Hi, I read about the Durango swap for a while before doing it. I have the C-Rok brace and everything.

I am almost done, but I noticed my NAPA Durango box has a red line facing to 12 O'Clock position, and the ground "flat" facing the 3 O'Clock (Drivers seat view). The steering shaft has been immobilized and The OEM Cherokee "flat" is on the 12 O'CLock.

I don't remember anyone saying they had to grind a new "flat" on the steering box. The reman'd box said the steering box comes lined up from the factory, so I don't want to just turn it to make the flat on the steering box line up to the intermediate shaft (Plus I'll lose steering in one direction)

Did this happen to anyone else? Advice? I tried spreading the end of the intermediate shaft (That attached to the steering box and is bolted to it) but it doesn't seem to make a difference, because the shape of where the "flat" is.

 

that box was more than likely assembled by a 9 year old indonesian girl. just slap the pitman arm and steering shaft on with the current grooves lined up and hope for the best. you may or may not have full steering, but it really doesnt matter how the sector shaft current is or what that line means.

reman boxes suck.

 

I got it,, lol. Thank you!

 

O.k., I got everything bled (Thanks Frank!) and functional. It is way easier to turn my huge tires (31's-LOL).

It seems that the steering is really "Light", is as best as I can describe it, around center of the steering wheel.

A few things led me to replacing my OEM box:

My factory box was leaking and seemed to have a slight bit of play.

It also seemed to work hard to turn the 31's (only on the extreme lock-to-lock, I would hear the power steering pump whine a little bit) and most annoyingly, it felt "light" in the steering when driving down the street on a smooth road. The XJ make you aware you are needing to counter steer. Skittish, not to where it is dangerous, but not where you feel comfortable with the wheel in one hand only.

I have more new (to 1 year old) parts in the front than not, so I am thinking the next thing to look at is caster? Or maybe the intermediate shaft or something in the steering column?

This issue has been a love hate thing with my XJ. Every-time I think I have it, it is still there. I like working on my own Jeep and prefer to fix it myself if possible. There are no good mechanics around me and I'm not throwing hundreds of dollars away for someone to think they have the fix, I can do that on my own just fine (free labor my way). Here's whats new in the front:

Tires
drag link
tie rod ends
Durango steering box (NAPA reman) and fluid
swaybar bushings
upper/lower adjustable control arms
springs
Bilstein shocks

The wheel/vehicle feels fine when you are in a turn, but once you straighten the wheel out for a straight road, the steering wheel feels really light. Ideas?

I've had a recent alignment. Seems to drive fine when I'm not adding input to the wheel. It is noticeable at parking lot speeds on up (the flighty-ness

Thanks guys!

 

Here's my thread from earlier, before I did the Durango swap:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/vid...ng-box-152610/

Maybe my reman'd box needs to be tightened up? I'm so pissed.....

 

light as in what? too easy to turn? did you get a plow or non plow box?

 

Great question Too light as in too easy to turn around center (10-2 position). I specifically asked for the non-plow 99' Durango 5.9 V8 4x4 box

 

Check your caster. It might just feel easy bc you're used to a bad box.

 

Too easy? No such thing. I can turn my steering in my 93 with my pinky.

 

93XJI-you may have something. Today, I was on a straight road. I tried to turn the wheel just a few inches off center and noticed the truck stays in whatever last direction I put it. Even if I turn the wheel 1" off center, and let go of the steering wheel, it follows the last command and doesn't want to return to center. Is that possible too much or too little caster? I will have to measure it later

 

Hopefully this video works.



[/URL]http://s178.photobucket.com/user/osh...d389f.mp4.html