I have a 2000xj with 4”rc lift and 31” tires with some offset.

When breaking at lower speeds I get a vibration in the steering wheel. It doesn’t happen at higher speeds. Rotors and breaks are good and smooth. Ball joints and rod ends seem to be good. I believe the issue is the steering box. A year ago I tightened up the adjustment nut 1/3 of a turn. It tightened up the feel of the steering significantly. As you can see in the video, there is some play in the system.

So do I give it another 1/3 of a turn or just get a new box?

 

Thats no good mate, the bearings of the main arm or some other critical parts must be worn for there to be that much freeplay

If I was you, get a used box, order a rebuild kit for yours (if the used one isnt good)

Youtube will guide you. The most difficult issue is where the gears mate together, If the metal gets worn, its toast and cannot economically be rebuilt

Excessive freeplay hastens this wear greatly

There is a spec in (most) FSMs..how much play steering wheel has in inches before Pitman arm moves..usually max 1"

 

Thanks. Are you saying to pick up a used (junkyard) one and rebuild it or just rebuild mine? Are the new ones available online any good? Better than rebuilt ones?

 

I would buy one used from a wrecker or private seller on this forum.

They are pretty robust.

Some wreckers have a network and a limited "warranty"

From reading this forum, the rebuilt ones are dodgy...check the archives, there is a mentioned supplier in USA

Hopefully it is better than yours, good to go, a few hundred $ ?

If so, you can then take apart yours, at your leisure, and see if it is rebuildable, and whether you want to have a spare on hand

Pretty tricky job, not to be rushed

As I understand it, the main reason the reman units are unreliable is like I said, they just put in minimum new parts, but if the main shaft and gears are already worn, it would seem they just put it back together, and tighten it up, but they dont last much past the warranty, sometimes no good right away, others say ok, not cheap

That is why I have an entire spare XJ, packed with parts

 

I have a rebuilt one on the way. I will let you all know how it is outa the box and hopefully I won’t need to update you all about it failing in 6 months.
Thanks.