Stearing gear box leak

[RookieJeeper]

1041197

i took my XJ on its first stock off-road experince the other day. It was pretty much an old road deep in the woods that led off onto 4-wheeler trails, with some bumps here and there. Best I can find here in Kingston, Ontario so far. Anyhow, I was turning and had the wheel pretty much cranked, and i heard a POP!. I drove to a bit of a clearing and looked under the front and saw power stearing fluid coming off the stearing box right at the bottom. it seems to be leaking right at the pivot point, where it looks like there could be a seal or something. could this just be a broken seal or did i screw the stearing box. Other than it leaking a fair bit, it still stears smooth with it topped up with fluids.



thanks, Adam[addsig]

 

[MudderChuck]

1041213

I´ve never replaced just the seals, but have noticed by the time the seals go bad there is usually a little to much up and down play on the sector shaft. And it´s usually time for a reconditioned steering box. That screw on the top of the steering box with the lock nut, is better left alone. It helps center the steering wheel and won´t really help anything.[addsig]

 

[RookieJeeper]

1041225

does anyone have a write-up on how to remove a stearing box?[addsig]

 

[MudderChuck]

1041236

Put it up on jack stands, put a drain pan under the pump and have something handy to plug the lines (small pieces of rag or paper towel),remove the hoses/lines. Mark the steering colume (upper and lower)(be sure to mark everything that might slip, twist or move) (index marks, white paint or fingernail polish). Take out the lower pinch bolt (on the clamp above the steering colum U-joint) Remove the nut from the pitman arm (index marks) mark the pitman arm and shaft (I usually notch them with a cold chisel sometimes the marks come off). Use a puller to remove the pitman arm from the shaft. Remove the three bolts from the frame (while supporting the steering gear box). After re-installing add fluid, start the car and turn steering wheel left and right (not all the way to the stops) adding fluid as necessary to the full cold mark. To bleed the air from the system. That´s pretty much it, I´d send you a copy of the page but my scanner is acting up. I usually spray everything with WD-40 or penitrating oil the day before, usually makes things alot easier. I also try not to use the pitman shaft, as a second wrench when removeing/installing the pitman bolt. I´ll usually use a large monkey wrench or pipe wrench to hold the pitman arm. And loosen or tighten the pitman nut with a breaker bar. If I remember right the torque spec. is 180 foot lbs.[addsig]