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front end bushings

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Old Oct 8, 2012 | 08:43 PM
  #1  
dogkatcher's Avatar
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From: Lakewood, CO
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Default front end bushings

93 xj ho, 4x4

most of the front bushings look newer (still black / rubbery / not dry rotted), but 1/2 are smashed / a bit torn up / drivers side clunks when turning sometimes .. tie rod bushings are def toast .. can see where it hits metal to metal.. Im not driving it daily yet .. just a few miles here / there working out bugs

easy to change myself? I read posts about breaking the bolt, but they look recently serviced (when? do not know) .. just crappy parts I assume

i was gonna use printed diagram & make a list of which ones are really bad .. but it got dark outside, and tired.

once done by me .. alignment is needed ?

it does steer straight, even on highway 70 mph, no DW either .. would rather do it myself to save labor costs

I'll do pics tomorrow as Im doing my list of the failed

good note .. she ran great today after warming up, just riding around my area .. thinkin the transmission liked being warm, shifts way smoother when up to temp ... checked 4x4 in dirt .. its not stuck in 4x4 as i thought .. 4x4 does require reverse to clear it, or maybe didnt give it enough time to disengage

I just bought a project .. at least the body looks under 10 years old, not 20 .. gonna be nice when fixed up
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Old Oct 9, 2012 | 12:38 AM
  #2  
ZINGGG's Avatar
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From: Seal Beach, CA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
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You'll need to determine which bushings exactly are bad before we can tell you how hard they are to change. You're talking about tie rod boots though. Easy as pie to change, rent a pickle fork from the auto parts store. Depending on what bushings you change, you may need an alignment.

Take pictures and post em tomorrow
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 07:45 PM
  #3  
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From: Lakewood, CO
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
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took it by a jeep shop 2day

got quoted approx $125 for replacing bushings / boots

he said tie rod ends looked fine, they look new besides a crappy bushing

definatly need fixing .. drivers side steering knuckle attach pops, I lubed them yesterday to shut em up, but theyre ruined .. boots that is

looks to be the bushings hooked to steering knuckles & center link only, rest seem ok .. control arms are a bit dried out, but not falling apart. he didnt see any broken / bent metal parts

if I do it .. w/ no adjusting tie rods .. should still drive straight ? I may just pay them to do it and have em scope out entire drivetrain while on lift
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 07:52 PM
  #4  
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From: Frederick, MD
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Originally Posted by dogkatcher
took it by a jeep shop 2day

got quoted approx $125 for replacing bushings / boots

he said tie rod ends looked fine, they look new besides a crappy bushing

definatly need fixing .. drivers side steering knuckle attach pops, I lubed them yesterday to shut em up, but theyre ruined .. boots that is

looks to be the bushings hooked to steering knuckles & center link only, rest seem ok .. control arms are a bit dried out, but not falling apart. he didnt see any broken / bent metal parts

if I do it .. w/ no adjusting tie rods .. should still drive straight ? I may just pay them to do it and have em scope out entire drivetrain while on lift
Not a bad price
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 08:06 PM
  #5  
dogkatcher's Avatar
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From: Lakewood, CO
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
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Originally Posted by my89xj
Not a bad price
not bad at all. considering i'll be crawling around on the street if I do it, livin in a condo right now / no garage (i do miss a garage & beers)

also, quoted $25 to adjust steering box, 1st thing they noticed, a tad loose

front axle U-joints .. $300 ish

rear drive shaft joints $140 ish .. those look ok though

Im more concerned on front end right now
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 08:23 PM
  #6  
ZINGGG's Avatar
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From: Seal Beach, CA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
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Originally Posted by my89xj

Not a bad price
It sounds like your mechanic will be replacing a couple tie rod boots? That's a terrible price. If you do the tie rods 1 by 1, you wont have to get it aligned. It'll take a wrench, a pickle fork and a hammer and you'll be done. Do it yourself dude
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 08:33 PM
  #7  
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From: Lakewood, CO
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
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Originally Posted by 1996sportXJ
It sounds like your mechanic will be replacing a couple tie rod boots? That's a terrible price. If you do the tie rods 1 by 1, you wont have to get it aligned. It'll take a wrench, a pickle fork and a hammer and you'll be done. Do it yourself dude
good to know . thanks ( I already decided i should do the U joints .. $40 in parts)

I set up a commercial o-reilly account, get some savings there (saved $5 on 40 yesterday)

what brand bushing to get ? Im not buying store brands. lookin at kits on ebay too .. love savin money

hopin to get this jeep up to par quick for work .. we deal with alot of oil / gas companies in colorado .. snowy oil pad boonies .. a foot of snow + drifts are quite common
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 11:29 PM
  #8  
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From: Seal Beach, CA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
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Well if it's a daily driver, you want a soft ride so i'd definitely go with rubber bushings. Moog makes good stuff. For the tie rod boots, I'd go polyurethane. Energy Suspension makes good ones
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