Steering box "POP"

[canadianwheeler]

I get this really loud " POP" from my steering box every time i make a turn. I thought it was the trac bar but got my buddy and turn the wheel and its defentley comming from right above the pitman arm. Does this mean my steering box is on its way out? Also the steering wheel has about 3 inches of play...anything to do with my first problem?

[nightwolf0829]

Try looking at the ball-joints. Mine were buggerd up, had the same sound. Get it looked at asap.

Peece.
J

[jeepsrock]

I have the same exact sound coming from the steering box. It happens when i get close to full left or right the steering box give off a loud metallic pop. I have looked at the tracbar it it seems nice and tight.
Any suggestions for this prob.

pete

[Greg Smith]

Make sure your steering box bolts are very tight and not broken. I got a similar sound after replacing the box since one of my bolts was not very tight. At full lock the box would shift a little making a pop or knock sould. Loctite is supposed to be used on the bolt per the fsm so that gives a clue of this being a possible problem area for me anyway. Good Luck. Greg

[8Mud]

I occasionally lightly hammer a 2X4 block between the drag link and the center link near the top steering damper mount and then clamp it with a flat jaw (C type) clamp. You wiggle the steering wheel, the steering box and the top center link joint are isolated and the play in that end of the system shows up well. You can check the steering column U joint, the steering box, mount and the top center link ball mount for play this way.
If the block doesn't fit you can lift up on the bumper *a little* and gain a little clearance, between the center link and the drag link. Be a little carefull how big of a block you stick in there, something with a near fit. Don't try jacking up (or lowering) the XJ with a block clamped in there, something is gonna bend.
I do just the reverse and jack up the front, then use a bigger block of wood and a clamp it in the same spot, to isolate and check the lower center link end and the drag link ends.
There is sometimes a very little movement in numerous link ends and the steering box that adds up to excessive play.
To check the trac bar have someone push on the fender, get the body rocking from side to side. Check the top ball, the bottom bolt and the mount for movement.
Prying up on the bottom of a tire with the front tires off the ground, often shows up weak or worn ball joints quick. It makes seeing the movement easier for me.

[canadianwheeler]

Checked my steering box bolts and they are tight. I get 3 or 4 "pop" when i do a full turn....not too good. I did not some fluid leaking on the pitman arm as well.

[ren]

you might want to take a "real" good look at the frame area around the box. Mine was cracked in several places and caused the noise that you describe.
I ended up pulling the box off, scraping ALOT of crud off of the frame rail, then I started seeing the cracks all over the place. I got some UNWANTED assistance with removing the box when it came off of the frame as I was getting on the Interstate.. That could have ended with an UGLY finish, but I was not up to speed yet. (Thank God for small favors)

[jeepsrock]

Well i tried to tighten the bolts associated with the steering box, i could only see three of them. They were extremly tight, not even the sightest budge in them. Are there more than three ? Maybe tom i will take a flashlight don there and take a real good look for cracks.

pete

[canadianwheeler]

FIXED IT!!

My trac bar bracket bolts were a little loose and i seemed to miss one of my steering box bolts when i was tighting them. Now no more "POP". :)

thanks for the help guys.

[jeepsrock]

How many stereing box bolts are there ?

which tracbar bolts you talking about , the ones on the mount ?

pete

[canadianwheeler]

How many stereing box bolts are there ?

which tracbar bolts you talking about , the ones on the mount ?

pete

Cant remember .... its dark now i cant see. I the one i missed was close to the top of the front bumper. A side note: i also used a 2 foot pipe at the end of my ratchet when tighting the bolts. Got a extra turn or to then just using my ratchet and arm.

The bolts that attach the tracbar bracket to the unibody. Look in the driver side wheel well and there are to the left of the coil.

[carnuck]

If you seriously 4 wheel, I REALLY suggest getting a box brace, or the next cracking noise you hear will be the frame next to the box!

[ren]

X2 on the box brace. I went and wheeled out at the Gorge this past Sunday, and broke the frame out AGAIN where the steering box mounts up. Looks like it is time to take the MJ apart again, and this time, plate the area up AND get a steering box brace. Stupid wanna-be sheetmetal-unibody-frame. Then again, I might just shoot the poor thing and see about moving the body onto a real frame. Stupid sheetmetal.