viane

Hey Guys,

I bought a Cherokee a few months back that kept blowing power steering HP lines. Bought with one broke, and after replacing it 3 times, with 2 power steering pumps (thinking it was junk AutoZone parts) , I broke down and bought a new steering box (from AutoZone...). Well that did the trick to stop blowing lines but the steering never felt right to me. I still thought maybe it was the PS pump. I went to a junkyard and picked up a PS pump from a t-boned jeep to try and eliminate the PS all together.

So with all that being said. the symptoms I have is that it is really easy to turn, I mean you can breath on it and get it to turn. I backed off a little bit on the gear on the steering box to make a little play in it so every little twitch I had didn't turn the jeep. Even before that, it is noticeably easier to turn the wheel right then left. Also, the tires don't return to center after turning, I have to manually move it back, this could be alignment but has done it since I "fixed" the power steering system when I bought it. but with the steering really easy to turn, easier to turn right than left and possibly causing my steering not to return center, does this sound like a bad box? I am half tempted to just swap the box out for another AutoZone one but if this isn't caused by the box then obviously it would be a lot of work for nothing.

I am usually able to figure stuff out and this one has me stumped. This is the first time this has been like this to any of my Cherokee's ( I've owned 5 so far in my lifetime) and not able to figure it out, so any help will be much appreciated!

viane

Here is a pic of my alignment specs when I bought the jeep. It is a 2000 with low pinion front axle. I don't know much about alignment so if something seems odd and could be causing my problem if it is not the box, then please let me know!

puredrive

I read this happens with autozone/advance auto Steering Boxes. Usually they are not up to spec.

sounds like it has a lot of drag on the box that's why it does not return to center ..this happened to me when I messed around with the adjustment screw

Radi

It isn't just them, most of the rebuilds out there are junk. Try another one.

viane

Pure Drive, I have been messing with the steering adjustment screw and going in small increments, but literally could spin 3/4 each way from where it was "originally" and it didn't make a difference.

Radi, I think I am at the point of getting a new one. I am going to do a little more research first but ultimitely I am gonna have to replace it I think.

skrewy

I just put a new one on from orielys and it wasn't center and full lock to lock seems to happen with within like a half a turn of the wheel not complaining tho seems tight

puredrive

My Jeep has 156K and recently it started to have the wandering driving symptom and the play in the steering. I simply adjusted the screw and it worked. But I know eventually I will have to replace the box.

Wondering if NAPA would be the way to go here..

skrewy

Couldn't tell ya mine worked fine just need an alignment