Project 'Hole in the Pocket'
#391
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
Got the dinky little XJ tie rod out today:
ZJ one installed:
It has the new adjustment sleeve:
The steering is noticeably stiffer, and when I hit bumps, the wheel doesn't move. It was a GREAT upgrade for the oversized tires for the price.
ZJ one installed:
It has the new adjustment sleeve:
The steering is noticeably stiffer, and when I hit bumps, the wheel doesn't move. It was a GREAT upgrade for the oversized tires for the price.
Last edited by thatXJguy; 05-03-2014 at 08:27 PM.
#392
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
Previous owner of my Jeep tried to kill me today!
After installing my ZJ tie rod, I decided to go and get a professional alignment. Everything went well... until the manager test drove my Jeep.
When that happened, the steering gave out. The manager called a wrecker and and got my Jeep towed back to the alignment shop. Luckily, he was only going 5 MPH when the steering gave out. It could have been me driving the Jeep when it went out, and I could have been going highway speeds – I'd have been done for.
Anyway... it turns out that the previous owner rigged my steering intermediate shaft in such a half-assed way that it just came un-done. You can visibly see the wear and tear from the bolt not being seated high enough to fit into the notch:
The rust also goes so far up the splines that you can tell the sleeve that goes over it wasn't seated all the way over it. In fact, it wouldn't even reach:
After installing my ZJ tie rod, I decided to go and get a professional alignment. Everything went well... until the manager test drove my Jeep.
When that happened, the steering gave out. The manager called a wrecker and and got my Jeep towed back to the alignment shop. Luckily, he was only going 5 MPH when the steering gave out. It could have been me driving the Jeep when it went out, and I could have been going highway speeds – I'd have been done for.
Anyway... it turns out that the previous owner rigged my steering intermediate shaft in such a half-assed way that it just came un-done. You can visibly see the wear and tear from the bolt not being seated high enough to fit into the notch:
The rust also goes so far up the splines that you can tell the sleeve that goes over it wasn't seated all the way over it. In fact, it wouldn't even reach:
#393
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
Steering is all back together today, although since this happened, now I get anxious about it ever happening again.
I changed my oil today and added in some Lucas oil stabilizer.
I changed my oil today and added in some Lucas oil stabilizer.
#395
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
#397
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
The new clockspring came in today, so I have to make an appointment for the shop that broke it to install the new one. I could just as easily do it myself, but since it'll be free for them to do it, I might as well let them.
#399
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
#401
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
It's a tapered bolt, so if the mechanical weld is broken, just put the nut back on the end of it so that the threads aren't showing, and whack the crap out of it with a good old hammer until it breaks loose.
#402
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 248
From: DE
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
#403
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 5
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
Thanks!