Shimmy or Loose Steering in 73

I have a good bit of "play" in the steering wheel. The steering works fine and everything seems to be going well with the jeep but I was wondering what the fix might be to take some of the play out of the steering wheel. I saw some steering stabilizer shocks in a 4wd magazine. I have not modified any of the steering components on the jeep. Do you think these stabilizers would help or any other suggestions? Thanks for any help.

 

stabalizer probably won't help what you are describing.

Check the Following for play
Tie rod ends (4)
steering box
rag joint (joint between the steering shaft and the steering box)
Steering shaft u-joint (close to the firewall on the steering shaft.)

Any and all of these can cause the steering to feel loose. Plus with a lift you may have allignment issues as well.

 

Not likely. The steering stabilizers are a shock absorber that adds some damping to the linkage (cures mild wobble and/or bump steer) but doesn't do anything about looseness.

More likely you need to replace the coupler or adjust/replace the steering box. Spring bushings are another common wear point.

I'd first have someone sit in the driver's seat and slowly turn the steering wheel back and forth just enough to test the looseness. I'd start at the coupling above the steering box and inspect the movement at every joint right down to the wheels. You want to isolate the worn or broken component. You may not be able to isolate a single component - the looseness may be due to the accumulation of wear at several places. In that case, you'll have to go through the whole system and renew all the components that wear.