Pokey_87

In my 1987 Renix Cherokee Laredo standard transmission, I swapped out the steering column. It worked fine, but had missing bearings.

The problem I have now is that the Jeep no longer turns all the way to the left. I turn the wheel, and it 'locks out' before the tires turn as much as they used to.
Could it be that I had the steering wheel upside down or one turn too many when I installed it? Seems like I could disconnect the 11mm bolt at the firewall, turn the steering wheel a couple times clockwise, and then I would be able to turn it further to the left.

Any ideas?

lawsoncl

If your 87 is the same old style GM column as my 89, then you don't have a clockspring to worry about, and the wheel should just spin if you unhook it at the steering gear. If you turn the steering wheel until the pitman arm and the wheels are straight, is the steering wheel centered? If not, you might need to pull the steering wheel off and reinstall in the correct position. If the pitman is straight but the wheels aren't that's an alignment issue. If I recall the splines at the u-joint at the steering gear are keyed so it only goes on one way.