What did you do to your Cherokee today?
Is it because it won't turn at all or it turns and clicks but won't loosen and come off? If it is the former use a set of channel locks. If is the latter, pry the cap off leaving the screw in base then remove it by hand or channel locks. Mine did the clicks but not come off. I removed the cap, it the has the ratchet in it then unscrewed the base from the valve cover. I replaced the cap with one from a JY XJ cheap.
Is it because it won't turn at all or it turns and clicks but won't loosen and come off? If it is the former use a set of channel locks. If is the latter, pry the cap off leaving the screw in base then remove it by hand or channel locks. Mine did the clicks but not come off. I removed the cap, it the has the ratchet in it then unscrewed the base from the valve cover. I replaced the cap with one from a JY XJ cheap.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 896
Likes: 32
From: Nationwide, USA
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Renix 4.0
The good news: I made it, took all of four days. It was painful. Had to go slower than last time because of the trailer, plus...
The kinda bad news: I noticed a vibration yesterday and stopped to check it out. I figured it was likely a driveshaft u-joint so I removed the front ds hoping it was the culprit. It wasn’t. Turns out it was my rear ds, rear u-joint. Making noise at slow speed by the time I realized something was up, and had some movement in it the factory didn’t intend. I had about 350 miles to go. I know this was foolish, but I greased it and crossed my fingers. It was ok at speed, but vibrating pretty bad for the last 5 miles, which I did at about 20 mph. Just made it.
The kinda bad news: I noticed a vibration yesterday and stopped to check it out. I figured it was likely a driveshaft u-joint so I removed the front ds hoping it was the culprit. It wasn’t. Turns out it was my rear ds, rear u-joint. Making noise at slow speed by the time I realized something was up, and had some movement in it the factory didn’t intend. I had about 350 miles to go. I know this was foolish, but I greased it and crossed my fingers. It was ok at speed, but vibrating pretty bad for the last 5 miles, which I did at about 20 mph. Just made it.
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio, TX
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L H.O.
Nice! Looks good man.
Addressed the flat-as-hell shackled leaf springs today. Out with the old...
In with the new.
Gonna load the back with as much heavy **** as possible, lol, get em to settle. Shes kinda rocking the stinkbug stance right now.
Addressed the flat-as-hell shackled leaf springs today. Out with the old...
In with the new.
Gonna load the back with as much heavy **** as possible, lol, get em to settle. Shes kinda rocking the stinkbug stance right now.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 397
From: SoCal
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
After owning my silver XJ for a little over 5 months now and having a change of mind (keeping it instead of selling), I finally put it in my name. Sooooo happy I have AAA. Took a whopping 10 min from the time I parked to the time I left to do the title transfer.
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 34,053
Likes: 236
From: Lantana, Fl
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.Slow
The good news: I made it, took all of four days. It was painful. Had to go slower than last time because of the trailer, plus...
The kinda bad news: I noticed a vibration yesterday and stopped to check it out. I figured it was likely a driveshaft u-joint so I removed the front ds hoping it was the culprit. It wasn’t. Turns out it was my rear ds, rear u-joint. Making noise at slow speed by the time I realized something was up, and had some movement in it the factory didn’t intend. I had about 350 miles to go. I know this was foolish, but I greased it and crossed my fingers. It was ok at speed, but vibrating pretty bad for the last 5 miles, which I did at about 20 mph. Just made it.
The kinda bad news: I noticed a vibration yesterday and stopped to check it out. I figured it was likely a driveshaft u-joint so I removed the front ds hoping it was the culprit. It wasn’t. Turns out it was my rear ds, rear u-joint. Making noise at slow speed by the time I realized something was up, and had some movement in it the factory didn’t intend. I had about 350 miles to go. I know this was foolish, but I greased it and crossed my fingers. It was ok at speed, but vibrating pretty bad for the last 5 miles, which I did at about 20 mph. Just made it.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 734
Likes: 30
From: Alaska
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I-6
Yeah. Not the first time in the course of our marriage that I've sacrificed an expensive "toy", but this is definitely the first time that it's not been a direct act of desperation on our part. A few guys on here know the estimated value dollar of musical instruments and equipment that I pawned and sold at the beginning of our marriage. I've been lucky with my job over the past 10 years that I've been able to be somewhat reckless with our finances.... well, it's time to tighten up and the Jeep is, unfortunately, the fat that has to be trimmed.
The kinda bad news: I noticed a vibration yesterday and stopped to check it out. I figured it was likely a driveshaft u-joint so I removed the front ds hoping it was the culprit. It wasn’t. Turns out it was my rear ds, rear u-joint. Making noise at slow speed by the time I realized something was up, and had some movement in it the factory didn’t intend. I had about 350 miles to go. I know this was foolish, but I greased it and crossed my fingers. It was ok at speed, but vibrating pretty bad for the last 5 miles, which I did at about 20 mph. Just made it.
Those look like the springs I pulled off my XJ after 13 years of abuse!
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio, TX
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L H.O.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 397
From: SoCal
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Well, the Jeep is being a Jeep today. Noticed some coolant under it last night but couldn't find the leak. Came home today and we get this...
Why yes, the PO put in a 3 core all aluminum radiator. It's leaking out of the welds. Who would have guessed? That piece of junk is getting replaced by the cheapest plastic one I can find. Oh, and my steering box also has a lot of play as I found out tonight. So I'll be getting a new one of those too.
Why yes, the PO put in a 3 core all aluminum radiator. It's leaking out of the welds. Who would have guessed? That piece of junk is getting replaced by the cheapest plastic one I can find. Oh, and my steering box also has a lot of play as I found out tonight. So I'll be getting a new one of those too.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 249
From: Southern Texas (former AZ & Aus)
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
Well, the Jeep is being a Jeep today. Noticed some coolant under it last night but couldn't find the leak. Came home today and we get this...
Why yes, the PO put in a 3 core all aluminum radiator. It's leaking out of the welds. Who would have guessed? That piece of junk is getting replaced by the cheapest plastic one I can find. Oh, and my steering box also has a lot of play as I found out tonight. So I'll be getting a new one of those too.
Why yes, the PO put in a 3 core all aluminum radiator. It's leaking out of the welds. Who would have guessed? That piece of junk is getting replaced by the cheapest plastic one I can find. Oh, and my steering box also has a lot of play as I found out tonight. So I'll be getting a new one of those too.
I feel your pain in advance with the steering box. When I changed mine out last fall, it took doing it twice to get a box that had actually been rebuilt. It was kind of a PITA for me to do w/o making a mess and then my campfire was peed on by a thoughtless honey badger. The first one had more play in it than the original one that had been in there for the last 19 years. Come to find out that's a shady backdoor game that the rebuild company plays. They just clean them, shoot a new coat of paint on them and ship it off like it's been rebuilt. Complete dirtbags!
Hope you have better luck with yours the first time around.
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 8
From: SEMO
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 L6
Why yes, the PO put in a 3 core all aluminum radiator. It's leaking out of the welds. Who would have guessed? That piece of junk is getting replaced by the cheapest plastic one I can find. Oh, and my steering box also has a lot of play as I found out tonight. So I'll be getting a new one of those too.
It's always somethin'! I remember years ago when vehicles were all getting the aluminum radiators with plastic tanks and everyone was complaining about what cheap crap they were. Now it's come full circle and nobody trusts the all metal ones. It's a bit different now though, those folks that were complaining back then were used to brazing brass radiators to fix them.
I've had good luck with my lifetime warranty cheap-o POS so far...
Any idea what route you'll go with the steering box? I've seen a lot of complaints of POS "rebuilt" (repainted?) boxes around here.
Drove it yesterday to pick up some temporary tires. Brakes started prematurely locking up. Fun. Thank goodness for a stick and engine braking. Guess I need a new master cylinder? Porportioning valve? I'll have to trouble shoot.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 397
From: SoCal
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
That is an excellent way to put it... the Jeep was being a Jeep today.... typical. lol.
I feel your pain in advance with the steering box. When I changed mine out last fall, it took doing it twice to get a box that had actually been rebuilt. It was kind of a PITA for me to do w/o making a mess and then my campfire was peed on by a thoughtless honey badger. The first one had more play in it than the original one that had been in there for the last 19 years. Come to find out that's a shady backdoor game that the rebuild company plays. They just clean them, shoot a new coat of paint on them and ship it off like it's been rebuilt. Complete dirtbags!
Hope you have better luck with yours the first time around.
I feel your pain in advance with the steering box. When I changed mine out last fall, it took doing it twice to get a box that had actually been rebuilt. It was kind of a PITA for me to do w/o making a mess and then my campfire was peed on by a thoughtless honey badger. The first one had more play in it than the original one that had been in there for the last 19 years. Come to find out that's a shady backdoor game that the rebuild company plays. They just clean them, shoot a new coat of paint on them and ship it off like it's been rebuilt. Complete dirtbags!
Hope you have better luck with yours the first time around.
It's always somethin'! I remember years ago when vehicles were all getting the aluminum radiators with plastic tanks and everyone was complaining about what cheap crap they were. Now it's come full circle and nobody trusts the all metal ones. It's a bit different now though, those folks that were complaining back then were used to brazing brass radiators to fix them.
I've had good luck with my lifetime warranty cheap-o POS so far...
Any idea what route you'll go with the steering box? I've seen a lot of complaints of POS "rebuilt" (repainted?) boxes around here.
I've had good luck with my lifetime warranty cheap-o POS so far...
Any idea what route you'll go with the steering box? I've seen a lot of complaints of POS "rebuilt" (repainted?) boxes around here.
I already ordered a new radiator. $55 on Fleabay with a lifetime warranty. I will take my chances.