lucknuts

That's fine. I think we already covered the budget steering upgrades I was looking at. Now my issue seems to be the more expensive parts.

As for taking it to some mechanic, I wish I knew an honest one. We used to but he moved away. Everyone else in this tourist town is out to get you. They're careless too.

We took it in one to get the radiator looked at and they obviously tried to jack it wrong and messed up the metal behind the bumper and ripped off that shield that was under there then denied it adamantly, like they do around here.

Heck, sometimes you'll just go to a grocery store and ask a clerk if they have something... if he/she doesn't know they'll usually confidently say, "No", or "We don't have that." You'll walk few isles and there it is. Lovely work ethic here.

Anyway, sorry for *****in' and thanks a million for all your help guys. I think I have it all figured out now.

You're the best!

Radi

Have a look here:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/steering-issue-152882/

There's a good picture of the plastic isolator in the steering shaft.
Note I do not recommend fixing it this way, drilling holes in the shaft severely weakens it.
But the pic may be helpful so you know what you are looking for- see if the shaft slips around that area.

lucknuts

I attempted a quick video while the wife was home for lunch. The sun is maybe too bright on the windshield when I turn the camera that way. What I'm trying to show you is that the steering wheel moves with the shaft.

It looks like that joint is not the issue after all. Must be the steering box then since the pitman arm isn't moving with the shaft.

Can anyone tell me how dangerous this might be? Hopefully, not as bad as that u joint breaking. Of course, there's not much I could do about it anyway, until a week or so and she needs to drive it every day. Maybe I don't want to know. I told her to be gentle with the steering for now and I'll fix it soon.

http://s1334.photobucket.com/user/Lu...08177.mp4.html

(It's just a link. I can't find the filmstrip icon anywhere.)

Radi

I can't see much of anything in the video.
IF the only thing wrong is a steering box worn due to age, it isn't immediately dangerous, just sloppy. I don't recall one of those Saginaw boxes ever failing catastrophically unless someone misadjusted it badly enough to shatter the top cap or it suffered some sort of extreme impact damage. They just get looser as they wear.