Sloppy steering

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
So as it says I have sloppy steering and I am tired of throwing money at it. I have done upper and lower ball joints, tie rods, I still have to replace front shocks. Should I go ahead and order a set of the bushings from bandit 4x4 for the idler arm to see if that fixes the problem?

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

TheFauxFox

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Huntsville, AL
If your steering wheel is loose or has a lot of play between any two points, you may have a worn out steering box. This occurs when parts are worn down from lack of lubrication or debris throws parts off their alignments.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
Yes it has a lot of play in the steering wheel. It is quite a bit.

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
It's hard to explain the other problem with it.

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
It's like when I hit a dip in the road and the steering goes limp and it pulls to the side that the dip is on. It may just be an alignment issue or my imagination.

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

cpalka9

Bought an X
Location
Ocala, FL
How's the centerlink? That was the biggest contributor to my sloppy steering.

x2 This is where my problem was as well.

Check the joints where the pitman arm and idler arm connect to the centerlink for play. If its as bad as mine was you'll be able to push the front of you tires in and out.... not good
 

KChurch86

Banned
Founding Member
i know this is probably a stupid question but how do you check the center link?

x2 This is where my problem was as well.

Check the joints where the pitman arm and idler arm connect to the centerlink for play. If its as bad as mine was you'll be able to push the front of you tires in and out.... not good
I also found it easier to check with some help from a friend. I had them slowly move the wheel back and forth, just enough to put load on the steering system but not really enough to steer the tires more than a few inches. I was in front watching the steering cycle and seeing what parts were moving versus which ones weren't yet starting to move.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
I also found it easier to check with some help from a friend. I had them slowly move the wheel back and forth, just enough to put load on the steering system but not really enough to steer the tires more than a few inches. I was in front watching the steering cycle and seeing what parts were moving versus which ones weren't yet starting to move.
Do I need to jack it up first to check this?

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
When I looked at everything Monday it all seemed to move at one; but I could be wrong. Does anyone make after market idler arms and pitman arms? I was looking at grassroots centerlink but their website site said they were sold out.

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

MichaelS75

Bought an X
I replaced my 10+ year old centerlink with a MOOG and while it helped for a few months, it's back to sloppy joe status already. The only good option is going with an aftermarket centerlink that eliminates the idler and pitman arm ball joints. I would look into an aftermarket idler arm that is double sheer but the pitman is already as strong as it needs to be
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
I replaced my 10+ year old centerlink with a MOOG and while it helped for a few months, it's back to sloppy joe status already. The only good option is going with an aftermarket centerlink that eliminates the idler and pitman arm ball joints. I would look into an aftermarket idler arm that is double sheer but the pitman is already as strong as it needs to be
Do you have any recommendations?

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harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
I am really wanting to hit some trails but I have to wait till I get this taken care of.

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

Cruecible

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Location
Albuquerque, NM
I am really wanting to hit some trails but I have to wait till I get this taken care of.

sent from the middle of a corn field.

I have a Grassroots 4X4 centerlink, and have not had any issues post installation. I had several issues with it initially and the way that the guy pressed the bearings into it, but after getting it all sorted out, I haven't had any problems.

In hindsight, I would've saved up the money to buy the Total Chaos kit right from the get go. But as far as a "budget" bang for your buck steering setup, mine is chugging along nicely and I have put it through hell
 

gonmudn

Test Drive
I too have a bad center link and I am looking for an aftermarket/beefier one... any links or contacts would be awesome as I am not having much luck.....

Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk
 

caseycamby

Suspension Lift
Location
Marion, NC

Frogstar7055

Wheeling
Location
Jacksonville FL
Had same issue. Made my own set up. Almost indestructible.

Pitman_zps3gua9fzk.jpg


Idler_zpsbtkb469b.jpg
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
Had same issue. Made my own set up. Almost indestructible.

Pitman_zps3gua9fzk.jpg


Idler_zpsbtkb469b.jpg
You made your own Center link and everything? Man I wish I had the time and machines to do this. I have access to lath and mills at work but don't have the time to go in early or stay late to do something like this.

sent from the middle of a corn field.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
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