One of the most common causes of play in steering for Willys Jeep owners is in the steering box.
This is the first thing you want to check when you want to reduce play because there are many separate moving parts inside your Willys Jeep Steering Box.
The cover to the steering box needs to be removed and once that’s open, you should see several parts which can move inside. There is a chance that each one of these parts may need replacing, so be thorough when you check these parts and the steering box in general.
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. Note that over time, these nubs will obviously wear out, which will also give you more play in your Jeeps steering.
Additionally, as you turn the steering wheel back 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 most likely 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 roads. Always check and double check that all connecting parts of your Willys Jeep Steering Box are functioning properly!
For more information on this topic, we have recently published a FREE comprehensive restoration guide on Willys Jeep steering which can be downloaded right to your computer.
