Steering box bushing?

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:32 am

I noticed today while checking my oil level that there is a bushing on the right hand side of the steering box that is coming apart. The piece that i am looking at is there are two large bolts, one on each side (left and right) of the steering box that hold it to the the frame i am asuming. The right bolt appears to have a bushing in it that allows it to flex a bit when steering.

I had someone turn the wheel when parked and i watched it moving a slight bit not very much but i would think it should be ok. I just wanted to ask if that needs attention or not. It seems like the rubber bushing is wearing down and i pulled some of the outer part off and its very brittle. Is there a replacement that i can get and put in there?

I may try and get a picture so you know where i am looking at...

thanks,

-nick

Update: Here is a picture from the FSM, i circled it in red so you know what i am talking about. You can see that it appears to be held to the fram by two bolts one on the left and one on the right...

chemguy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:43 pm

Hmmm, maybe that would explain my rattle???

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:41 am

Well something is definately making noise down there. It usually creeks when i take off from a full stop or when i am backing up from a full stop. I thought it could have been something in the steering shaft/linkage but not sure. when it makes the noise i can feel it somewhat in the steering wheel.

Anyone?

-nick

dirtykj · **Posted:** Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:33 pm

I had my steering rack bushings replaced at 24K miles by the dealer, under warranty. I could never ever got it to hold alignment before the replacement, and when I went over bumps on the road it would be kind of wobbly coming down, like pulling randomly to left or right as the tires would settle back down. Also heard some plonking sounds that I couldn't pinpoint to specific parts.

After replacements, things worked better. Still get some noise from bumps and dips, but not as much as before. Handling is much improved.

Just take it to the dealer, point to the bushing and say, "see, it's torn down there" and they should replace it under warranty. Get a loaner car, though, it'll take them some time to do this job.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:12 pm

dirtykj wrote:

I had my steering rack bushings replaced at 24K miles by the dealer, under warranty. I could never ever got it to hold alignment before the replacement, and when I went over bumps on the road it would be kind of wobbly coming down, like pulling randomly to left or right as the tires would settle back down. Also heard some plonking sounds that I couldn't pinpoint to specific parts.

After replacements, things worked better. Still get some noise from bumps and dips, but not as much as before. Handling is much improved.

Just take it to the dealer, point to the bushing and say, "see, it's torn down there" and they should replace it under warranty. Get a loaner car, though, it'll take them some time to do this job.

Sounds good, thanks for the that. Any clue as to home much they might charge for something like that? I am out of warranty...

-Nick

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:41 pm

I got this from the parts dept. at my dealer today. They can get a bushing #3 in the picture for around 16 bucks. My question is how hard is it to actually replace these? Has anyone that has really modified their jeep taken the steering box off? I would really like to do this but i want to make sure that its not too hard of a job to tackle. So anyone?

-Nick

dirtykj · **Posted:** Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:55 pm

I heard from the mechanic that it was a pain in the butt. They had to drop something, t-case or front diff. Not exactly sure.

Probably front diff.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:04 pm

dirtykj i am wondering before you had your bushings replaced did you have someone turn the wheel while you watched the box and did it move a lot? Ive had someone turn the wheel while the vehicle is on and off and it really does not move much at all. It flex's a bit but i think that should be normal...

I am wondering if what i am not hearing is a bad upper ball joint? I need to do some testing... your thoughts?

-Nick

dirtykj · **Posted:** Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:55 pm

SD-KJ wrote:

dirtykj i am wondering before you had your bushings replaced did you have someone turn the wheel while you watched the box and did it move a lot? Ive had someone turn the wheel while the vehicle is on and off and it really does not move much at all. It flex's a bit but i think that should be normal...

Yeah, the normal thing for it to do is flex just a tiny teeny bit. If you have these symptoms:

1. Can't get alignment worth a darn
2. Jitter handling after bumps (when wheels are off the ground and touch down)
3. more pulling than usual (after alignment)
4. still pulls even if alignment is right

Then you might have that problem. Then you did say that a piece of it is coming apart after all! I'd get it replaced.

Here's what happened to me:

I had the alignment done. On the way home someone cut into my lane, and I had to make quick manuever. Just by jerking steering wheel to the right and quick left, that threw off my alignment immediately (pretty bad too)! I called Burchie to see if he's heard of this before. It wasn't normal and I thought maybe the mechanics forgot to tighten some bolts

SD-KJ wrote:

I am wondering if what i am not hearing is a bad upper ball joint? I need to do some testing... your thoughts?

Could be. For me there is some amount of rubbing between the upper ball join and the springs. I don't have bumpstop on my lift (the front is not true 'frankenlift', but close). There's just a bit being shaved flat

If your upper ball joints come into constant contact with the springs it might do some damage.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:42 am

Ok thanks for that, also, i have been searching for about an hour now and i remember seeing it at one time but how do you check the upper ball joints?

THanks,

-Nick

KJ04 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:47 am

SD-KJ wrote:

Ok thanks for that, also, i have been searching for about an hour now and i remember seeing it at one time but how do you check the upper ball joints?

THanks,

-Nick

3 rd. sticky from the top in 4X4 discussions.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:08 am

KJ04 wrote:

SD-KJ wrote:

Ok thanks for that, also, i have been searching for about an hour now and i remember seeing it at one time but how do you check the upper ball joints?

THanks,

-Nick

3 rd. sticky from the top in 4X4 discussions.

I read through all 5 pages twice and could not find anything in there on how to check the UPPER ball joints. Unless you check them the same way? I know that i read something on here a long time ago that there is a different way to check them...

-Nick

Steering box bushing?

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