Damaged JL Steering Box?

[cinnur]

On a recent off road adventure, I might have damaged my steering box.
On a rock climb, my front alignment was knocked out, and my steering wheel was put 90 degrees out of sync.
No breaks or bends on any linkage found, and all has been put back in order. Some of the adjustments on the linkage are near or at max adjustments to get all back in alignment.

I can stay with all as it is since everything is operating correctly, but not finding any breaks or bends the steering box is on my mind as a possibility of being compromised in some manner.

Thoughts here on this situation?
If I change the steering box, stick with OEM, or get some third party upgrade unit?

My vehicle:
2019 JL 3.6.

Sponsored

 

[alphawolff]

A damaged gearbox is highly unlikely. Remember wranglers only have front toe adjustment from the factory. The caster & camber being off, especially if lifted, is rather common. So long as there isn't a massive difference between the sides it's usually not a big issue. If you hit it so hard that it got knocked 90 degrees off I highly suspect something is bent in the steering linkage.

 

[4x4Funlover]

I just had this same issue on my Wife's we went out wheeling last Friday and on the way home she informed me her steering wheel was not straight; then abs and traction control lights came on. it was only 20 deg not 90 but still had to make an adjustment to the draglink. I didn't find any play in the steering box no bends or breaks. the best I could figure is the one time she bound it up it caused the drag link adjustment to jump. It also seemed I was getting close to maxing out the adjustment so I disconnect the drag link and ran the adjustment all the way in and started from scratch. Making sure the reliefs in the adjuster were lined up when I finished to get the best clamping force so it hopefully doesn't happen again.

 

[58Willys]

You bent something; drag link, tie rod, etc…

 

[cinnur]

Thanks everyone for the responses.
I will get underneath and review all items again.

 

[DaltonGang]

Pics please.

 

[Vanburi]

Some bent items are hard to tell while still installed.
I bent my steering damper once and couldn't tell until removed. Caused all kinds if weird steering issues.

 

[Red Rubicon 2]

Check your trac bar mounts.

 

[cinnur]

Pics please.

If this site would let me upload pics, I would.
It broke some time ago, I contact admins, and it was never resolved.
All I ever get when trying to upload a picture is a pop up about files being uploaded, and no matter how long I wait, it never finishes.

 

[BetOnBlack]

I would think with a 90 degree shift in the steering wheel, it would be a serious bend in the drag link.
Had a friend in high school that hit a curb with is car and had same issue. Steering wheel was way off. Still drove fine, but steering wheel was 45 degrees off. We think it was the steering box flexing from the impact and allowed it to skip teeth.
We never had a chance to fully troubleshoot his car since he hit another curb and it went back to pretty dead on. lol.
For a jeep i think it's a recirculating ball gear and not sure how it would "skip" unless you trashed some of the bearings?

 

[C.Sco]

Some bent items are hard to tell while still installed.
I bent my steering damper once and couldn't tell until removed. Caused all kinds if weird steering issues.

Same here. Not only weird steering issues, it was even setting off my traction control and ABS lights.

 

[cinnur]

I would think with a 90 degree shift in the steering wheel, it would be a serious bend in the drag link.
Had a friend in high school that hit a curb with is car and had same issue. Steering wheel was way off. Still drove fine, but steering wheel was 45 degrees off. We think it was the steering box flexing from the impact and allowed it to skip teeth.
We never had a chance to fully troubleshoot his car since he hit another curb and it went back to pretty dead on. lol.
For a jeep i think it's a recirculating ball gear and not sure how it would "skip" unless you trashed some of the bearings?

Recirculating ball gear?

 

[cinnur]

Same here. Not only weird steering issues, it was even setting off my traction control and ABS lights.

Traction warnings did light up.
I think that is standard on the JL over a certain line, 30 degrees?

 

[4x4Funlover]

Simple terms, The steering box is a recirculating ball gear. It's a screw and ball bearing; the ball bearings are pushed up and down with the fluid pressure from the pump when the balls hit bottom or top the steering wheel stops. To check that you can turn lock to lock and measure the angle of the pitman arm from center.

 

[Jeep Wick]

On a recent off road adventure, I might have damaged my steering box.
On a rock climb, my front alignment was knocked out, and my steering wheel was put 90 degrees out of sync.
No breaks or bends on any linkage found, and all has been put back in order. Some of the adjustments on the linkage are near or at max adjustments to get all back in alignment.

I can stay with all as it is since everything is operating correctly, but not finding any breaks or bends the steering box is on my mind as a possibility of being compromised in some manner.

Thoughts here on this situation?
If I change the steering box, stick with OEM, or get some third party upgrade unit?

My vehicle:
2019 JL 3.6.

I have a new revised steering box for the 2 door, if you want it PM me.

Sponsored