My Jeep has been steering like crap ever since I replaced my steering box. My mechanic couldn't figure it out, I was in the junkyard today and noticed that the intermediate shafts on other Cherokees was flush with the steering box while mine wasn't. Sure enough I used a bfh and a long socket extension to pound my shaft all the way on and now my steering is nice and tight, plus it's responsive now. No wandering in the wind either! Can't beat a free fix.

 

Nice! Great info.

 

Thanks for that info! That would be an easy thing to overlook.

 

*spilled my coffee while taking a sip and reading this*

got any pictures ?

marc

 

this

 

 

This picture shows the shaft going into the U-joint it's supposed to be flush like this. Before I pounded it in there was about 1/2 in gap between the box and shaft that caused about one inch of play in the steering wheel and made the car downright scary to drive on the highway.

 

i thought specially with this part you have to be really careful cause of the nylon safety pins that would crush on impact in case of an accident seems like you didnt damage them.

marc

 

Nothing got damaged except the metal got a little scuffed from my socket extension Nothing was damaged, the shaft is pretty much brand new (po replaced it at 220k he said) so any scuffs or dirt shows up. I did check the u-joints after a ten mile test drive to make sure the shaft didn't move and didn't have any play, all is good.

 

someone didnt pay attention then putting it back together and just forced it together, glad you found it cause that could be dangerous stuff with steering components.

marc

 

Yep the moron was me! I didn't want to force it on with a hammer and no I did not put it the wrong way. New steering box plus new shaft = a tight fit.

 

it does indeed, im close in that area trying to find a power steering fluid leak i just cleaned it all up took it for a drive and tonight will have a look where or what is leaking.
either reservior or hoses or the steering box, if it is the steering box im looking at the same labor as you did..

marc