How to replace steering gearbox & reinforcement plates on a Jeep Cherokee XJ

[@JohnAdams-lg3mh]

Martin, thank you so much for posting videos on Jeeps. As a Jeep fan I really do appreciate the kind of detail and attention you put into the work of your jeeps. I’ve owned many jeeps, but love the XJ’s, they are my favorite. Would you be willing to do a walkthrough of hour XJ now that some of your upgrades are a few years old and let us know how they perform and hold up. If you could also go into detail about any performance or MPG ideas or mods you’ve seen or applied for the 4.0 motor that would be amazing and yes I’ve seen all the XJ videos and WJ as I own a WK with a 4.7 and your videos have helped me a lot. Thanks again for all you do!

[@martinbuilt]

Thank you John, Yes I could do a walk around video with detail. Tomorrow I'll be installing 10 Factory axles on the rear end and I got some other projects coming soon.

[@JohnAdams-lg3mh]

That sounds like a great addition, Thais for the reply and keep up the fantastic work!

[@cjhawk67]

My god that jeep is super clean no rust that I can see.

[@martinbuilt]

Thanks cj I'm from Iowa and that's all I knew was repair rust damage But since I moved to Las Vegas no more rust for me. Instead we got dried out interiors, much easier to repair.

[@cjhawk67]

martinbuilt Haha I bet. I live up in Ohio where the salt mines are so they salt the roads a ton. Owned 7 Cherokees so far and only 2 of them had floor boards haha. Had a 96 classic that was so bad the driver side seat bracket actually let go and I ended up using it for parts. It only had 130k miles on it so I pretty much pulled everything on it and only threw a old junk d35 on the rear so it could be towed away. Well funny thing is the two local scrap yards wouldn't pick it up from me since the only thing left was a empty shell with a rear axle so I had some somewhat shady guys come out that where going to give me $150 for it and tow it away. Well they hooked up and pulled it to the street and then just took off but karma bit them in the ass the entire thing folded at the b-pilar on them at the end of the road haha.

[@martinbuilt]

cjhawk67 Yeah don't miss the rust belt. I've had a few cars and trucks that you could watch the road go by, by lifting the floor mate.

[@flatline1006]

Awesome video!!! Super clean Xj, thank you for taking the time to make that video!

[@joemcdaniel2488]

I have to find someone that can do this on my 93 XJ. I need to replace my gear box & this would be awesome for extra support. Great video

[@keithlucas6260]

Better to remove the lines at the power steering pump and get them out of the way instead of hanging them up. Use a vacuum cap to go over the return line pipe at the bottom.

[@TheBugbugboy]

awesome job, i hate welding in confined places

[@martinbuilt]

william webster. Thank You ...yeah welding in tight spaces does make it interesting.

[@johnfeather5405]

Hey there Martin, I saw this video. I have a 2004 4.7 and when it’s cold it’s hard to steer to the left. I called a shop and they said according to my vin I don’t have a gear box just a steering pump. Is this true. Thanks for your help

[@martinbuilt]

What make and model of vehicle do you have?

[@johnfeather5405]

@@martinbuilt 2004 grand Cherokee limited 4.7.

[@martinbuilt]

@@johnfeather5405 I wouldn't take anything to that shop. They don't know what there talking about. The 04 Grand have a steering gearbox. Here is a video I did on How to replace Pitman Shaft Seals on a 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee. kzbin.info/www/bejne/anjEnpZ-oZVsjqs You willl see where it is.

[@johnfeather5405]

@@martinbuilt Thanks man. I wish I had the tool to do your mods, they awesome

[@HoneyBun4299]

is there a reenforcement plate for a Ford 1998Econoline Van

[@hammy3dprints]

Does the steering knuckle have a bolt that runs through it to attach it to the steering gear box? I've watched a bunch of videos and.understand everything except removing and putting the steering knuckle back on

[@martinbuilt]

The bolt runs through a portion of the input shaft

[@hammy3dprints]

@@martinbuilt can I remove that bolt after the 3 bolts holding it to the frame are removed? This would make it easier to access I would think

[@martinbuilt]

@@hammy3dprints You could, I would just turn the steering wheel until the bolt was easy to access.

[@sleepernation]

Would a bad steering gearbox on a 01 Jeep Cherokee cause the steering wheel to spin freely but the tires not move the ball joints and everything underneath looks fine. When I spin the wheel I can see the shaft move under the hood but Wheels do not turn

[@martinbuilt]

That sounds like it is the only thing it could be. As long as your drag link is still connected from the pitman arm to the tie rod

[@sleepernation]

@@martinbuilt yes everything is still connected. That's what I thought. I bought the truck for my son as Christmas present and that was the only thing wrong with it. I always like to get a second opinion. Thanks for your response Merry Christmas.

[@martinbuilt]

@@sleepernation thank you and a Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[@fernandomunoz3396]

What bolt grade did you use to install it? 5 or 8

[@arthurbothamjr8104]

What part number do you have for the new steering box? Nice video by the way, your videos give me a lot of confidence in working on my own rig.

[@martinbuilt]

I can't get to my Jeep for a few days. But if you were to freeze the video when you see the top of the steering box you may be able to pull a part number off the top of the gear box. Thank you Martin

[@martinbuilt]

Founded in my notes 5687962

[@brianknight4595]

What improvement to the steering have you found your modification has made ? But to me the time and effort does seem to make for a much beefier steering especially if other steering upgrade have been made Cheers keep up the great work

[@martinbuilt]

The big bore steering box has alot more steering force due to the much larger piston and the valve body I put into this steering also give it more power. With the additional steering force you should reinforce the uni-body as was done. Since I made this video I have added a PSC Hydro assist cylinder. Now I have a crazy amount of steering force.

[@vam0584]

I have a 99 Jeep Cherokee and the front right tire is wearing quickly. I'm being told that I need to replace the gear box and have an alignment. I am a woman and don't trust too many mechanics. Does this diagnosis sound accurate? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[@MrMrsregor]

bad tire wear can mean a lot of different things, it could be just a bad alignment, but you should also check ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rod ends, and after you check/fix it all then the alignment should be last (unless it all checks out fine, then maybe just out of alignment)

[@MrJem437]

Do you need to lift the vehicle first?

[@martinbuilt]

You may need to, my Jeep is on 35's and a 6 inch lift, I did not need to raise it.

[@kevinsambells3227]

Great video!!! How can you tell if the steering gearbox is in the middle/wheels straight?

[@martinbuilt]

Kevin Sambells While you still have the steering wheel attached to the gearbox rotate clockwise until stop then rotate counter-clockwise counting turns. Then rotate back half as much. Generally it's around 3 to 3 and 1/2 turns from Lock to lock. Another words from left to right. I hope this answers your question. Sometimes easier to show it then explain it

[@kevinsambells3227]

martinbuilt ok great. So, when I get the new one I’ll probably have to do that on a bench before install, no? To be sure it’s centered before I attach to the steering linkage.

[@martinbuilt]

yes you got it.

[@kevinsambells3227]

martinbuilt I really appreciate the replies! Love the vids!

[@MakeItMike]

What's the plate supposed to do?

[@martinbuilt]

stiffen the frame and reduce the case of cracking the frame.

[@AndreiDRoman]

did you remove washer fluid tank before?

[@martinbuilt]

Andrei D. Roman there is no need to remove the washer tank as it is not in the way. The washer tank is mounted hi in the front fender nowhere near where the workers being done.

[@ronaldtyrrell199]

I know it's been long time since video I keep snApping bolts n breaking gearboxes so guess this would solve it

[@sparco023]

where did you get that reinforcement plate?

[@martinbuilt]

I made it.... martinbuilt

[@macmos1]

Is this a Cherokee or Grand Cherokee?

[@martinbuilt]

Cherokee XJ

[@GuitarSlinger2112]

Grands (both Cherokee and Wagoneer) got the ZJ while "normal" Cherokees and Wagoneers from this era got XJ. Here's a handy reference: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jeep_vehicles

[@benjaminbustos371]

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