Steering Shudder! FIXED!!! (1 Viewer)

[MilkmanVX]

So I have been trying to narrow down a shudder I get whenever I hit large and small holes, go over bumps at speed etc etc. I started with replacing all my shox bushes (front and back) -no change.

I then checked one side of the cars rack ends and t-rods -they needed replacing so did that -still the shudder continued. I was then convinced that I needed to replace my steering rack bushes -so I did the easy one first -the large grommet ... no change.

Convinced it was the remaining 2 bushes, I took the plunge this past weekend.

Since removing the steering rack has been covered in other forums I shall not cover it here -only to add that to remove it easily (for HD-FTE engines) I removed the rack ends and the hose connected to the radiator -and it came of very easily!

Anyway, prior to removing the steering rack, you must obviously disconnect the intermediate shaft ...

when I grabbed it, I decided to wiggle it back and forth... -I got plenty of play and it seemed to make a knocking sound. So I asked my to grab it and give it a good shake as I held onto the steering ... indeed, it appeared that the knock could be felt all the way to the steering.

So, I then suspected the grommet was bad -basically this part ... so I proceeded to disconnect the intermediate shaft. once removed, I took it to my mech for a thorough inspection and he told me that it was good as new. He informed me that I would have to inspect the main shaft -this meant removing the entire steering column.

So I went back home and pondered on my next steps ..... and read up on this View attachment steeringassembly.pdf

 

[MilkmanVX]

Removal of the Steering Column ...

So... gathering up some courage, I dived into the steering assembly. Taking off the plastics was easy .. I was extra careful with the airbag part -but that was a breeze too. I was then left with this ....

AND ... lots of harnesses all around.... I then detached the bottom of the steering by removing the connector to the intermediate shaft (leaving the appropriate notch marks -AND keeping the steering centered!!)

The steering is held in place by 4 bolts -very easy to see. Once you disconnect all the harnesses, you can then open the bolts and it comes off ....

 

[AATLAS1X]

Can I be the first to say that 5-Speed shifter just does it for me.

 

[MilkmanVX]

The Meat of it ....

So.. with the steering column out -I give you ...

The offending part was actually the locking clip that fits in a groove of the main shaft. If you look at your main shaft by sticking your head near your brake pedal -this is what you see ...
the arrow indicates the locking clip and groove in the main shaft ....

Here is a better pic with a clear view of the clip -

In my case, my clip had slipped out of its groove and was hanging by the thrust stopper at the end of the main shaft. Thus my main shaft would move up and down and knock around whenever any vibrations moved up the intermediate shaft. I think the FSM calls it an energy absorbing clip and is termed as non-reusable. Anyway, I simply pushed mine back into place -after inspecting that my bearings were good (see the pdf I attached earlier).

Once I had re-inserted the offending lock -I reassembled the steering column -and since I was already halfway there, replaced the rack bushes (which we discovered, were not that badly gone). Anyway, the frustrating knock is gone -I can confidently hit the ruts and no more giving my teeth a work out with the shudders!!

This is a quick fix -I only complicated mine because I thought the offending part was the rack. It is a quick inspection to see if your energy absorbing clip is loose -you simply put your head next to the brake pedals and see if it is hanging about the thrust stopper ....

 

[AATLAS1X]

Interesting. I'll be crawling under the dash in the morning. I really hope it could be this easy.

 

[MilkmanVX]

Interesting. I'll be crawling under the dash in the morning. I really hope it could be this easy.

Actually, a few things come to mind further simplifying the matter ... if your clip has jumped the groove -but is not broken or otherwise damaged -you may be able to push it back into place without removing a single panel ... -Also, if it has not found its way to between the lower bracket and the thrust stopper -see where the blue arrows are ... -then you are in luck ... mine was squarely wedged between the two -plus I did not know what else was wrong so I had to remove it all....


Also, be careful if your clip has jumped the groove and you want to remove the steering column ... the main shaft (which is actually 2 half shafts) shall shift upwards as you go about your work and get locked -forcing you to open lower part and remove the lower bearing in order to pull it out .... this is done by unbending the metal at the end of the shaft which locks the bearing in place -to lock, you rebend it -see red arrow ...

 

[e9999]

the kind of great post that makes things easier for everybody else... thanks

 

[Mxndrnks]

Good write up! I was really hoping this was going to be the easy fix for my shudder..... but no luck. Looks like my 2000 has a different design.



As you can see, no clip...back to staring at diagrams....

As a data point, I have a new rack, rod ends, New sway bar bushings, shocks, uca's, lower ball joints, etc. My shudder appeared after install of new OEM rack. It is most noticeable off road. So much so, the first time I ran a trail after the new rack, I thought my rack was loose...

 

[LCHardriver_02]

I have this same problem. I will be checking mine after I get home from work later this afternoon. I would love it to be a simple fix and not a major task to repair.
Thanks much for the great write up. You had me completely enthralled!

 

[LCHardriver_02]

I have this same problem. I will be checking mine after I get home from work later this afternoon. I would love it to be a simple fix and not a major task to repair.
Thanks much for the great write up. You had me completely enthralled!

 

[MilkmanVX]

Good write up! I was really hoping this was going to be the easy fix for my shudder..... but no luck. Looks like my 2000 has a different design.

View attachment 686097

As you can see, no clip...back to staring at diagrams....

As a data point, I have a new rack, rod ends, New sway bar bushings, shocks, uca's, lower ball joints, etc. My shudder appeared after install of new OEM rack. It is most noticeable off road. So much so, the first time I ran a trail after the new rack, I thought my rack was loose...

Hmmm... looks like you may have the bushing instead of the bearings .... I am also guessing your steering does not have the telescopic feature? (mine does)

If your intermediate shaft has a lot of give -then your bush may be done! (some vehicles have the bush instead of the bearing so may be the energy absorbing clip is different -and the main shaft is one long shaft (in my case, it has to be 2 main shafts to account for the telescopic feature ) .... the part should be replaceable .... bottom-line .. the main shaft should NOT wiggle at ALL ...

 

[fooldall1]

Reviving this-

This bushing in the last post above, is it replaceable? Does it make more sense to buy a steering column from a junkyard or something? I have some binding in the steering column which could be a Intermediate Shaft, uJoint, Column Bushing... there's a distinct "notch" in the steering and seems sloppy. I just replaced the PS pump and Air Control valve recently, and had a new rack installed just under three years ago.

While I can appreciate a good chase- I really just want what I would consider "normal" steering.

At present, I'm zeroing in on the steering column down to the intermediate shaft/ and ujoints in between.

 

[YardPig]

This reminds me of my search for play in the column. Lucky I found this post by @Rolocado
Steering Shaft
After laying on my back playing around with the steering coupler, I found it was true what Rolocado said and the play was from the splines of the inner/outer steering shaft splines.
I have not replaced yet but I do have the part here to repair soon.

 

[fooldall1]

This reminds me of my search for play in the column. Lucky I found this post by @Rolocado
Steering Shaft
After laying on my back playing around with the steering coupler, I found it was true what Rolocado said and the play was from the splines of the inner/outer steering shaft splines.
I have not replaced yet but I do have the part here to repair soon.

You might have just solved this issue for me.

 

[TJ470]

Howdy Folks, having this same issue and WOW has this thread been helpful. I’m like 90% there but am having issues getting the steering shaft to come down enough to show the tapered part that the ring snugs up on. Please see the imagine below explaining my issue. Does anyone have some tips/tricks up their sleeve that they care to share?