When I was talking about the steering meeting, it felt like I was driving a white-knuckle affair. The windy conditions made it hard to keep the vehicle in the lane. Upon inspection, I found some play in the ball joints, prompting me to replace them with Teraflex ball joints. However, there was still a lot of play in the steering wheel. Here’s a quick tip to address this issue.
Start by locating the yellow paint on top of your steering box and the backlash adjustment screw. With your Jeep parked and the steering wheel straight ahead, use a 16mm wrench to loosen the lock nut. Then, using a flat head screwdriver, tighten the screw about an eighth to a quarter of a turn. Secure the lock nut tightly, and test drive the Jeep. Make further adjustments if necessary, ensuring the steering is responsive without excessive play.
Following this method resolved 90% of the steering problems I experienced, making the Jeep much more responsive and eliminating wandering on the road. This tip greatly improved my everyday driving experience with the Jeep. So, next time you encounter steering issues, give this a try!