XJ Steering question

[Backwoods Rambler]

I have a dead spot in my steering center and was wondering how I can get rid of this?

Currently: 1998 XJ, stock inverted Y setup like light duty below:

 

[Momrocks]

I have no help for you, I havent heard of a dead spot in XJs using stock set up. I have heard of deadspots with Rugged Ridge and similiar setups where the joints were actually rolling under input. I Chose my Currie system over other upgrades just because I wanted to keep the Jeep geometry. Good luck, I am subscribed.

 

[alosix]

If everything is good and tight (joints, track bar) then the dead spot you are feeling is normally an artifact of lifting the inverted Y setup.

The only way i've found to get rid of the dead spot is to remove the Y.

Choices (probably not inclusive).
1.) WJ knuckle, steering, brake swap.
2.) ORO U-turn (what I run)
3.) RocKralwer steering (cheaper than u-turn, but some tradeoffs)
4.) Tera Crossover/highsteer

 

[ROKTAXI]

I had the same problem with mine (94 XJ). After looking closely at the steering shaft I noticed that there was movement between the upper "hub" (below the u joint) that connects to the steering column shaft and the main shaft. It seems that there's a rubber insulation sleeve that's vulcanized to the metal and that part had come un-vulcanized and was moving between 2 tabs. These tabs appear to be there only for safety in the event that the rubber vulcanizing fails... which is what happened in my case. Hope you get the drift of what I'm saying. I tried to take a picture but couldn't get a decent shot. I replaced the shaft and end of dead spot. BTW, I replaced the steering box before I found out what the problem was. Most were saying to adjust the play by tightening the adjustment screw. It didn't work for me.

 

[Jeffb79]

Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth over the dead spot while you check out every joint between the steering wheel and the wheels.
Should be apparent when you see it.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I had the same problem with mine (94 XJ). After looking closely at the steering shaft I noticed that there was movement between the upper "hub" (below the u joint) that connects to the steering column shaft and the main shaft. It seems that there's a rubber insulation sleeve that's vulcanized to the metal and that part had come un-vulcanized and was moving between 2 tabs. These tabs appear to be there only for safety in the event that the rubber vulcanizing fails... which is what happened in my case. Hope you get the drift of what I'm saying. I tried to take a picture but couldn't get a decent shot. I replaced the shaft and end of dead spot. BTW, I replaced the steering box before I found out what the problem was. Most were saying to adjust the play by tightening the adjustment screw. It didn't work for me.

This is on my to-do list. I've got the same wear spot/movement. Not many people seem to be aware of this wear point, or simply haven't had it happen to their rig.

Did you get an omix-ada replacement from someplace like morris4x4 or quadratrac?

thanks!

 

[ROKTAXI]

I actually got the replacement shaft off Ebay. I check other sources but other were more $$ for the same item. Got this one for $108.44 including shipping.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll have to dive under there and see what's up. I'd never heard of the steering box issue, so that's a new place to look for slack.