Still working on the 2001 XJ build, at the point of putting it back together.
Everything is new so I wanted to replace the steering gear box with new or rebuilt.

I have googled and searched and now am more confused/concerned than before.

I see rebuilt from $100 - $800 ??
Is OEM "new" no longer available ? (for under $1000.00)

At this rate I will have 80,000.00 in a somewhat stock XJ rebuild,,,,

What options are there for a "good" rebuilt or new OEM steering box??
Why do "rebuilt" boxes get loose in 6 months? what is wearing out in them that did not wear out in the 1st 200K miles??

.

 

Avoid Cardone remanufactured. Lots of complaints about them leaking within a few months or being sloppier than the one being replaced. The box I bought seems okay, but the pump is crazy loud when it's cold.

 

Thanks,, I got to admit, this is getting old.
Basically rebuilding a simple XJ, but what should be a simple part purchase ends up being 6-8 hours of online research (steering box, heater core, etc)
Why are there no "Good" parts available?? why are all replacement parts absolute "****" ??

 

I suspect it just comes down to simple economics. OE parts makers probably don't see a lucrative market for parts for vehicles that:
- are 19 years past the end of their production run
- are probably worth an average of $3000 or less for on-the-road running vehicles.
- attract many folks looking for reliable transportation at a minimal purchase price, who don't have a lot of disposable income (or simply don't want to spend the money). Not the average forum member here, but many more out there driving these XJs around

Once a part passes 10% of the cost of the whole vehicle (in this case, $300), both buyer and producer are less inclined to make the investment.

But just my guess. Who knows...

 

Made in China. Thanks to our financial system being controlled by people who have zero interest in the long term. They want RIGHT NOW results and tomorrow be damned.

 

That might tough avoiding a Cardone one. I am pretty sure that the ones we sell at Napa are a rebranded Cardone ones. Thinking many other stores might be too.
This seems to be a more common thing. Threads like this pop up from time to time. Same with heater cores.
There are those using a Durango box threads I have seen from time to time. Might want to consider the upgrade even though it still does not help with buying a quality replacement.
There are those super expensive ones.

https://www.pscmotorsports.com/vehic...ring-gear.html

Not quite so expensive too.

https://redheadsteeringgears.com/pro...ps-except-cjs/

I am wondering if any one local to me rebuilds stuff like that. I talked to my guy who is doing an alternator for me but he doesn't handle stuff like that.
It is not like I need one but cause of threads like this is always something I think about in case the need does arise.

 

You might try a junkyard box that doesn't show any leaks.
That would be your cheapest option. If it ends up leaking
a little, try some stop-leak in it.

 

I have had good success with AT-205. It has either completely stopped, or greatly reduced, several leaks for me. Other things, it did little or nothing. I guess it depends on the type of seal or the failure mode. Still, it's worth a shot.

 

BlueRidgeMark,
I tried AT-205 in a steering box at your suggestion with still GREAT results which
are mentioned in post #4 of this thread:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/man...s-leak-245570/
Thanks again.

 

I almost used that stuff on my leaking log splitter. Then I did the math. Because of the large hydraulic fluid reservoir, it would have taken about $70 bucks worth to try it. Ouch. Good thing I didn't. I found the cause of the leak was a scratch in the hydraulic rod, which was gouging the seal. No stop leak was going to touch that.

But as you say, it does great on some things.

 

Except for the Redhead... I believe the rest all a crap-shoot. If money were no object then that's what I would've gone with, but while I'm certainly not the poorest XJ owner, I'm probably not the richest either...so budget did matter at the time for me. You just pray you don't get one that was put back together on a Friday!
I think my current one may have been a Thursday afternoon one though... dirtbags! It's okay... has a few hairs of play more than I'd like, but it's not bad enough yet to rip out and do another one....

 

For a known good steering box the Redhead unit seems to be pretty well priced.