98 XJ Steering Question

[bjoehandley]

Got the Jeep back from the dealership this morning, I ended up having to pay $270 to pay the difference between what the warranty company would pay and what it actually cost to do the job right. The steering's still a little stiff, but there is no binding like I had before. The dealer mechanic actually found a problem with the steering box! The warranty company wanted to put in a re-man box from American Manufacturing which cost $339 vs $457 for a new Mopar box, and they told the dealership they'd sent it as soon as they found one, with out giving the guy at the shop a chance to call me and refuse it. Then said that I had to pay to ship it back ($65 of the $270), since I refused it. The warranty company also felt the 1.50 shop hours was too much time to do the job, and since they claim they use the same book and it only said they need 1.30 shop hours for the job, so I got stuck with the difference on that too. Luckily while it was in there, an airbag module recall was caught and they fixed it while it was in the shop (glad that wasn't charged to me too). I'm just glad to get the truck back.

One last question before I go, in '98, did Jeep ever put a "Firm-Feel" type steering box in these trucks? Like I said earlier, this trucks steering has always been firmer than the '88, '90, '92 XJ's that we've had, and Dad was wondering about it.

 

[jneary]

the warranty company pays the dealership the book time to do the job, i think it is unethical for the dealer to make you pay the difference in labor.but if they were giong to pay a certain amount for a part and you wanted oem then maybe you should pay the difference. sometimes the warranty co . sends the part to the dealers because they can get them from certain vendors for a better price just for using their part. and i have seen some junk come from those extended warranty supplied parts.so you are better off. but if you had to wait for them to ship you a part were they giong to put you in a rental at their expense? they shouldnt have charged you to ship it back, thats not your problem, that is the cost of doing business.
the newre jeeps will feel stiffer especially with a new gear box.

 

[Eagle]

One last question before I go, in '98, did Jeep ever put a "Firm-Feel" type steering box in these trucks? Like I said earlier, this trucks steering has always been firmer than the '88, '90, '92 XJ's that we've had, and Dad was wondering about it.

Sometimes I feel like I'm writing messages to myself:

I have not driven a new model XJ with larger than stock tires, but I can tell you that the older ones (mine's an '88) were typical AMC steering -- massively over-boosted to the level of having no "road feel" (tactile feedback) at all. I have a 2000 XJ, still on stock tires, and the steering on the new one is substantially stiffer. This is a function of the spool valve in the steering box, nothing to do with the pump.

I assume you are trying to turn the steering wheel while the vehicle isn't moving? Bad idea. Now that you can feel how hard that is, think of the stress that puts on all the tie rod ends, ball joints, etc. TRain yourself to steer only when the tires are rolling, even if it's only 1/2 MPH, and you'll find the steering is tolerable plus your steering components will last about 5 times longer.

 

[DenLip]

One last question before I go, in '98, did Jeep ever put a "Firm-Feel" type steering box in these trucks? Like I said earlier, this trucks steering has always been firmer than the '88, '90, '92 XJ's that we've had, and Dad was wondering about it.

My '00 is certainly on the firm side. Definitely firmer than my dad's
'99 Ram truck... or anything else I've ever driven with a recirculating-
ball setup.

The only time I ever drove an older XJ was an '89 I test-drove a couple
of years before I bought mine... can't recall how it steered!

Den

 

[bjoehandley]

The box is working fine, just had to do a little more wear-in on it :cheers: .

I figured I would pay they difference the way the warranty was written, just thought I'd give the bitch'n'moan method a try (it always worked on the managers and against me when I worked the service desk at a local Toy's "R" Us).

Hey Eagle, where did you post that, this is the first I've seen it? The problems I was having were both while moving and sitting still, like parking in the back yard or in a lot where low speeds and high "wheel angles" (sorry couldn't think of a better description). I was already used to the firmer steering do to what I had been driving, but wasn't used to the road feedback (kind of a sensory overload incompareson!). It's really more like my K-Cars than the other Jeeps and the G-Series Chevy vans that we've owned.

Once again, thanks for all the help :wave: