JK vague steering

[Pete_79]

As per the title I've noticed the steering on my 2013 JK has been slowly deteriorating and now it's getting dangerous.

We don't put many K's on our rig (it's still under 40k) and those that we do are majority off road or on poor quality roads.
It's on 33s with a 3.5" lift and all the geometry correction bits and pieces, the heavy duty ball joints I fitted to fix the death wobble wouldn't have even done 10k yet.

It's a JK so the steering was always a little twitchy, but today I just had a quick squirt on the highway and it was pretty scary to tell the truth.

The steering is really vague, almost to the point of wondering off into the bush on it's own.
Through corners and under load it's not too bad, but on straight flat roads over 100km I was hanging on for my life. The slightest correction on the wheel felt like I was on the verge of totally loosing control.

I've noticed the Rancho steering dampener has been loosing a little bit of oil for a little while now and I'm thinking it might have finally failed.

But would a failed dampener be enough to make the steering so dangerous on a straight flat road?

Anything else I should be looking at?

[Classic Boy]

I would check to see if the steering box is bolted up tight and none of the fasteners are loose or broken. Then check the pitman, and idler arms for excessive looseness then the tie-rod ends.
If everything checks out OK then using a tape measure do a quick and dirty check of the toe of the front tyres.

[Pete_79]

Originally Posted by Classic Boy

If everything checks out OK then using a tape measure do a quick and dirty check of the toe of the front tyres.

That's the one I was missing, everything else checked out ok.

Too dark and wet now, will sus it out in the morning, but that could be it. Thanks.

[MightyMouse]

JK steering boxes are in the "frequent rebuild" category unfortunately, so if you've eliminated all the other suspects then that's likely it.

Steering dampers do just that...... damp sudden shock loads like potholes etc and shouldn't be the cause of vague steering.

[Pete_79]

Initial quick visual checks everything looked ok.

But I got it in the shed yesterday and had a proper look. Once I had someone in the car turning the wheel then it was very obvious, the drag link end is totally shot.
That's a relief, wasn't looking forward to rebuilding a steering box...

[LeighP]

Always good when you find something wrong....I hate it when you know something is not right, but you can't find anything worn out.

[MidnightMods]

I have a high steer synergy near new drag link for $200 if your in melb