Steering wheel excessive side/side play?

[topher75]

Friend recently purchased an 03 Liberty (97K miles) for his daughter and when we inspected the vehicle I noticed that the steering wheel had a good amount side to side play 1/4" worth min. So I started looking at the different components starting from the rack and working my way back to the steering wheel. I believe the issues is directly behind the steering wheel. While holding the intermediate shaft, I twisted back and forth and noticed that after I stopped rotating the intermediate shaft, the steering wheel would still bounce back and forth. Have not had a chance to look further into what is between the steering wheel and lower intermediate shaft.

Suggestions to what could be the issue???

 

[rockymountain]

Friend recently purchased an 03 Liberty (97K miles) for his daughter and when we inspected the vehicle I noticed that the steering wheel had a good amount side to side play 1/4" worth min. So I started looking at the different components starting from the rack and working my way back to the steering wheel. I believe the issues is directly behind the steering wheel. While holding the intermediate shaft, I twisted back and forth and noticed that after I stopped rotating the intermediate shaft, the steering wheel would still bounce back and forth. Have not had a chance to look further into what is between the steering wheel and lower intermediate shaft.

Suggestions to what could be the issue???

Did you look at the ujoint about 12 inches from the firewall? That's where a lot of jeeps have a problem.

 

[topher75]

Would this be between the fire wall and the steering wheel? That is where the issue is, haven't been able to pull apart yet to see what is going on. Right now it is kind of scary to drive with the slop.

 

[rockymountain]

The u-joint right after this further down:

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I had the whole shaft replaced on mine. Mine was like an old ford with a bad pitman arm. Scary? YES.

 

[topher75]

The u-joint was good, however the boot through the firewall had a good amount of play and the section in the bottom of the photo has some slop. Currently looking for a exploded view of the parts break down.

 

[topher75]

BTW the center section displayed in the photo is exactly the part that I was twisting back and forth and the issue was directly behind the steering wheel. However, like I said the whole shaft could prob be replaced.

 

[rockymountain]

This should help

steering shaft pdf

I think you are right, there seems to be a u-joint right behind the firewall behind the boot. Should be easy to remove that boot and look at it while someone moves the wheel back and forth.

Take some pics...

 

[topher75]

I happen to have a TJ and was wondering if the KJ has the same steering setup. If so, it is either going to be the ujoint displayed in the attached photo or the bolt is not tight enough to the steering column.

Does anyone know if you can replace the u-joint?

 

[topher75]

BTW rockymountain thanks for the info!!

 

[topher75]

Jeep was delivered yesterday and it turns out the only thing wrong is a bolt needed to be tightened where the shaft connects to the steering column. No clue to why/how this bolt got loose.

 

[rockymountain]

Glad you got it. Was it the one behind the firewall boot?

 

[topher75]

It was inside, right after the upper u-joint. It's just amazing that the previous owner was driving around with the pay for at least a year! When I drove it you could feel the tires drift side to side, almost as if you were floating.