Such an easily accessible screw suggests to me that regular adjustment is expected.

 

I did this over the years on my TJ as well, very carefully though. Never had a problem.

 

Steering and Brakes are safety item's and not meant for experimentation.............

Some will just never learn...............:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:

My good man, have fun and turn that screw, and I hope that you don't wind up Black and Blue.............:crash2::crash2:

OP, it's your ride, so GOOD LUCK................:hide:

 

I've had to make this adjustment over the years on my Chevy pickup. What you are experiencing is exactly what happens when it is adjusted too much. I make 1/4 turn adjustments each time and then go around the block. Once the wheel doesn't self-center after a turn (which is spooky), I let up just a little bit and it's perfect. The adjustment is there to remove slack as it wears, but there is no excuse for it being like that brand new.

 

opcorn:

 

Ok. I just adjusted my steering gear box. went about 3/8 turn clockwise. everything tightened up perfectly! If I knew I could do this before I bought a new gear box, I could have saved myself 250.00 and a days worth of labor trying to get that pitman arm off!
Thank you for this thread, it should be a sticky.