vague steering

Hi all HELP required . I have a t reg jimny completly standard except for 205/75/15 general grabber at3 tyres , at any spped over 45 mph the steering feels very vague I have adjusted the steering box for play ,tried all different tyre pressures , no play on any steering joints or wheels bearings .wheels balanced and wheel alignment checked. when I bought the car it steered normally and you could drive on the motorway happily at 70 mph like my previous jimny . I am at the stage were I don't no what else to look at for the problem and the car does not feel safe to drive . your thoughts please .
thanks in advance chris

What pressures in your tyres

Hi front 23 psi , rear 26 psi I have tried all manner of different pressures and its made no difference. thanks chris

Do you offroad have you bent steering drag links panhard rods
are your trackrod ends in good condition

Hi not used for serious off road just for checking sheep and light jobs on farm and everyday transport.
Cheers chris

Just musing some alternative possibilities.
So if you have checked everything for play, bent bits, alignment etc and everything looks fine, is it's possible something is actually tight or notchy?

If a part in the long list of steering components is not free to move it could prevent the self centering action of the steering geometry, this resulting in the wandering you are experiencing in a straight line.
I guess the only way to find out is separate the ball joints etc and with the wheels up in the air and move each part from lock to lock.

Another possibility is the tyres, any others you can try on the front just to eliminate? Swap rear / front and see if anything changes.

Good luck

Mike

Hi the steering self-centred itself on either lock can't see anything seized on any joints I have lifted all rubber covers on joints and lubricated with oil .Also forgot to mention when on the motorway it will sort of skip of to the left or right even when steering straight . cheers Chris

Hi Lambert
ref kingpin bearings I have checked all the info that came with the car and cant see any mention of kingpin bearings being replaced is there a way of checking them for wear ?
thanks chris

You could jack up and feel for movement 6-9o'clock
Like Lambert says they don't always show oil
Or in my case no movement no oil just a knock every other week
Once apart my bearings just fell out the case was rotten

Knackered shock absorbers can make the car feel 'floaty' which feels a bit like vague steering.

I've had this happen on a couple of older sports cars with those awful Armstron lever-arm type shick absorbers. The whole thing feels very vague on the road and I can only describe it as 'floaty'