Gotcha. But, you know there must be a reason for our reaction. We've seen that kind of stuff before.

 

Yet a week is going by quickly as you labor over solving this thing.


I meant no disrespect however sometimes we (I) are so close to the problem we don't see the bigger picture. I would;


Call the store where you got it and order another.


Take off the faulty one, pitman arm attached.


Go there and drop it in their lap.


You obviously value having a lifetime warranty.....so use it.


As I see it you can waste a lot of time and energy over thinking this or lay the blame where it belongs...... The rebuilder.


Since my last reply I've changed the steering box on my own XJ and after 50 miles of freeway driving I'm not happy with it. It's a Delco rebuild and the wheel has way too much travel in it. Lifetime warranty.


I'm not even going to adjust it as they set it up in the factory and put paint on the adjuster threads. It's going back to the rebuilder, period.


So, don't do as I "say", do as I do, have the rebuilder remedy this for you, that's what you paid for.....and as always....


Best of luck with it.....


Dan


__________________________________________________ ____


2001 XJ 241k miles and unmolested so far......

 

I guess you didn't read the part where I said if it were that simple I would do that. The new pitman arm I had to drive 50 miles to get will not come off either, just like the old one on the old box. If it would come off, then guess what..I would've already taken it back for a new one. THEY HAVE NO NEW PITMAN ARM TO GIVE ME if I take it there attached. That means I have to drive another 50 miles to get another.

The point of the thread was to see if there was any remedies to get this thing drive-able. Not to have people try and make me look like a lazy idiot who can't take a steering box out.

 

I think your only option is to pull the steering box with the pitman arm attached. Take the assembly to a machine shop and have the arm removed. Return the box for a new one. Then, go back to the machine shop and have them install the arm. Your primary problem is the pitman arm. Solve that and you should be back in business.

 

Well both pitman arms are of now. Got a replacement box and gonna put it on tomorrow hopefully. Picking up another return line also to replace second one I put on there. That way I know neither of the possible leaky components will be on there.

Now, as far a putting the pitman are on the new box, is there some crazy fancy way of putting it on? Because before when I tried putting it on it wouldn't go on all the way.

 

Have everything back together now and as of now, there are no visible leaks. Still have a lot of air in the system but that's getting worked out little by little. Hopefully this has fixed it being that the two possibly leaking components aren't in the equation anymore. Didn't mean to be a pain or disrespectful. Just was very frustrated with the way things were going trying to get this fixed. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

You would rather remove, exchange, then replace the whole f'n thing rather than turn the little adjustment screw a tiny bit to fix it? I am gonna take your advice for sure...

 

Just for kicks, how did you handle the removal and installation of the pitman arm? That info may be helpful to the next XJ owner faced with stubborn parts.

 

The newer one that was on the faulty one I returned came off pretty easy actually. The puller I had was the problem. I bought a heavy duty one from autozone and that was the trick. It still wasn't enough to get the other one off with the broken bolts. Long story short I had someone with some "old man strength" help me get it off. Whacking the hell outta it with a hammer while ratcheting it off with the puller and impact got if off.

Now....the new pitman arm and the new steering box is giving me the same issue with the pitman arm not going on all the way. I'd tighten it down with the puller Andy whack it with a hammer some and it would go down a little. But there's still about a quarter inch to go. And it's not moving anymore. It's to the point that to actually cracked my socket is was using. I know they're tapered but damn, this is a big PITA.

It's drivable now so if worse comes to worst then I'll take it in for an alignment and see if they can get it on the rest of the way.

 

There's no substitute for the right tools. Glad you got it handled.

 

Yeah that's what I was thinking...