Time for a new steering box?
#1
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Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Time for a new steering box?
Ever time I turn my steering wheel there's a pretty bad popping sound coming from the front somewhere. To me the problem seems to be progressively getting worse. It's defiantly not a good sound. Not to mention the sterring box seems to be leaking pretty bad as well.
Is it time to replace it? And if I do, I should probably go with a Durango box. Right?
Is it time to replace it? And if I do, I should probably go with a Durango box. Right?
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Year: 1988
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
Ever time I turn my steering wheel there's a pretty bad popping sound coming from the front somewhere. To me the problem seems to be progressively getting worse. It's defiantly not a good sound. Not to mention the sterring box seems to be leaking pretty bad as well.
Is it time to replace it? And if I do, I should probably go with a Durango box. Right?
Is it time to replace it? And if I do, I should probably go with a Durango box. Right?
and if you do replace the SB get a durango
#3
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
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Ever time I turn my steering wheel there's a pretty bad popping sound coming from the front somewhere. To me the problem seems to be progressively getting worse. It's defiantly not a good sound. Not to mention the sterring box seems to be leaking pretty bad as well.
Is it time to replace it? And if I do, I should probably go with a Durango box. Right?
Is it time to replace it? And if I do, I should probably go with a Durango box. Right?
#4
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Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
If you're getting a popping I'd check your track bar to make sure all the bolts are tight. I had the same thing going on and that was the cause.
These steering boxes do go out though. I'm on my second used XJ box and about ready for another. I'm going to look for a Durango box as well, I can't recall what's better about it, but there's some kind of difference. Hopefully I can find one with lower miles being a newer vehicle, it's hard to find XJ's in the yards with less than 150k on them and that's when the steering boxes can start to get loose in my experience.
These steering boxes do go out though. I'm on my second used XJ box and about ready for another. I'm going to look for a Durango box as well, I can't recall what's better about it, but there's some kind of difference. Hopefully I can find one with lower miles being a newer vehicle, it's hard to find XJ's in the yards with less than 150k on them and that's when the steering boxes can start to get loose in my experience.
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Year: 1996
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If you're getting a popping I'd check your track bar to make sure all the bolts are tight. I had the same thing going on and that was the cause.
These steering boxes do go out though. I'm on my second used XJ box and about ready for another. I'm going to look for a Durango box as well, I can't recall what's better about it, but there's some kind of difference. Hopefully I can find one with lower miles being a newer vehicle, it's hard to find XJ's in the yards with less than 150k on them and that's when the steering boxes can start to get loose in my experience.
These steering boxes do go out though. I'm on my second used XJ box and about ready for another. I'm going to look for a Durango box as well, I can't recall what's better about it, but there's some kind of difference. Hopefully I can find one with lower miles being a newer vehicle, it's hard to find XJ's in the yards with less than 150k on them and that's when the steering boxes can start to get loose in my experience.
And I believe the durango box is just beefier, inside and out. But that is just me talking out of my ***** I don't really know. Thats what I have read from other builds.
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Year: 1990
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The leaky steering box means a seal inside is giving out. Something to keep in mind is if the steering box is sopping wet all the time that means there is a good leak. If you can tell it has been leaking but its not sopping wet, then its fine and just getting old. If you can definitely go with the Durango box. Its a bit beefier then the XJ's box and the cylinder inside I believe is bigger.
When I bought my XJ it had a popping noise as well. it ended up being the bolts that mounted the trac bar onto the frame. Id tighten those up as well as the bolts that hold on your steering box to the frame. Over time they loosen. Also check the bolts holding the sway bar links onto your axle. If they become loose they will make a popping noise as well.
Hope you get it fixed!
When I bought my XJ it had a popping noise as well. it ended up being the bolts that mounted the trac bar onto the frame. Id tighten those up as well as the bolts that hold on your steering box to the frame. Over time they loosen. Also check the bolts holding the sway bar links onto your axle. If they become loose they will make a popping noise as well.
Hope you get it fixed!
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#8
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Year: 1998
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The leaky steering box means a seal inside is giving out. Something to keep in mind is if the steering box is sopping wet all the time that means there is a good leak. If you can tell it has been leaking but its not sopping wet, then its fine and just getting old. If you can definitely go with the Durango box. Its a bit beefier then the XJ's box and the cylinder inside I believe is bigger.
When I bought my XJ it had a popping noise as well. it ended up being the bolts that mounted the trac bar onto the frame. Id tighten those up as well as the bolts that hold on your steering box to the frame. Over time they loosen. Also check the bolts holding the sway bar links onto your axle. If they become loose they will make a popping noise as well.
Hope you get it fixed!
When I bought my XJ it had a popping noise as well. it ended up being the bolts that mounted the trac bar onto the frame. Id tighten those up as well as the bolts that hold on your steering box to the frame. Over time they loosen. Also check the bolts holding the sway bar links onto your axle. If they become loose they will make a popping noise as well.
Hope you get it fixed!
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Year: 1995
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Check your frame rail because the steering box likes to pull itself off if the XJ. If you do the swap get a steering box brace. The C roc or JRC ones are good and you don't have to buy inner and outer separate as also the spacer. Check your track bar and drag link.
Get the brace though. But for now you can adjust the worm nut on your steering box. It will stiffin it a little for the time being. Only turn it a little bit though. Like a quarter maybe.
Hope that helps
Get the brace though. But for now you can adjust the worm nut on your steering box. It will stiffin it a little for the time being. Only turn it a little bit though. Like a quarter maybe.
Hope that helps
#10
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Year: 1993
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I got up under there today and had a friend turn from lock to lock and all the sound seemed to be coming from where the steering link going into the steering box. Not sure about the track bar though.
As far as the leak goes, it's pretty bad. It has a decent drip coming from where the link meets the box and also where the pitman arm is. Here's a few pics to help things out.
As far as the leak goes, it's pretty bad. It has a decent drip coming from where the link meets the box and also where the pitman arm is. Here's a few pics to help things out.
Last edited by AnthonyZ28; 01-24-2013 at 07:22 PM.
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The seals in that box are going bad. You can replace the seals but often it's only a temporary fix because the bushings behind them are worn. Rebuilds often aren't much better for the same reason unless it's a good rebuild with bearings and bushings, not a spray-and-pray.
The popping might be the plastic coupler in the steering shaft, right above the bottom u-joint. Disconnect the steering shaft @ the box, turn the shaft then the box by hand and see where it is. Or put your hand on the coupler while someone turns the wheel and see if you can feel it snapping.
The popping might be the plastic coupler in the steering shaft, right above the bottom u-joint. Disconnect the steering shaft @ the box, turn the shaft then the box by hand and see where it is. Or put your hand on the coupler while someone turns the wheel and see if you can feel it snapping.
#15
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The popping might be the plastic coupler in the steering shaft, right above the bottom u-joint. Disconnect the steering shaft @ the box, turn the shaft then the box by hand and see where it is. Or put your hand on the coupler while someone turns the wheel and see if you can feel it snapping.