why is my steering so easy to turn
3 Answers
littlehorn answered 16 years ago
First thing I would check is the lash on the steering. How much can you turn the wheel before the front wheels actually turn. In a rack & pinion system, 1/4" of lash is permissible; in a standard system, roughly 2-2.5" of lash is permissible. If your lash exceeds this, you will need to replace the steering gear box. I don't believe you have a rack & pinion steering in a Jeep that old. You may also have a problem with the tie rods in the front or other connections to the front wheels. If these are loose they will allow play in the wheel when attempting to turn it. Hard to say what all it could be without looking at it, but you can check the lash yourself as a starting point.
foojeepfoo answered 16 years ago
The combination of a high volume steering pump and a well designed steering system does make this type of driving feel effortless, I drive a '76 Cherokee and its easier to steer than my wife's caddy.