Hi,


I'm smack in the middle of swapping out my stock exhaust manifold as it cracked in the usual spot. While I'm there I'm putting in a new exhaust system and now considering changing out my leaking, and sloppy steering box.


I have a totally rebuilt front end (all Moog and Spicer) and have checked it out - totally tight, but the box is full of slop.


I was wondering if anyone has done the swap and what they thought of the results. Was it worth it, is it better than the stock.. etc. Does the stock power steering pump handle it ok, or did you upgrade to the YJ unit?


Later this year, I intend to drop in a lunch-box locker in the front and I'm sticking with 31's from here out.


I also read through this forum thread which I thought gave some very good info on the box to use.


http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/d...74/index3.html


Thanks for your opinions.


JR

 

You could try to adjust your box to tighten it up.

 

I know that. I could also replace mine with the same unit from the JY, but that's not what I'm asking. I was looking for an opinion on doing the swap.

I just wanted to know if anyone has done this, was it worth it, and are they happy with the results.

BTW.. the 'tightening' work around is only temporary.

 

http://www.google.com/search?site=&source=hp&ei=JP3BVMX2Mc7YPZP4gfgN&q=durango+box+site%3Awww.cherokeeforum.com&oq=&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.1.0.41l3.0.0.0.4426.1.1.0.1.1.0.321.321.3-1.1.0.msedr...0...1c..61.mobile-gws-hp..0.1.34.3.sUMvTXoMNKk(hit next on the bottom... there a quite a few pages worth)


Tons of people have on here. It is quite confusing really lol. Some people say it is just stronger with no improvement in steering. Some say it improved their steering. Some say get one off a Durango with a snow plow and you won't have to mess with internals to achieve full lock. Some say it doesn't lock soon enough lol.


Im sure someone will chime in who has done it but I would recommend digging around a bit first... there are some years/models Durango boxes that work better than others etc. Keep in mind, if you have serious steering issues and haven't fixed everything else, this probably wont do anything for ya. (not just joints but angles/geometry as well) More of a strength upgrade than anything I think.

Wish I could help you more... its something I intend to do down the road. I came to the conclusion I had found the right one and booked marked a refurbished one from O'Riley's.

 

Thanks for the reply. I've been doing the same, a lot of research. I included a link in my OP that comes to the same conclusions that you mentioned as well.

Seems it's a matter of opinion rather than fact whether or not it actually is better... unless you are running larger tires than 34".

With that in the back of my head, it doesn't seem worth it. Once I have the exhaust system done, I'm taking it to an alignment shop and get it all set. If it's still loose, then I'll go from there most likely with a stock swap or rebuild it myself as it's leaking fluid anyway.

JR

 

The WJ swap seems like the best bet to me as far as actually improving your steering ... I had the rustys steering and it was garbage. Have the Currie currently and while its better, its still pretty bad. Get New/better brakes with the WJ swap as well.

Ill probably still do the Durango box for the extra power it grants (35s). But yea unless you want the strength, probably a waste from what ive read. If your going to replace it anyways, cant hurt to throw a stronger one in.. just have to somehow find enter right one lol.

 

I've ran both the Durango box and the YJ box. I would never run either again. XJ box the better steering box of the 3 options because it is variable steering where YJ is fixed ratio and that sucks IMO. and I lost turning radius with my Durango swap and honestly felt no improvement in power.

the only credit I'll give the Durango box is that it is beefier and took more abuse over time than the XJ box did

so I would just get another XJ box. if you want a real improvement in steering you need a flatter drag link/ tie rod angle and bracing in the unibody area by the box. a lot of flex happens there and you can lose a decent amount of steering feel or even get death wobble from this area being unbraced

 

x2 I've been thru (2) used and reman....

loss in turning radius sucks too, you have to space them off the frame rail & get a pitman arm puller if its used....they are hard to pull in the yard too, durangos have a crazy double pitman arm on each end steering thing.

I like zj boxes, the pitman arm is a hair lower, makes the steering angle a bit better & turning radius is good....

 

why would 31's even need a bigger stronger box anyway ? stick w/ a stock xj box imo.

 

I bought my 99 xj last March and had all kinds of slop in the steering so I started pumping money into the front end which did help but I still had slop so I went to Oreilleys and bought a, I think it was a 98 durango v-8 with out the plow package box along with the C-rok frame brace and the triangle spacer. That ended up making the biggest difference of all. My slop was so bad I could not steer with one hand! I had a cracked exhaust manifold and did both at the same time. Real easy to get to the box with the manifold out of the way.

Even if you stick with the xj box, either way the box turned out to be the biggest difference maker.

 

I've done the Durango gearbox swap twice. The first was five years ago- that remanufactured box lasted through a lot of abuse but it eventually developed a big blank spot in the center of the steering. I got kicks off of scaring my passengers when I jerked the wheel left and right, pretending my steering was completely gone.

I just recently replaced the box with another remanufactured unit but I ordered three of them to the same Napa. Sure enough, two were in the same packaging, same plastic port blocks, same repaint, etc. They both had play in either the input or the output shaft. The third had no play and was obviously reconditioned by another company (who took their time). So, if you do the swap, I recommend either a new one or several remanufactured ones to compare at the time of purchase.

Lastly, go with a spacer or make your own. I used the original aluminum bracket with a couple of stacked washers and I frequently developed creaks in the frame area. CROK makes one specifically for the Durango box but their customer service sucks and they take their time shipping. A company called Creepy Fabrication can be found on Ebay- their spacer is just like CROK's and ships much faster.

I recommend the swap because with 33's and 35's I'm more confident in the visual size of the Durango box. It's just simply beefier-looking, costs the same as an XJ box w/core, and doesn't require that much to make it fit right. I'd recommend it along with a ZJ steering linkage. I'm now on 35's with IRO OTK steering, a '99 Durango box, Creepy Fab spacer, and my front bumper's plating on the other side of the frame.

 

my buddy has a wrecked durango that I'm going to take the steering box out of. i know used isn't ideal but he says the steering was nice and tight so for a few bucks i figure what do i have to lose?

 

I'd rather take used than reman... unless a faulty steering box was the cause of the wreck

 

Still on 31's with plans to do 33's. My stock box was leaking bad so I figured why not upgrade. Went to NAPA, ordered the Durango remand box. First on too much play. Second better (though I lOVE the idea of ordering three and sending back the worse ones).

I did the C-rok too. I hate the loss of turning radius. Sometimes I feel the steering is too responsive (not sure if it is variable like the original), long story short, probably would have been better of staying stock reman'd.

 

Did you look into the s-10 box?