power steering is sick

[zzzz]

Looks like I have got the dreaded power steering problems that wooders/shane and others have had/have.

It looks like my top seal where the steering shaft goes into my power steering box is gone. Leaks fluid out of there, looks like a lot but the reservoir still reads that is is full. That stuff sure goes a long way, covers everything and makes it look clean too.

Also when turning I get a lot of bad noises which I assume is a result of the seal being blown.

I can't remember the finer details of how people fixed their power steering boxes but I do know it was a big PITA.

Any suggestions apart from AGR. :D

[Wooders]

Sadly the AGR ISN'T a solution - they don't make a RHD unit :(
I had the Pitman shaft seal shat itself, yours sounds like the intermentiate shaft seal. Bad news is that it's probably MORE fiddly to fix than the pitman shaft seal.
You'll probably find that now is the best time to get the box stripped down and rebuilt. IMHO find a power steering specialist and PAY someone to do it for you. It will probably cost you about $450-500 (inc parts & labour).
Although it IS possible to do it yourself, take my word for it - it's just faster & easier to pay someone to do it for you.....
Oh yeah you'll probably find that it leaks more when NOT being used because the seals aren't warmed up. I used to find left sitting it would drain out - but driving it wouldn't leak.....
Lastly powersteering fluid is an excellent weed killer - only park on the lawn of people you don't like tongue.gif

[aussietj]

My seal was leaking in the exact same place about 4-5 months ago..........the Jeep dealer said to keep the resoviour topped up and to let it go for a while and see what it does.

Otherwise $400 for a fix at a steering specalist......

Funny thing !!! leak stopped after about a month or so, now it only gets a little damp now and then.....

So wait off for a while and see what happens

[Jonesy]

Mine has been leaking for a while, both at the top and bottom i'm probably going to do somthing about it soon, i was scared about the cost and at $400-500 im not looking forward too it.
Can u buy a seal kit? i did a search on Jeeps unlimited and POR some of them said seal kits are around but the local dealer reckons buy a new one for around $700 or pay about the same too replace the seals?

and i have used the seal conditioner it worked for a while....not anymore

[ 26 August 2002, 05:33 PM: Message edited by: Jonesy ]

[zzzz]

did anyone elses make really bad noises?
I can get a lot of noise out of mine if I just turn the wheel a quarter turn.

The severity of the noise seems to come and go a little, but it will do it every time I do a u turn or sharp corner.

Thanks for all the advice, will leave it for a bit and then make a decision later.

no agr - damn them, how about rock ram. Guess that isn't legal here, and too much $ anyways.

[Wooders]

Jonesy,
I think the full seal kit is about $260-270....
But trust me it's a fiddly pissant job....
However if you are thinking about DIY - then I suggest you save this (http://www.geocities.com/wooders_jeep/steering.pdf) (use right click "save target as" feature)....

[ 26 August 2002, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Wooders ]

[Wooders]

Zach,

Mine made noises. The most important thing though is to make sure the fluid level doesn't drop - because then the fluid is just whipped into a foam, you get little lubrication & it screams like a freshly castrated pig

Rock ram - well it's only hydro assist - so I believe it's ok...heck PeteK was selling one for about $1500 about 6months ago....
Yup bugger about the AGR - but siginaw box is widely used so getting good help (suprising for a Jeep) isn't that bad....

[Jonesy]

Ditto, mine whined when the fuild level was down.
Are XJ boxes the same? and what make, type and or serial No are the TJ boxes just incase i try looking around for a compatable box?

[AussieCJ7]

Lastly powersteering fluid is an excellent weed killer - only park on the lawn of people you don't like <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wooders park on your own lawn then you dont have to mow it and can spend more time wheeling :D :D

Just make sure your wife doesnt catch you or you might get graemlins/punchface.gif

[Wooders]

LOL actually I DID kill a lot of lawn...worst thing si it was also where I spend most of my time wrenching so now I even up laying on cold, oiling soil..... graemlins/crying.gif
Can't wait for a proper garage again - 4½weeks & counting...

[Wooders]

yes XJ boxes are the same...

HOWEVER becareful if you are swapping parts - I found an XJ box pitman shaft adjuster (very top) is clockwise thread & TJ was counter-clockwise thread.....this means you also need the Side (actually top) Cover to match & locking nut.

Any more q's??

[TW.]

reef it out of the jeep & we can get it rebuilt z if you cant. probably for less than than wooders did it for too.,

[zzzz]

Originally posted by TW @ USA 4X4:
reef it out of the jeep & we can get it rebuilt z if you cant. probably for less than than wooders did it for too.,<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">thanks for that tony - will get round to it eventually....

[Wooders]

Originally posted by TW @ USA 4X4:
reef it out of the jeep & we can get it rebuilt z if you cant. probably for less than than wooders did it for too.,<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">TW, I did it myself (so I think the TOTAL $$ damage was about $300) - but it was fiddly and a PITA jobby which is why I recommend just paying someone to do it....Plus it wasn't just the seals in my box but the housing & pitman shafts that had to be replaced.

[MC4X4]

Zack just to ley you know you can get a right hand drive AGR box. i run one.

[Wooders]

Ok MC4x4 - Now I'm sitting upright...

Where'd you score that from and how much and when and can I get one and when and how much and how long will it take to get here and did it make much difference and does it use the same pump or do you need both the pump & the gear and how does it cope with larger tyres and lockers and......

I spent frikken ages trying to track one down to no avail....inquiring minds have just gotta know....

[MC4X4]

Wooders, I just phoned up AGR direct and had a bit of a chat with the guys. They had a few r/h drive boxes there and sent me a box and a pump out. You can use your standard pump but they recommend their pump. Price i will have to get back to you, I am pretty shore it was about the same price as a left hand drive box. I haveny tested it off road yet due to teething problems with the latest rebuild,but i will also let you know that in a few weeks as well.

[zzzz]

doh - should of remembered seeing it on your cj7.

Like wooders says, give us the scoop...

[AussieCJ7]

what other changes did you have to make MC ??

I dont have power steer this might be another option for my CJ

[MC4X4]

you dont have to make any major changes, you jusy have to pull your old pumps casing off and put it on the new pump. The steering boxes are the same.

[Israel]

I know its an old thread...

but does anybody know the cheapest way to fix this problem (this problem being a noisy and slightly leaking powersteering pump)

How much for a new pump?

How much for a rebuild?

How much for a second hand pump?

Are they easy fitted?

Cheers

By the way I have a 96 XJ

[TW.]

i'll retract that comment of mine re doint cheaper as such, my crystal ball dontwork anymore, i will say a seal kit with about 50 bits in it is 116 bickies here, but a tear down and rebuild takes a few hrs. and if your sector shaft is flogged/rusted/pitted its new sector shaft time.....

either way, its an easy fix when your ready.

as for cost for everything israel, it depends on new gen or reonditioned stuff and is it easy....that depends on your tools and skills, there are some tricky jobs........only you will know the answer to that.

[AussieRCBasher]

mines been leaking over 3 years and only ever needs topping up every 6 months.. pisses out too!

[optical]

my ps pump sounds like a gilmer drive..

got a 2nd hand pump enroute...

[TW.]

we have change over pumps and boxes available here if required. we even have power steering filters. cheap insurance.

[kyro]

hey TW what the damage for a new steering box for the XJ 1999 turbo diesel mine a bit sloppy no leaks but lot of slack in it....or can they be adjusted??

Cheers Mate

[TW.]

there pretty much all the same, tha one is $630 change over. you'll probably find a local steering guy to help you out. it might be adjustable once and is worth a try before going the whole hog

[kyro]

there pretty much all the same, tha one is $630 change over. you'll probably find a local steering guy to help you out. it might be adjustable once and is worth a try before going the whole hog

ok kewl might give that ago as i have never done any work on it since new so might go see what they say..........Cheers**)

[oscar_the_grouch]

so anymore news on the agr boxes anyone else bought one beside mc4x4 ? someone with a tj ?