Scary steering

[Volation]

So I just bought a 2.5 wrangler and the steering is scary, I figured it was the steering gearbox didn’t even check the shafts. Took it to a master jeep mechanic.

It needs both steering shafts, power steering lines, steering gearbox.

I already dropped the money and I’m trying to get it at least road worthy.

I’ve seen all the horror on the forums about remanned gearboxes being the same or worse after replacing.

Does anyone know where I can get these parts without breaking the bank and without needing to replace them in 3k miles??


Backstory there is an inch and a half lift on it and from what I can see the steering shaft bracket was not changed nor was there a block put in to readjust the angle any hookups on an inch and a half bracket?

Thank you so much wizards

 

[The4bangertj]

Got my steering shafts and box from rock auto. Was very cheap and they had a new option at the time.
Edit: you don’t need any riser bracket unless you have a body lift. Suspension lift you’ll want an adjustable trackbar.

 

[Volation]

So I just bought a 2.5 wrangler and the steering is scary, I figured it was the steering gearbox didn’t even check the shafts. Took it to a master jeep mechanic.

It needs both steering shafts, power steering lines, steering gearbox.

I already dropped the money and I’m trying to get it at least road worthy.

I’ve seen all the horror on the forums about remanned gearboxes being the same or worse after replacing.

Does anyone know where I can get these parts without breaking the bank and without needing to replace them in 3k miles??


Backstory there is an inch and a half lift on it and from what I can see the steering shaft bracket was not changed nor was there a block put in to readjust the angle any hookups on an inch and a half bracket?

Thank you so much wizards

Did you do the Lares shafts?

 

[GregBelleville]

I got my steering riser from MORE

 

[TJ4Jim]

Summit has a decent quality new steering box available, installed this one last year.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/LSC-11353

 

[KennethS]

This past winter In put in a new Lares box and lower steering shaft. The new box steers fine, but not enough miles / time to make any comments on longevity.

My TJ has an Old Man Emu 2.5” lift and there is no “block to readjust the angle”.

 

[TheBoogieman]

I've never had a steering riser. Probably no point doing it 10 years later.
p.s. Just curious as to what's supposed to happen if you don't have one with a BL?

 

[macleanflood]

So just about every steering box other than PSC is a gamble. They're remanufacturing existing castings. At a certain point the bore inside wears past the point of new seals and internals to function.

I bought a Red Head steering box and got a tick over three years out of it.

PSC is way too expensive for me...so I took a gamble on a steering box from a TJ I happened to be parting out and it's perfect.

Highly suggest a power steering cooler.

-Mac

 

[Volation]

So I cannot find the upper shaft for less than $500 if I can find it at all. I know crown isn’t the best but here’s what I’ve got for shafts.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cwa-52078705

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cwa-5102531aa

I’m having a helluva time finding the upper anywhere. Anyone have their links saved?

 

[Volation]

Also summit is saying 11353 gearbox will not fit a 98 wrangler

 

[TJ Jim]

So before you jump to a new gearbox tell us what your tire pressure is and the size of your tires. Too much pressure as well as too little changes a lot of the feel. Why do you need a steering gear box also?

 

[Volation]

So before you jump to a new gearbox tell us what your tire pressure is and the size of your tires. Too much pressure as well as too little changes a lot of the feel. Why do you need a steering gear box also?

Well there is about 6inches of slop in the wheel completely stopped. I would say 4.5 inches before the wheels move a millimeter.

The previous owner said that he tightened the Allan head on top of the gearbox to tighten it up previously. To my knowledge that immediately toasts it. You are supposed to take it out put it on a bench vice and adjust it that way.

The master mechanic I took it to said the same thing. They recommended steering gearbox, upper and lower steering shafts, and obviously an alignment.

 

[Chris]

The master mechanic I took it to said the same thing. They recommended steering gearbox, upper and lower steering shafts, and obviously an alignment.

With the amount of miles you have I would recommend the same.

 

[Volation]

With the amount of miles you have I would recommend the same.

Yeah 176k, I've got a buddy that has a shop account with Oreilley so im looking at a new steering gearbox but i did have a question, all of the units on the website have different output shaft sizes and i cant find the oem specs anywhere does it make a difference? Or does anyone know the stock spec?

Thanks Wizards

 

[KennethS]

Also summit is saying 11353 gearbox will not fit a 98 wrangler

That is the one I put on my ‘98.

https://www.larescorp.com/Part/11353

When I look it up it shows for a ‘98 Wrangler:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lsc-11353

 

[Chris]

Yeah 176k, I've got a buddy that has a shop account with Oreilley so im looking at a new steering gearbox but i did have a question, all of the units on the website have different output shaft sizes and i cant find the oem specs anywhere does it make a difference? Or does anyone know the stock spec?

Thanks Wizards

I'd probably be sourcing all the parts from Rock Auto. They have a much better selection of parts and you can choose from a number of different part manufacturers. Local auto part stores tend to sell crap parts.

 

[mrblaine]

Yeah 176k, I've got a buddy that has a shop account with Oreilley so im looking at a new steering gearbox but i did have a question, all of the units on the website have different output shaft sizes and i cant find the oem specs anywhere does it make a difference? Or does anyone know the stock spec?

Thanks Wizards

I've worked on quite a few TJ's and unless rust has killed the upper shaft somehow, I'd be suspect of it being in need of replacement. The input and output splines of all TJ steering gears are forward and backward compatible from 97-06. You can fit the splined section of an input into either lower shaft and the pitman splines are all the same. What isn't the same are the length of the lower shaft, hoses, and how it mounts to the frame for the gear.

 

[Volation]

I've worked on quite a few TJ's and unless rust has killed the upper shaft somehow, I'd be suspect of it being in need of replacement. The input and output splines of all TJ steering gears are forward and backward compatible from 97-06. You can fit the splined section of an input into either lower shaft and the pitman splines are all the same. What isn't the same are the length of the lower shaft, hoses, and how it mounts to the frame for the gear.

I already ordered a new bracket to raise the steering shaft up about an inch inch and a half. Previous owner lifted it, put bigger tires on (Not very big) and also adjusted the gearbox without dropping it. The u-joints are what went bad in them.

 

[Volation]

Listen to @mrblaine since he knows tons more than average Jeep people.

Oh for sure, from what ive seen it either decimates the ujoints or you never tell a difference. I went cheap on the shafts so i wanna make sure nothing can fuck em up before i get a year or two out of em.

 

[OldBuzzard]

I already ordered a new bracket to raise the steering shaft up about an inch inch and a half. Previous owner lifted it, put bigger tires on (Not very big) and also adjusted the gearbox without dropping it. The u-joints are what went bad in them.

Do you have a body lift or a spring/spacer lift? Like @The4bangertj said, you only need to raise the steering shaft if you have a body lift.