I have fluid leaking onto my differential and drivers side frame. I have replaced. Oil pan gasket, Power steering pump and lines and ran stop leak through pretty much every applicable areas. It is still leaking. It is annoying me to no end. Any help is much appreciated. The fluid is light brown. It doesn't leak when Idling so it is very hard to find where it is coming from, by the time i see any hint of a leak the whole area is covered with fluid. Thanks for any help.

(I have used the search function for many nights searching my issue so please don't refer me to that)

 

Are you getting blow by in your air box ?

 

A little bit yes but it isn't dropping below the filter into the box or anything.

 

Here are a few Visual Aids, My axel and tie rods ect. are painted flat black so the shine is all fluid.

 

is your steering box leaking at the pitman arm seal?

 

It might be, I'm not sure. There is fluid dripping from the pitman arm so that would be an accurate assumption. Do you think I'll have to replace the whole box?

 

yea mine looked the same way when my seal blew (only mine blew at the bottom of a rocky trail 10 minutes into a wheeling trip).

You can rebuild them, but IMO it's not worth it. You can grab a bigger, stronger box out of a Dodge Durango and bolt that right in. That's that I did.

My write-up is here is you indeed find out that is the cause of your issue
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/du...houghts-84331/

 

It looks like we had about the same leak covered area. I think I'm going to try the swap. Thanks for contributing a write-up I'll for sure be using it. That sucks to have it blow out right at the beginning of a trip. Hope it didn't ruin the whole day.

 

nope, i just had to man handle the steering the entire day

 

Well the leak us still there I've ruled out power steering. I think it was contrubuting because originally it smelt like power steering fluid. However now it smells and looks like oil. Heeeellpp. I've sunk hundreds of dollars into fixing the leak and I haven't gotten anywhere

 

did you have some one turn the wheel with xj running and look at the line to pump

 

Yes, The power steering is in 100% working order. Dry as a whistle. New lines, pump, reservoir and gear box.

 

check trans cooler hoses

 

the pitman arm seal kit is $11 and takes all of an hour to replace..just sayin.

OP, figure out wich of your fluids is the same color as the leaking fluid. once you figure out what it is, spray everything off real good and run some dye thru there.

 

Hello all,


New to the forum.
I think I've got the same deal.

86 Cherokee with mystery fluid leaking in the same area.
Definitely steering, since it didn't steer too good when I took 'er 'round the block.

Also, it seems like the transmission seal blew at the engine.
All this happened in the same week.
I'm blaming Martians.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Ian