Steering Wheel Adjustment Help

[SuMeRiaN]

I am trying to center our steering wheel, I am at the point now where it throws the occasional code.
In my past life I would loosen the two bolts on the drag link buckle and rotate the buckle.
Today it looks more like a clamp. I’ve loosened the clamp and am turning the rod, I have tons of rotations in the opposite direction I want to go. In the direction I need to turn it won’t turn, no room for adjustment. My gut says I need to pull the drank link bolt from the pitman arm and make some turns and reconnect.
What am I missing? Thanks in advance!
R

Sponsored

 

[Reinen]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...drag-link-to-straighten-steering-wheel.11473/

That's it. If you need to adjust more than what that can do you must have some other problem going on. Possibly a serious one.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I am trying to center our steering wheel, I am at the point now where it throws the occasional code.
In my past life I would loosen the two bolts on the drag link buckle and rotate the buckle.
Today it looks more like a clamp. I’ve loosened the clamp and am turning the rod, I have tons of rotations in the opposite direction I want to go. In the direction I need to turn it won’t turn, no room for adjustment. My gut says I need to pull the drank link bolt from the pitman arm and make some turns and reconnect.
What am I missing? Thanks in advance!
R

Your signature says you have a TJ! Wonder what codes you are getting!

if a JL, go to off road pages and see what your steering angle is.

 

[SuMeRiaN]

The Jeep is a wrangler JL, it has a MCGC lift and larger tires.

Here is what I am seeing, with the clamp loose I need to rotate maybe 1/2 at most 1 turn driver clockwise to straighten the steering wheel. It will not budge. I can rotate drive counter clockwise many turns almost turning the entire steering wheel around. Doing so exposes much more thread on each side

I feel like the solution is unbolting at the pitman arm and making a few turns reducing the threads on the left, finding a new middle, bolting it back up and fine tuning a little.

I am no mechanic.

Sorry no TJ, we left it at the beach in DE and will collect it again one day.

The steering wheel angle is 1.9%

I have no idea what the codes are, I would have to pull down the extension, plug in the reader and load an app, have not done that in a while. If the wheel sits around 2% for an extended period a few lights appear on the dash indicating ACC, ESC, CC have been disabled.

If we are on a 500 mile stretch and need any of the above we just pull off, turn full right, full left and restart the Jeep, shortly after the issues clear and services return.

 

[Hucke_250]

It’s looks like you adjusted the drag link out too far. Maybe someone with a Rubicon will chime in with the stock length for you to compare with.

 

[stumblinhorse]

The Jeep is a wrangler JL, it has a MCGC lift and larger tires.

Here is what I am seeing, with the clamp loose I need to rotate maybe 1/2 at most 1 turn driver clockwise to straighten the steering wheel. It will not budge. I can rotate drive counter clockwise many turns almost turning the entire steering wheel around. Doing so exposes much more thread on each side

I feel like the solution is unbolting at the pitman arm and making a few turns reducing the threads on the left, finding a new middle, bolting it back up and fine tuning a little.

I am no mechanic.

Sorry no TJ, we left it at the beach in DE and will collect it again one day.

The steering wheel angle is 1.9%

I have no idea what the codes are, I would have to pull down the extension, plug in the reader and load an app, have not done that in a while. If the wheel sits around 2% for an extended period a few lights appear on the dash indicating ACC, ESC, CC have been disabled.

If we are on a 500 mile stretch and need any of the above we just pull off, turn full right, full left and restart the Jeep, shortly after the issues clear and services return.

How big of lift? Don’t think you want to do anything at the pitman arm. That looks like you should have more adjustment available.

is that angle what you have on off road pages?

 

[SuMeRiaN]

It’s looks like you adjusted the drag link out too far. Maybe someone with a Rubicon will chime in with the stock length for you to compare with.

In the image this is the furthest in the drag link will go, if I turn driver counter clockwise It will extend like 2-3” out.

 

[SuMeRiaN]

How big of lift? Don’t think you want to do anything at the pitman arm. That looks like you should have more adjustment available.

is that angle what you have on off road pages?

it’s the 2.5” MCGC lift, definitely net more height with this kit.

Offroad pages says 1 and if I breath on the wheel 2. This is driving in a straight line for 100ft coming to stop without touching the wheel.

Thanks folks for chiming in.

 

[stumblinhorse]

it’s the 2.5” MCGC lift, definitely net more height with this kit.

Offroad pages says 1 and if I breath on the wheel 2. This is driving in a straight line for 100ft coming to stop without touching the wheel.

Thanks folks for chiming in.

In your image do you see the tab on the drag link? That is the end of adjustment.

 

[SuMeRiaN]

In your image do you see the tab on the drag link? That is the end of adjustment.

I do not see this, please school me.

 

[Hucke_250]

In the image this is the furthest in the drag link will go, if I turn driver counter clockwise It will extend like 2-3” out.

I found that the stock Rubicon drag link measures approximately 41.25” center to center. Measure your and compare to see if it’s too short or too long.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I do not see this, please school me.

sorry I am on a mobile devices so not able to draw effectively.

Below your right green arrow is a rectangular metal “tab” welded to the drag link. That stops the adjuster.

see how this adjuster is up against that tab?

 

[SuMeRiaN]

sorry I am on a mobile devices so not able to draw effectively.

Below your right green arrow is a rectangular metal “tab” welded to the drag link. That stops the adjuster.

see how this adjuster is up against that tab?

So it looks like there is more room to go in the direction I need travel. Correct?

 

[stumblinhorse]

So it looks like there is more room to go in the direction I need travel. Correct?

Time for penetrating lube and a channel lock…

 

[ScotM]

My personal experience suggests that you may need to get a more adjustable drag link. When I lifted, I Installed a steersmart drag link. Simple in-line adjustment, centered the steering wheel perfectly.

Sponsored