Time for a new steering box?

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Jan 24, 2013

• #1

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?

 

autoboy454

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Granby, MA

• Jan 24, 2013

• #2

Have you checked the mounting bolts for the track bar mount? Mine were loose and popped like crazy

 

kastein

NAXJA Member

NAXJA Member

Location

Rainy side of Washington

• Jan 24, 2013

• #3

agreed, check the trackbar, trackbar mount, and also check the ujoints in the shaft between the steering column and the steering box. I thought I had a bad steering box, the same random popping noises when turning and even more worryingly it started seizing up at certain points while turning and then "giving" and getting really sloppy right as it popped. I decided I needed to fix it immediately and fortunately discovered the ujoints in the intermediate steering shaft were horribly worn and rusty, so I threw a spare one in instead of replacing the steering box.

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Jan 25, 2013

• #4

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.

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Jan 25, 2013

• #5

 

old_man

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Loveland, Colorado

• Jan 25, 2013

• #6

Damn, it looks like both sets of seals crapped out.

 

A

AZ Jeff

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Gilbert, Arizona

• Jan 25, 2013

• #7

old_man said:

Damn, it looks like both sets of seals crapped out.

Click to expand...

Agreed. That box needs some work. Given the ease of finding a good used (or new/reman) replacement, I would go that route.

 

mako my day

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Aliso Viejo

• Jan 25, 2013

• #8

Those seals aren't that hard to replace. I did mine, and they are holding, for now.

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Jan 25, 2013

• #9

If it's that bad I might as well replace it with one from a Durango.

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Jan 25, 2013

• #10

Does that upper track bar mount look right?

 

S

sunburned

NAXJA Forum User

Location

So. MD

• Jan 25, 2013

• #11

AnthonyZ28 said:

Does that upper track bar mount look right?

Click to expand...

Nope. Looks like you have the heavy duty bar, but the stock frame mount. Buy the RE double shear heavy duty mount and your track bar will fit right into it and be much stronger.

 

C

clean4drxj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

CT.

• Jan 25, 2013

• #12

I've had a drop pitman arm stripout(not totally) on me and it made the same noise, check that as well.

 

C

cdrake261

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Nashville, IN

• Jan 25, 2013

• #13

My steering makes a clunk when steering left, or sometimes going over pothole/bumps...should I also suspect track bar?

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Jan 25, 2013

• #14

sunburned said:

Nope. Looks like you have the heavy duty bar, but the stock frame mount. Buy the RE double shear heavy duty mount and your track bar will fit right into it and be much stronger.

Click to expand...

Any cheaper options? Or will I be sacrificing quality if I go with a cheaper one?

 

S

sunburned

NAXJA Forum User

Location

So. MD

• Jan 25, 2013

• #15

http://www.4wd.com/Jeep-Lift-Kits-Jeep-Lift-Kits-Suspension/Heavy-Duty-Track-Bar-Bracket.aspx?t_c=1&t_s=101&t_pt=4303&t_pn=r%2Fere1665

I dunno about quality, but your trackbar is specifically made to fit that bracket. Who knows how well it will fit with any other random company's parts?

Go check out the vendor section of this forum or JF, lots of them give deals on RE parts. I bought an RE part through the forum recently and got a great deal.

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Jan 29, 2013

• #16

How should I go about getting a new box? Should I get another cherokee box and brace the hell out of it? Or should I take the risk with the durango box? Money is tight and I can't afford getting the wrong box.

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Feb 1, 2013

• #17

This one?
This one?

http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts/MC/1872-07003109.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ff&utm_content=MC&utm_campaign=PartsGeek+Google+Base&utm_term=1998-1999+Dodge+Durango+Steering+Gearbox+A1+Cardone+27-7588+98-99+Dodge+Steering+Gearbox&fp=pp&gbm=a&gclid=CKWp8vublbUCFSOnPAodCAwAzQ

 

C

clean4drxj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

CT.

• Feb 1, 2013

• #18

It's none plow so that looks correct!

 

A

AnthonyZ28

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hallettsville, Texas

• Feb 1, 2013

• #19

Finally found a place that didnt charge a core charge. 140$ shipped.