Here at Walck’s 4WD, we care about the success of your Willys Jeep Restoration project. That’s why every day we listen to concerns and problems our customers and fellow Willys enthusiasts face with their Jeeps. Time and time again, some of the most common questions we get asked involve steering. So, if you’re like most Willys Jeep wonders, there is a good chance you’ll encounter similar steering issues at some point in your restoration.
This post will begin to talk about these common steering issues but you can download our FREE Steering guide for more information by clicking HERE.
Possibly the most common causes of play for most Willys Jeep owners is the steering box. This is the first thing you want to check when you want to reduce play. There are many separate moving parts inside of your Willys Jeep Steering box.
Once you have everything open, the cover to the steering box needs to be removed. You should see several parts that move inside. Almost each one of these parts may need replacing, so be thorough when you check your whole steering box.
The most obviously visible part in the steering box is the worm shaft. This part connects your steering wheel to the inside of your
steering box. Next, when you move your steering wheel, you’ll see your sector shaft move. The sector shaft is hooked to the pitman arm, located on the outside of the steering box. If your sector shaft is new, two little nubs should appear on either side of it. These nubs intersect with the worm shaft inside of the box. Over time, these nubs will obviously wear out, giving you more play in your Jeeps steering.
Also, as you turn the steering wheel back and forth, keep a close eye on the movement of the sector shaft. If the sector shaft moves up and down at the pitman arm before it starts to turn, your bushings and/or shaft are worn out and may need to be replaced.
It is always good practice to do a monthly or bi-monthly test of the parts in your steering box, especially if you drive your Willys on main streets. Always check and double check that all connecting parts of your Willys Jeep Steering Box are functioning properly, as is where most common problems with play will occur.
This is just one of the places where play in steering can occur in your Willys Jeep. To find out more information on the other places you should check to fix this problem, download our FREE Willys Jeep Steering Guide.
