$1200 to fix this?

jdbell2004 · 03-05-2008, 09:14 PM

1998 Grand Cherokee LTD has loose steering arm and outer tie rod and a bad stabilizer cylinder as well as a bad track bar...oh and thats not all! It also has a leak from the transmission pan and from the right valve cover gasket...AND the drivers side door sags so I need some hinge pins of some sort there too! I was quoted around $1200 to have this fixed. This is more than a third of what I paid for this thing. What is plan B?

Windowsrookie · 03-05-2008, 09:18 PM

That's a pretty good deal. Your only other option is to do it yourself or sell it.

greasefingers · 03-05-2008, 09:19 PM

That sounds about right if someone else is doing all the work for you.

speedbullet2 · 03-05-2008, 09:22 PM

Thats a good deal to me id do it but my guy does payments

being a 98 i would do it.

jdbell2004 · 03-05-2008, 09:25 PM

Selling is not an option, I just bought it! I'd like to do this myself but I have no experience on 4wheel drive vehicles...I have a haynes but that only shows so much... I've pulled a northstar, removed 4cyl heads, timing belts and such...not anything like 4wd suspension work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedbullet2

Thats a good deal to me id do it but my guy does payments

being a 98 i would do it.

I wonder if the dealership I bought it from would allow me to do payments... I have a 1000 Mile/30 day warranty for 25% off all work and parts. I may look into this.

**5.9 ANDY** · 03-05-2008, 09:29 PM

thats not a bad deal, but i would say do as much as you can yourself, and have the shp do the rest.

**micifus** · 03-05-2008, 09:34 PM

Steering arm is the only thing that seems to be a real PITA What do you mean by loose steering arm? The box is loose? TRE's are pretty simple if you have the right tools, trans just needs a new gasket which comes in a kit, do some searching there is trick to fixing the door sag, valve cover is pretty simple to. You could do it all on a saturday. or just do a few things at a time I have done all of them its no big deal looking back at it.

jdbell2004 · 03-05-2008, 09:45 PM

I found the parts I need (i think, once again I'm not familiar with 4x4) on oreilly's website. I'd like to do the suspension and steering stuff myself and let them handle the leaks. BTW, I'm never going to Jiffy Lube again, they spilled oil all over the top of the motor...asshats!

Quote:

Originally Posted by micifus

Steering arm is the only thing that seems to be a real PITA What do you mean by loose steering arm? The box is loose?

The mechanic said there was a lot of play up and down on the pitman arm...i assume thats the steering arm...

**_Kyle_** · 03-05-2008, 09:55 PM

There isn't a whole lot to the repairs, I mean it will take time, but its definitely do able. Great learning experience in my opinion. The door is especially easy, as I have done that myself. Track Bar should be pretty straight forward to swap out and so should the transmission pan gasket since it has a kit if I remember correctly. I can't speak for the other engine related things and the steering issue though.

jdbell2004 · 03-05-2008, 10:02 PM

I think I'm going to give it a shot at least. What needs to be repaired the soonest? I have terrible tire wear on the outside of my right front tire. is that due to the tie rod or something else?

elmer_fud · 03-05-2008, 11:11 PM

Check to see if all the bolts on the valve cover are tight. We had a 93 I-6 that was burning oil going uphill, and it was because some of the bolts were lose on the head cover. The gasket was a perminate rubber seal, so i don't think it would need replaced.

CrazyDrivinJoe · 03-06-2008, 10:04 AM

sounds like all of it is doable to you as long as u feel confident to do it parts cant be more than 500 tops

WJChris · 03-06-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmer_fud

The gasket was a perminate rubber seal, so i don't think it would need replaced.

There is no such thing as rubber and permanent.

jdbell2004 · 03-06-2008, 10:53 AM

what do I need to fix the door sag?

d-rap · 03-06-2008, 11:34 AM

I'll leave the door sag to someone who knows, but on the tranny, don't hesitate to drop the pan and change the gasket. Just make sure you have a torque wrench to tighten the bolts when you put it back on or at least be gentle, it's real easy to overtighten.

I put my floorjack right up to the pan with a piece of wood to hold it steady, then lower it real slowly to the floor. Doesn't spill a drop. Very easy to do. And easy to get the gasket, of course.

And by steering arm, do you mean the pitman arm, or steering box (gear)? Both of these parts are easy to replace with a puller borrowed from Autozone or wherever. I'm a new wrencher, and I've done all this stuff on my '98 no problem.