Hard to tell you if you spun the pitman with no pics of it.

Did you take any steering off when you swapped leaf?

If so you probably let the wheel turn without knowing and it's just off centered... best case

Could have bound up, shock loaded, and broke box internally.

I'd say you wouldn't have "spun" the pitman. They usually either twist the splines, which is easily seen, or they break the sector shaft. That would also dictate a new box to fix.

buying too many parts for too many Jeeps

 

Hard to tell you if you spun the pitman with no pics of it.

Did you take any steering off when you swapped leaf?

Didn't take any of the steering components off when I swapped the leaf.

I don't know why I didn't grab some pics of the box. Aggravation/ dejection, probably.....
I'll grab some tomorrow and post up.

 

Do you have a steering stabilizer? If so, check to see if the mounting bracket slid, or if it bent the shaft

Hoss

 

I'd drop steering linkages; drag link, tie rod, disconnect the pitman arm and "resquare" everything. Get your steering box centered, makes sure it turns freely both ways disconnected, and then start attaching one piece at a time and then turn it back and forth again, etc., etc.

I'm willing to bet something else got got bent/knocked out and this would help identify that as well.

 

A similar thing happened to my buddy Eric Dehn years ago when he hit a patch of ice and slammed into a guard rail at highway speed. A new set of springs, steering box, and an alignment later things were all good again.

 

OK, I finally got back to the garage and got the drag link off the pitman arm.
(Amazing how much easier things are when you remember you have the actual tool used for this..........ugh)

Steering box feels fine, with no binding anywhwere along the throw.

I am able to turn the all the way left and right. But MAN did it take some effort!
I mean, a LOT of effort. Way more than I would expect.
I could not see anything binding or noticably bent
(Pics below)

Unfortunately, as i write this, I relaize I did not disconnect the steering stabilizer, which Hoss mentioned above..... Ugh.
So maybe that will be next week's adventure to the garage.......

 

Disconnect the steering stabilizer.
You said “a lot of effort”
Is this turning the steering wheel?

 

HI,
Just me but those don't look like very good mud tires no wonder they wouldn't clean out.. You need the ones with the big triangle shape ribs and mount them pointing forward I think..
Simpletire.com

TOYO $475.

KUMOH $117.


good luck take care be safe
tim

 

HI,
Just me but those don't look like very good mud tires no wonder they wouldn't clean out.. You need the ones with the big triangle shape ribs and mount them pointing forward I think..
Simpletire.com

TOYO $475.
.
.
KUMOH $117.
.
.
good luck take care be safe
tim

For the price of just more than ONE Toyo ($500) for a set of FIVE with 1000+/- miles on them, they've been great for the money.
Just didn't like evasive manuevers required on clay mud trails when they let idiots on them.

 

Welp... If ound the problem.
Removed the axle shafts and found both axle u-joints were siezed up pretty good.
So new U-joints and ball joints are going in.

I also found my axle tube was filled with dry mud.... I think I'll stick to trail riding from here on out......