Play in the steering

[Dirka]

I've got some play in the steering that makes my 77 K10 a little wobbly down the road.  I'm thinking of replacing the steering shaft.  Would that be sufficient? Or should I do the box too? The alignment is good, had that worked on when I put new tires on a month ago. 
I've read good things about the Jeep XJ steering shafts as a sturdy, longer lasting replacement?

Thanks

[Irish_Alley]

the jeep steering uses a u joint instead of the rag joint that can rip and break. if you replace the steering shaft it prob wont fix the problem, cant say you will waist your money cause its worth it but its a waist of time to fix the real problem. have someone help you to perform a dry test, with the engine off. have them wiggle the steering wheel easy and see what moves. you may find the frame is cracked or you have a bad tie rod among other things. but just dont replace the steering shaft if its not needed

[Captkaos]

Ditto.

[Greybeard]

Good advice ^^^

Pay close attention to the frame area. If it's not cracked it will crack at some point unless you reinforce it. I had my frame crack suddenly will driving in downtown St. Louis, Mo. Not fun trying to get home. Like trying to drive a limp noodle. Welded the frame and fabbed some home built weld on reinforcements. However, the store bought bolt on ones are easier and likely more effective. You have at least six spots to gain slop in a Chevy steering system. And that does not account for sloppy spring bushings.

[roundhouse]

Get a bright light and look at every part of the steering while you have a helper wiggle the wheel back and forth

Usually it's the joint at each end of the link that connects the box to the axle



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[enaberif]

LOL take a look at all your steering components.. my drag link was absolutely shot.. I could twist it both ways at least 1/4" of a turn.

[Greybeard]

Old thread i know and problem is likely solved by now but really, if I read this right you should be able to twist it about 1/4" around its longitudinal axis. That is what allows it to move when the suspension moves. What you don't want it to do is move forwards or backwards at all. Or side to side without twisting it or worse yet is see the ball move in and out of the socket. 

[Sprinkler-Man]

Check your leaf spring bushings.  I had a lot of play in mine when I bought it and replaced the steering shaft and tie rods which helped somewhat but the real culprit was the missing bushings on the front leaf springs.

[enaberif]

Check your leaf spring bushings.  I had a lot of play in mine when I bought it and replaced the steering shaft and tie rods which helped somewhat but the real culprit was the missing bushings on the front leaf springs.

LOL wait till I pull my front leaf springs... I'll come back and show the bushings.. they are S H O T