So I recently bought an 01 XJ for $750 well it leaks power steering. The person I bought it from said it needed a whole new gearbox. I just wanna be sure before I have it replaced that its not something cheaper. It leaks between the gearbox and the pitman arm nut from what i remember isnt there a seal in there? I have no power steering at the moment and need it fixed asap as I drive it to school. Thanks for any info

 

Sounds like that seal is shot. Here's a video from Matt at bleepinjeep on how to rebuild the steering gear box.

 

Mine was leaking pretty badly. I cheated. It's not leaking any more.

It took a few days, but the leak stopped. Did the same for a bad leak from my front main seal on my family van. That took two treatments, and it still seeps a bit, but I bought a lot of time.

 

BlueRidgeMark what stop leak did you use? I bought some lucas power steering stop leak and that seemed to at least slow it down so I could keep fluid in there and actually have power steering but it still leaks.

 

Hey buddy,

You should get a Durango steering box. It's a beefier box. I've ran them on both my xjs they are worth every penny! Or you can buy a re manned one. While you have it off DO NOT put the flimsy little brace back on there it's a triangle piece. You can buy a brace or make your own with a descent chunk of steel. The leak probably isn't coming from the box it's self probably just the pressure line. You should get new ones. Before you replace the box what you need to do is a dry steer test on the ground. Get somebody to move the wheel, not turn so the wheels really turn but just side to side lightly. Then you look underneath where the output shaft connects to the pitman arm. That out put shaft should stay straight it shouldn't have any axial movement at all (side to side movement) while your there chick the rod end for the same thing for good measure

 

Also of your in a cold climet it's not a great idea to be putting in thick oil treatments it's supposed to have a certain viscosity that thick stuff in the winter gets harder and thick like sugaring sugar.

 

I know you need an 18mm line wrench I forget what the other one is for the power steering lines at the gearbox you gotta take out the air box to do it

 

Id love to get an upgraded gear box but atm I need cheaper and fixed fast as I start welding school in 2 days. And no worries about cold weather i live in florida. I found where its leaking from im pretty sure there is a seal in there that went bad

 

Click the link in my post. It will take you right to it.