SO my steering box has play in it, not much, but it's enough to worry me. What are my options if it's on it's way out? Can it be fixed? Or will I need a new one? It's a 2004 wj overland with 170,000 miles.

 

Anyone?

 

There is a nut and a Allen screw on top you your P/S box, you can loosen the nut, and screw down the Allen head a little, this will help take some of the free play out of the worm gear inside of the P/S box. Do not tighten the Allen head down too much, if you do, when you turn a corner, the steering wheel will not return to center on ts own like it does now, you will actually have to turn it back to center yourself, don't ask me how i know!!! I did this adjustment on a 95 GMC step side 4X4 i used to have with 35's on it, and i over tightened the adjustment, and until i backed of the Allen a little, it was pretty scary to drive in the corners.

So the P/S box on your Jeep is a pretty common Saginaw box. My 91 started to get some free play in it, but the bearing that supports the sector shaft at the very bottom of the box was starting to wear out. Im sure 15 years of running Rubicon, Fordyce and Moab wit 35" tires and a ARB up front had nothing to do with it , but when i would have a buddy turn the steering wheel trying to figure out were my slop in my steering was, you could see the sector shaft go from side to side instead of just turning the pit-man arm nice and straight like it was supposed too. So i whent to my local Napa and purchased a re built P/S box for under a hundred bucks with exchange of course. Its not too big of a job to change out either, maybe a hour job with air tools.

 

I wonder if I can find a rebuilt one? I'll try and adjusting it too

 

Do you have a picture of where it gets adjusted from

 

Sorry no pics!!!!! There should be a cap on top of the P/S box, and it has 4 bolts that hold it down to the actual gear box, and in the center of that cap is were the Allen is with a nut around it which actually locks the Allen in place... If you cant find it tomorrow, i will take a pic of my P/S box for you in the daylight when i get home from work....

 

What's the best way to adjust it? I found it, but is it the more threads showing the tighter it'll be?

 

Righty tighty, lefty loosey.

 

I'll give that a try when I get home

 

Larry, a 1/2 turn on the allen screw would be alot. I suggest you go slowly with your adjustments. I used a small open end wrench on the flats of the steering shaft and by rotating the steering shaft back and forth I was able to record/notice how much free play there was as I adjusted my steering box. As madddogs said, don't take away all the free play or you'll have new steering problems.

 

Looks like I'm going to have to order a remanufactured one

 

Since this thread has progressed to the "ordering a replacement" phase, I have a question about steering that sort of goes along with this now.

I upgraded the steering in my 03 TJ to a PSC steering gearbox. I have the 03 TJ steering box packaged up in my garage and was wondering if it's an upgrade for my 01 XJ and will it bolt right in?

I was originally going to get the Durango box, but the final steering ratio was the same as the TJ and until I came across a smokin' deal on a replacement had not planned to swap them.

Now I'm curious if the TJ box will be an upgrade for the XJ?
Is the 03+ TJ's steering ratio better than the XJ, ie will it turn quicker with less turning the wheel?

 

Trying to steal my thread lol : P how much better is the Durango box supposed to be? What years of the Durango box fit the wj?

 

Maddogs,
My jeep also has a wiggle in the sector shaft ( output of the steering box). In your opinion would that be what is keeping my steering wheel from returning to center? My xj is a 1999 sport with approx 230,000. Maybe its just do to age and mileage, but should i be thinking about another steering box. I was thinking of using the 99 durango box. I just dont know if that wiggle is a sign of the steering crapping out soon, or is it not really an imediate problem. Thanx in advance!

 

From what I gather, the Durango is a direct replacement for a tj box. It's a little beefier and has quicker turning from lock to lock. They're an up grade speed wise upto 02. So it wasn't really much of an upgrade fro a 03+ TJ.

I have an 03 TJ box in my garage that I was considering swapping in if there was any true benefit.