COS on the UCA box can you plate the inside and outside of the frame with some 3/16" or 1/4" plate because up there wih those big rocks and such you are putting more stress on your frame than us lowlanders are especially with the larger tires.
Another consideration might be a steering box brace. They are pretty easy to fab up or they are for sale at various manufacturers for around $100.

 

You can also use a J10/J20 box cheaper and stronger than the Durango box.

 

Getting hard to find in a JY unless he wants to get e rebuilt one fron NAPA or AZ etc...

 

Not sure that only rebuilt boxes are available. I put a new one from autozone or murrays. then again, it could have been remaned. But it was a J10 in a box and worked for my CJ7.

I have a lifetime warranty stock model from autozone on my XJ. Kinda hard to just throw it out unless needed. Same with my altenator...lifetime warranty but suspect I will upgrade because of the winch.

 

Hit me up after you get the UCA mount welded and I'll give you hand figuring out the DW cause. You're welcome to eye-ball my steering mods in person if it will help.

 

Thanks Frank!! I'll probably take you up on that. I know that you have a lot of experience with XJs and value your opinion a great deal, thanks again!! I'll shoot you a PM when I get it done, I'll be doing it this week some time. I have a couple of trips planned later this year, and want to go on them, but I have to get this fixed first!! Later!!

 

I am also fighting a DW problem on my DD and also believe I need a new box. I hoped my problem would be as easy replacing the tie rods... but alas that did not solve it. Good luck and I will definately keep an eye on this thread for the outcome.

 

OK, so I have a bit of a game plan now. I am going to take the XJ to work this week and weld the cup back on to the subframe, unibody, whatever it is, and check the other side, as well as the rest of the points on the unibody that are involved directly with the suspension. Then, since I'm as broke as they come right now, this could not have happened at a sh!ttier time for me financially, I'll go down to the P&P and pull a box, pump, and lines off of an XJ. I will look for one that has no apparant leaks and seems tight, any advise would be helpful on what to look for!! I want to do the Durango upgrade, but right now I can't afford it, and I still have a few grey ares that I'd like to clear up before jumping on that land mine!! For now I'll buy a used one for the rest of this wheeling season. Then I will go buy another drag end link and, all fingers crossed, it will be fixed. I will be having FrankZ take a look at it as well, and see if he has any advise for me. After seeing some of his stuff here and on NAXJA, I think he may be a Jedi in hiding!! So what do you guys think, any input would be helpful, does this sound like the right path for a "BROKE A$$" Jeeper?? Much thanks!!

 

You are on the path grasshopper!!!

 

Sounds like a good plan. I would bet that a Durango and XJ pump and box would run the same at a P-n-P. I don’t know if you can shop your P-n-P but we have a few up here. I purchased a right front axle at one for $30 and then bought the same axle with a new wheel bearing still attached for $10 at another. If you need any help, let me know

 

I did this mod on my TJ. Direct bolt in too. Steering was improved quite a bit and handled 33's like it was stock. I know this isn't a tj forum but the tj front end is very similar to the xj's.

 

If you are going to weld it back up, it might be wise to beef that mount up, plus the rest of them to prevent future issues.

 

Alright, thanks!!

 

So upon further inspection the weld was bad from the factory. I found that it had pulled away, and not taken a slug of steel with it. Any of you that know welding, know it should've pulled a plug of steel with the weld. Anyway, got it as close to in place as I could and welded it. Due to the location and surrounding obstacles I was not able to get a pretty bead in there, but I got a strong bead, and in it's given location, I don't care what it looks like, so long as it's strong!! Then I coated it in some flat black spray paint. I did not find any other problems with the rest of the mounts. I do not think that this caused the DW, but rather was caused by the DW!! Now that I have been told that the steering box has slack, I have been obsesing about that when I drive it!! I think that I can actually feel the tires turning without any input from the steering wheel when I hit a bump. Well that's one thing off the list!! Two more things, steering box, and drag link end link and I should be good to go.........I hope!!

 

Let us know if that has any effect on your DW and keep us up to date on the draglink changes that are planned. If you change over to a different (Durango) steering box do a write-up. I have been thinking of it myself. Thanks COS.