Hope you get that figured out asap.

not to jack...but real quick, is taking off the lower dash panel where you get at fixing the tilt steering? Mine's stuck in the lowest setting, which is where I like it, but eventually I do want to fix it. thanks.

Oh and is that how your Jeep was returned after being recovered? If so, why isn't the ins. company taking care of that repair? Just curious.

There is a whole world of discovery under there! lol It's pretty self explanatory once you get that cover off Rocket.

It's really worth the time to remove two screws and pull it just so that you are armed with more knowledge about what's in there and see how it works.

Ok from what it looks like there is a circlip and grove in the shaft that the lock collar slides down onto and latches. From what I gather it is actually a column design stolen from GM so using GM in search terms might get you better information on how this comes apart. They make a special puller to pull these but I'm thinking one could actually use a large two finger or three finger puller to do this if they have one. Or the pull pressure and drive the shaft in method I mentioned. But are you sure there are no clips holding this where the Black bearing holder and bearing is? Dorman mentions a retainer clip as a replacement part for these. But it could be for another year and design.

No insurance company involved, because I bought it as a theft recovery. So, I purchased a popped ignition, smashed in windshield, holes where the stereo and speakers once were with a black on black 1999 2 door Sport Cherokee with a hundred thirty thousand miles attached to them. 😎

Yeah I think that's for the earlier models but I'm not sure, anyway, good morning and thanks for your advice for you've been friendly, and it's well appreciated. I have however decided to go a different route. I got a whole steering column with a key in pretty good cosmetic condition ( true operating condition is as of yet unknown) off eBay for $85. The key and tumbler alone is roughly thirty bucks, and I'm figuring that piece I was trying to get office is at least 20 bucks. So, for a few dollars more I got the whole thing in one purchase with free shipping. I'm happy.
Furthermore, I may be able to sell my old steering column with a bunk aluminum casting attached to it on offer up for twenty bucks to even lessen the cost of my new one ( do you know anyone? LOL).
​​​​ Thanks again Bugout 4x4 👍

Hey RocketMouse, here is a photo of what the steering column looks like out of a tilt equipped Cherokee. The problem might be with the cable. IMO it looks like the weakest link in the chain. Happy Hunting, and please keep us apprised.

Well darn... I really wanted to find out how that truly comes apart. lol I guess I'll have to wait until someone steals mine and I get it back.

Seriously though... You are saving yourself a lot of trouble by changing out the whole piece for that price. good luck and update us. I don't know what you paid for that Jeep but it is pretty nice.

or put your own ninja outfit on and go test one out yourself... lol

^^ ah... I see. my mistake... thought it was the other way around.

Lol... I know for sure I'm not going to go tear mine apart for no reason. lol

Man, I really wanted to hear "It's off!"

Someday I will probably have to get in there for something though on mine and I will check it out.

yeah.. I hear ya on that.... at least from one of the pics I was able to see what the tilt lever attaches too. Now I is just need to poke at mine and see if the cable is loose, disconnected or with my luck on MY XJ, probably broken. lol And how to get at it. I'm thinking just taking the bottom panel off would give me enough access. But not sure.

You would have seen how that works and what might be broken as soon as you got the panel off. That's why I was suggesting for you to just remove the panel and take a look. But it will indeed have to come off to access it.

I have to confess though...The word "Dashboard" still intimidates me even though I have dug into the dashboard on most makes and models in my career. lol

yeah... I've taken quite a few dashes apart in my time too...They're always a rats nest worth of fun with all the wiring..and labeling to make sure everything goes back to the correct place when done.
Down the road, I do want to do a gauge cluster swap on mine. It just has the base cluster. I want one with the tach and actual gauges...not the idiot lights.
The trick will be finding one that is the right year, and as close to the mileage on the odometer as on the one in mine, I want to keep it reasonably accurate, within a few K.