Suddenly and without warning my gear box sheared off at the bolts. I was taking a right hand turn into a gas station to fill up just like every day and bang, shook the whole jeep. Any idea why this would happen? I've since then replaced the gear box just to be sure. Greased all the fittings and replaced the steering pump reservoir since it was leaking anyway. Its all seem to be working OK with the exception of a occasional binding/popping kind of sound coming from the drivers side wheel well. This has me very concerned, Any ideas?

96 XJ
Pretty Much stock
only 60,000 miles

 

And yes, unless the 3rd bolt went flying somewhere, as far as i know there were only 2 holding it on.

 

Well, there's your problem. It requires 3 bolts. The lack of the 3rd bolt fatigued the other 2 and they popped.

When you replaced it you installed all 3 bolts, correct?

 

You are lucky that happened at slow speed.70 on the Hwy would of or could of killed you man , looks like you beat the reaper on that.

 

Yes put 3 hardened steel bolts in