I just got my car on Saturday and am overall really pleased with it. One issue that I’ve got though is how loose the steering is. The guy that sold it to me said it’s got a new gear box and it does look fairly new. Is there an adjustment I can make on it to decrease the amount of play before the wheels actually turn? I’ve never had to fix something like this before and am at a bit of a loss. Thanks in advance

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I solved this with an inexpensive Jeep Grand Cherokee steering box upgrade from a junkyard 93-98 JGC. Not sure if this works for everybody but it sure did for me. It was 25 bucks for the part, 25 bucks for the yard to pull it and a new Dorman rag joint. New hoses, too.

Yours looks like an A-body so it should work.

Rick

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Mine is an A body, but the steering column is from a ‘77

You can buy a different steering box with a heftier torsion bar or have yours modified. The people at Turn One Steering or Lee's Power Steering can do it.

Rick

Have you checked all of your steering components to ensure they're in good shape? The steering box may be fine, but you could have slop in other places that's contributing to the loose feel. Have a friend slowly move the steering wheel back and forth while you watch from under the front end. If looseness is in the steering box, it would be evidenced by the pitman arm not responding immediately to the steering wheel input. If the looseness is in the linkage, you'll likely notice that by slop in your tie rod ends.

jim

When you say loose, do you mean sloppy as in a quarter turn of the steering wheel and the wheels don't react, or do mean loose in that there is very little road feel through the wheel and steering feels light?

Sorry for jumping in on this tread but i am currently trying to "fix" play in my steeringwheel and i thought it was the steeringbox ,but on closer inspection i got about 1/2" play on the steeringwheel with the car off the play is in the pot joint on the top of the Intermediate shaft. i am yet to open the joint but how much play is acceptable on this cars? when should i be happy.
But my point maybe youre pot joint is sloppy as well.

That’s exactly it. The steering wheel turns 1/8 or so before the wheels respond

With all new Moog replacement parts in my front suspension and steering components plus the JGC box, my steering is very tight. No waiting an eighth of a turn for a response.

Rick

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If you get immediate response at the pitman, everything from there back to the wheel is fine. If not, hold the rag joint and wiggle the wheel to identify the source of the play. If it all seems tight then the slop is in the box, you can try tightening the adjusting lock nut/allen head screw at the top of the box, it may help somewhat but won't cure a worn box. Best way to set that lash in the box is test drive and tighten until the wheels no longer return to centre, then back it off until they do, that will be the sweet spot.
But if you have good direct response at the pitman, you've got worn components downstream of the steering box, which is good, since all that stuff is relatively inexpensive and easy to upgrade.