Replacing Seals on Steering Box

[Yank]

The TJ has taken to marking its territory with power steering fluid recently.

I don't really have the tools or time to do it myself so thought I would call around and get some quotes.

Ring up shop #1 who tells me he doesn't work on Jeeps, and even if he did he doesn't give estimates because it backfires. --- Yup, that's the guy I want working on my vehicle, the one who hands you an invoice for $3,000 that you weren't prepared for....

Ring up shop #2 who tells me he wouldn't replace the seals, he'd replace the entire steering box. ---- So instead of a $20 kit, you want me to spend upwards of $1000 on a new box?

Ring up shop #3 who tells me that yes, they can do it and it will cost $630 assuming nothing is bent/broken etc.

So, is the $630 reasonable or is it another case of "Yankee accent, Yankee car, let's play yank the yank"?

Does anybody have any recommendations on a shop that might be a bit less expensive? Or, even a mechanically inclined individual who has the tools so I can provide parts and pay a reasonable rate?

[bonza]

option #3 at least is prepared to overhaul the steering box.

you are paying for high labour costs which we all enjoy while employed but dont want to dish out and pay for ourselves, plus the fact you're time poor so you're in the hands of tradies to work for you

and the trouble with a lot of auto mechanics is that they are now "plug and play", or "unbolt old part and bolt in a new part" as they dont have the skills like what a lot fitters and turners do daily, such as machining, using a file and pressing in seals and bearings. hence option #2 will only replace the box.

with option #3 considering, he has to remove the steering box, pull it apart, overhaul it, refit, fill it up with oil and check operation then recheck the alignment of your front end, probably the best part of a days work, it is probably fair enough

and finally, why I hear mechanics are scared to work on a Jeep is beyond me as probably one of the most easiest vehicles to work on, akin to an old Holden

[victoro]

It's something most garage mechanics fail to see (that their quite easy to work on) I see a lot of Jeeps in our business and many of our customers have nothing good to say about their mechanics regarding Jeeps, and that's a shame.
Regarding your steering box, I normally have a few around, I usually only about $150 to $200 for a good box.
I would check around on here as well as ebay and see what you can find, let me know if I can help and I can probably dig one up.