Jeep Enthusiast Forums banner

XJ power steering box make?

4K views 44 replies 6 participants last post by  UKXJ 
#1 ·
Anyone know who makes the power steering box on a 2000 XJ? It looks like a Saginaw just like GM uses. Mine is leaking badly from the input shaft. If it is a Saginaw I probably have a few laying around.
 
#31 ·
I didn't know about the plastic insert but because there's not much room I could only use my chef's blow torch so perhaps it was only gentle warmth, rather than heat that was applied. Anyway, once again my luck held out & I had no issues but I'm wiser now :thankyou:, so ignore that bit of how I did it & follow the advice of those who actually know what they're talking about.
 
#33 ·
Good news. I asked over on G-body Forum about the input shaft splines. The Jeeps use what is referred to as the "F-41 fast ratio box" that came on GM cars with the "firm ride" option. The Jeep steering box is a popular swap into G bodies because it is the "good" box. Also the steering shaft is universal joints as opposed to the "rag joint" used on GM cars. That is a hugely popular swap. So the guys said that when they swap these around there is NO DIFFERENCE in the input shaft spline count. They all interchange freely. That means my nice condition 1980 Firebird box will swap right in to the XJ. So the specs listed by CARDONE on the RockAuto listing were wrong. NOW I can get busy knowing I have a spare box that will bolt right up if needed.
 
#36 ·
Are you kidding? I am a Pontiac guy lost in Jeep World. Everything is new to me and I hate Mopar mentality which I fear has ruined Jeep forever. My first experience with Jeeps was the M151A1 Army Jeep. I added a heater to both of ours and the German winters weren't so bad after that. You could drop those things off a cliff and they would start right up. Compared to them my XJ is a joke.
 
#37 ·
That ain't no Jeep - that's a Mutt! Drove one from Saigon to Hanoi a couple of years back. At one point I pulled off the road somewhere wouldn't thought twice about parking the XJ - & had to get 2 locals in the last rolling remains of a passing deuce+1/2 hauling logs to pull me back onto the pavement; apparently those clever Vietnamese had removed the driven front axle & replaced it with who knows what.
 
#40 ·
Ironically, when I was stationed in Ft. Hamilton, Brooklyn, I was assigned a vehicle to make runs to the Bellmore depot. One day all the motor pool had was an MP deucey, blue lights and all, so I used that. Things got fubar'ed and I needed to leave it at my Mom's overnight on the street in Queens. Lots of questions and popped eyeballs wondering what the MP's were doing at my house. Was I AWOL? Anyway, I removed the steering box today. The other two bolts came right out just like they should. The steering shaft collapsed easily too, as well as the tie rod came right apart. The aluminum spacer is what caused my bolt to break, see pics. GM stamps their frame so the box fits snugly. Jeep keeps the frame flat and uses a spacer to position the box. Six of one- half a dozen of another- no big deal. But why would you use incompatible metals and encourage electrolysis? The lowest bolt was totally eaten by corrosion where the cast iron box, aluminum spacer, and grade 8 bolt all converged. Remember, the stronger the metal, the less corrosion resistant. The cast iron was fine, the aluminum was so corroded it filled the spacer hole, and the bolt was DOA. Once I oiled/chiseled/wiggled the spacer off the broken bolt I was able to heat/oil/vice-grip the stud off without too much drama. I had to re-drill the spacer hole back to 1/2" and chase all the threads on the box. Before I did all this I de-greased everything and ran it hoping to see the leaks. None. So where did all the oil come from? I'm sure it will leak again as soon as I am done. But for now I will put this box back since it is the "good one". This spacer thing looks OK too. It is not structural, but rather just more convenient than trying to hold three spacers in place while bolting up the box. One piece is EZPZ.
 

Attachments

#42 ·
Thanks. The hardest part was getting the front up in the air so I could turn the steering wheel stop to stop 20 times to purge the air out. Up till then I was doing all the work without jacking it up. I'll give these Jeeps high markes for ground clearance.
 
#43 ·
I do remember that, well it's not the sort of thing you'd forget, but not what I did. Both of mine have 2" lifts so, I rarely jack them up for anything that doesn't involve removing a wheel. However I've got a 3 ton floor jack so it's not a problem to hoick one end (or side) up clear of the deck.

Prompted by yesterday's little bit of nonsense (posted elsewhere), & given I'm in the middle of a piecemeal 7,500 mile tune-up, I thought I'd check the PAS fluid level - for the 1st time since I changed the box, about a year ago, & was surprised it took about 1/2-quart, given it doesn't leak. Next weekend I'll find out if it's cured the groaning - doubt it 'cos pretty sure that's the pump :(
 
#44 ·
I had a bad groan once. It is caused by air. I could find no leaks, yet there was bubbles in the fluid. I tried three pumps, vacuum pumped the reservoir, nothing cured it. Shops suggested replacing the whole rack unit, pump, and hoses. That would have cost more than I paid for the car. I just got rid of it.
 
#45 ·
I'll live with the groan, thanks, at least 'til I can fit the spare pump - at the moment on the '99, can't now remember why but it didn't help, so it could have its own pump back - & the one on it could go on the '97. But right now, there are more pressing calls on my time (& other resources ;))
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top