As I was turning a corner today, my entire steering column stopped working. Possibly a breakage inside the casing. Once it shut off, the shift lever stopped working and I couldn't change gears. There was a lot of cracking and grinding and not wanting to turn. I eventually got the pull arm onto the starter lever but now when I turn it is difficult at certain points. Any ideas on this one?

There is a connector from the steering shaft to the steering box. It's easier to access if you remove the air box. Maybe that connector came loose. I really don't understand:

" I eventually got the pull arm onto the starter lever but now when I turn it is difficult at certain points. Any ideas on this one?"

Maybe you could try and explain the problem again.

I'll take some pictures of it tomorrow. I'm better at displaying instead of describing....

https://picasaweb.google.com/sean.manzi/SteeringColumn#

Here are the best views I could get with the Column. I'm sure it comes down to "that thing is broken, get a new one" but I'm not sure where I can get a column for an 89 cherokee...

Use this link, I found a dozen steering columns for your year in NM:
http://www.car-part.com/index.htm