Cut Steering Gear box bolts
#1
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Year: 2000
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Cut Steering Gear box bolts
I recently purchased a 2000 Cherokee Sport with 115,000 miles on it. I live in Michigan with salty roads and rusty vehicles.
The jeep wanders down the road. Tried tightening up the box and that helped a bit, but was leaking pretty badly.
My son and I are having troubles getting the 33mm nut off the pitman arm. We are also struggling with the three bolts that hold the steering box on the frame. We have tried heat, impact wrench, cheater bars on sockets and wrenches and have not been rewarded with even a budge.
My thoughts - leave the pitman arm, 33mm nut and lock washer on the box and replace the whole mess.
Questions
1. Can I grind the heads off of the bolts that hold the steering box on the frame and remove the box that way? Are there any treads in the bracket between the steering box and frame or any nuts inside the frame that makes that a bad idea?
2. If I order a new pitman arm and replacement nut and lock washer that will hold the pitman arm?
3. Can I simply replace the three bolts, if I can cut them off, with grade 8 bolts and plastic lock nuts.
The jeep wanders down the road. Tried tightening up the box and that helped a bit, but was leaking pretty badly.
My son and I are having troubles getting the 33mm nut off the pitman arm. We are also struggling with the three bolts that hold the steering box on the frame. We have tried heat, impact wrench, cheater bars on sockets and wrenches and have not been rewarded with even a budge.
My thoughts - leave the pitman arm, 33mm nut and lock washer on the box and replace the whole mess.
Questions
1. Can I grind the heads off of the bolts that hold the steering box on the frame and remove the box that way? Are there any treads in the bracket between the steering box and frame or any nuts inside the frame that makes that a bad idea?
2. If I order a new pitman arm and replacement nut and lock washer that will hold the pitman arm?
3. Can I simply replace the three bolts, if I can cut them off, with grade 8 bolts and plastic lock nuts.
#2
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Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I recently purchased a 2000 Cherokee Sport with 115,000 miles on it. I live in Michigan with salty roads and rusty vehicles. The jeep wanders down the road. Tried tightening up the box and that helped a bit, but was leaking pretty badly. My son and I are having troubles getting the 33mm nut off the pitman arm. We are also struggling with the three bolts that hold the steering box on the frame. We have tried heat, impact wrench, cheater bars on sockets and wrenches and have not been rewarded with even a budge. My thoughts - leave the pitman arm, 33mm nut and lock washer on the box and replace the whole mess. Questions 1. Can I grind the heads off of the bolts that hold the steering box on the frame and remove the box that way? Are there any treads in the bracket between the steering box and frame or any nuts inside the frame that makes that a bad idea? 2. If I order a new pitman arm and replacement nut and lock washer that will hold the pitman arm? 3. Can I simply replace the three bolts, if I can cut them off, with grade 8 bolts and plastic lock nuts.
#3
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Jeeper,
Thanks for the tips. We cleaned it up a bit where we were working. It is fairly clean though and I think it has promise to be a solid vehicle again.
We did use a propane torch and cheater and breaker bars on the bolts and pitman arm nut. They must have been horsed down. I heated up the heads of the bolts for the gear box. I will try heating the housing instead of the fastners tomorrow. That may do the trick. I already have the gear box due to the leaking and slop. We had a shop give us some advice on what to purchase but good advice from you and will check further upstream/toward the steering wheel on the mini u-joint steering links too. I believe that is what you were referring to, correct?
Thanks again and I appreciate your time in responding.
Thanks for the tips. We cleaned it up a bit where we were working. It is fairly clean though and I think it has promise to be a solid vehicle again.
We did use a propane torch and cheater and breaker bars on the bolts and pitman arm nut. They must have been horsed down. I heated up the heads of the bolts for the gear box. I will try heating the housing instead of the fastners tomorrow. That may do the trick. I already have the gear box due to the leaking and slop. We had a shop give us some advice on what to purchase but good advice from you and will check further upstream/toward the steering wheel on the mini u-joint steering links too. I believe that is what you were referring to, correct?
Thanks again and I appreciate your time in responding.
#4
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Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Jeeper, Thanks for the tips. We cleaned it up a bit where we were working. It is fairly clean though and I think it has promise to be a solid vehicle again. We did use a propane torch and cheater and breaker bars on the bolts and pitman arm nut. They must have been horsed down. I heated up the heads of the bolts for the gear box. I will try heating the housing instead of the fastners tomorrow. That may do the trick. I already have the gear box due to the leaking and slop. We had a shop give us some advice on what to purchase but good advice from you and will check further upstream/toward the steering wheel on the mini u-joint steering links too. I believe that is what you were referring to, correct? Thanks again and I appreciate your time in responding.
#5
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: l6 4.0
Yes saw the bolt heads off. Careful not to hit frame. Leave pitman on old Box. Buy all fresh components and even upgrade the steering box brace while your at it. Simple search on that. will yield great info.
Use a washer, lock washer, and the highest grade bolt you can afford. Torque to spec. Re torque after a few miles.
Use a washer, lock washer, and the highest grade bolt you can afford. Torque to spec. Re torque after a few miles.
#6
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Year: 2000
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Yes saw the bolt heads off. Careful not to hit frame. Leave pitman on old Box. Buy all fresh components and even upgrade the steering box brace while your at it. Simple search on that. will yield great info.
Use a washer, lock washer, and the highest grade bolt you can afford. Torque to spec. Re torque after a few miles.
Use a washer, lock washer, and the highest grade bolt you can afford. Torque to spec. Re torque after a few miles.
I did check my local salvage yard and, shocker, all steering boxes are gone from jeeps and Dodge Dakotas so I won't find parts there until new stock arrives in their yards.
Thanks! I will keep you posted on the progress. My boy just got a job framing up homes so I will be going alone again on the project.
Last edited by HeepaJeep; 08-18-2016 at 03:26 PM.
#7
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Year: 1998
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I would recommend buying a new steering box spacer too. Throw that stock cast one right in the trash and get a nice steel replacement. Multiple suppliers make them.
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#8
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Year: 1999
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New steering box brace:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJSTSPC.html
Or, if you plan on upgrading the bumpers at some point, there is a whole front-end brace kit available, which includes the steering bracket:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJUNF-PC.html
(I have no affiliation with JCR. The OP was looking for specific recommendations, so I provided a few.)
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJSTSPC.html
Or, if you plan on upgrading the bumpers at some point, there is a whole front-end brace kit available, which includes the steering bracket:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJUNF-PC.html
(I have no affiliation with JCR. The OP was looking for specific recommendations, so I provided a few.)
#9
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Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
My ($40) box had a Pittman arm on it when I brought it home from the JY.
Was wondering, if a Hole-Hog angle drill would fit up in there you could drill off the bolt heads. (even that recessed top one.) tough and tricky, but well...anyway I think they rent them.
OH! And with a six point socket and a breaker, or cheater bar, you might just luck out and just break them right off!!
Was wondering, if a Hole-Hog angle drill would fit up in there you could drill off the bolt heads. (even that recessed top one.) tough and tricky, but well...anyway I think they rent them.
OH! And with a six point socket and a breaker, or cheater bar, you might just luck out and just break them right off!!
Last edited by DFlintstone; 08-17-2016 at 04:37 PM.
#10
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Year: 2000
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New steering box brace:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJSTSPC.html
Or, if you plan on upgrading the bumpers at some point, there is a whole front-end brace kit available, which includes the steering bracket:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJUNF-PC.html
(I have no affiliation with JCR. The OP was looking for specific recommendations, so I provided a few.)
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJSTSPC.html
Or, if you plan on upgrading the bumpers at some point, there is a whole front-end brace kit available, which includes the steering bracket:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJUNF-PC.html
(I have no affiliation with JCR. The OP was looking for specific recommendations, so I provided a few.)
My ($40) box had a Pittman arm on it when I brought it home from the JY.
Was wondering, if a Hole-Hog angle drill would fit up in there you could drill off the bolt heads. (even that recessed top one.) tough and tricky, but well...anyway I think they rent them.
OH! And with a six point socket and a breaker, or cheater bar, you might just luck out and just break them right off!!
Was wondering, if a Hole-Hog angle drill would fit up in there you could drill off the bolt heads. (even that recessed top one.) tough and tricky, but well...anyway I think they rent them.
OH! And with a six point socket and a breaker, or cheater bar, you might just luck out and just break them right off!!
#11
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Year: 2000
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So here is my progress today.
Soaked the pitman 33mm nut with PB, gave it a couple of whacks and used my new 33mm socket and a 6 foot pipe and it popped right off.
Here is my wife and helper. She was cheering me on and checking out my progress.
Also got the castle nut off the drop end of the pitman arm. Soaked it in PB, bought a 19mm socket and that stinker came right off too. However, the cotter pin fell apart as I was taking it out so I had to grind down a punch to push it through.
Soaked the pitman 33mm nut with PB, gave it a couple of whacks and used my new 33mm socket and a 6 foot pipe and it popped right off.
Here is my wife and helper. She was cheering me on and checking out my progress.
Also got the castle nut off the drop end of the pitman arm. Soaked it in PB, bought a 19mm socket and that stinker came right off too. However, the cotter pin fell apart as I was taking it out so I had to grind down a punch to push it through.
#12
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I did get a little lucky, my little yard had just gotten it. Truth also, I paid $10 extra to have "Mike" pull it. My right wrist is boogered. Anyway my top bolt is ressed in the frame, not sure how I would grind the head off. Hopefully with a good 1/2" breaker bar and a six point socket you can just break them off. (break the bolt)
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Wow you guys were right about that spacer...
Sheared the upper bolt off the steering box. In the process of attempting to drive the bolt out through the body the spacer was cracking and dropping out. What a piece of crap. Is that cast spacer aluminum?
So I will head down to Portage, MI and pick up a unibody tie-in kit that includes a new spacer at JCR Offroad. Cool that is is 1 hour south of me and I can pick it up myself.
Sheared the upper bolt off the steering box. In the process of attempting to drive the bolt out through the body the spacer was cracking and dropping out. What a piece of crap. Is that cast spacer aluminum?
So I will head down to Portage, MI and pick up a unibody tie-in kit that includes a new spacer at JCR Offroad. Cool that is is 1 hour south of me and I can pick it up myself.
#14
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In my personal experience with three Jeeps, which I use "on-road", as just a spacer with the bolt's tight, I've never had an issue with the spacer.
Nice to hear you have a path to the solution!
#15
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Yep... Busted the head off the upper bolt. The spacer between the frame and steering box is crumbling apart like Ryan Lochte's Olympic tale.