steering wheel play wiggle test

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ChipsXJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Broken Arrow, OK

• Dec 13, 2005

• #1

after searching the forums on steering wheel play I gathered the following information (please correct me if I am wrong).

jack up (one or both sides at a time) and conduct the following:
grasp wheel at the top and bottom, continue to press in at the top and pull out at the bottom. if it wiggles it is ball joints.
grasp the wheel on the left and the right, continue to push in on the right and pull on the left. if it wiggles it is the tierods.

sound right?

thanks

 

D

dizzymac

NAXJA Forum User

Location

New Hampshire

• Dec 13, 2005

• #2

I tried that on my steering wheel....didn't work.........LOL

 

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XJade

NAXJA Forum User

Location

87XJ_4L-Automatic, Arizona

• Dec 13, 2005

• #3

dizzymac said:

I tried that on my steering wheel....didn't work.........LOL

Click to expand...

You have to wear gloves and move the fuzzy dice out of the way.

 

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LazarusMJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

New Hampshire

• Dec 13, 2005

• #4

It works great on the tires, but the steering wheel shouldn't wiggle.

Yes, If your tire has movement from top to bottom, you have a (or two) bad balljoints. If it has movement from side to side, get a new tie rod end (or two).

 

Menzenski

Formerly Mambeu

Location

Home: Ithaca, NY School: Albuquerque, NM

• Dec 13, 2005

• #5

Movement from top to bottom can also be caused by a bad wheel bearing.

 

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LazarusMJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

New Hampshire

• Dec 13, 2005

• #6

Good point.

 

C

ChipsXJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Broken Arrow, OK

• Dec 14, 2005

• #7

while doing the 'wiggle' test I had a helper do the wiggling and I laid under the jeep and looked at the tie rod ends and the ball joints.

upper left ball joint had some play as did the right outer tie rod end. the other ball joints and tie rod ends had no detectable movement.

so i figured it was the left upper ball joint and right outer tie rod end that were bad.

any other ways to check the wheel bearing assembly?

thanks

 

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Jackhill442

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Atlanta

• Dec 14, 2005

• #8

The wheel bearings will usually make a groaning sound inside the vehicle that increases with speed. If your vehicle is quiet at speed, there is probably nothing wrong with the wheel bearings.