Steering shaft upgrade?

dave92cherokee

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Lynchburg, TN
I've been tracking down a pop I feel in the wheel when turning. Turns out it's the rubber bushing in the shaft under the brake booster, it's broken loose from the metal housing and allows the tab to move before catching itself. I've searched through numerous pages here but most just talk about upgrading the steering box and not the shaft itself. If I have to I'll just pull the shaft from another xj in the JY but if anyone knows of a direct bolt in like from a zj or wj or something else let me know as it's always good to upgrade. I remember a thread on here where someone upgraded to a wj shaft IIRC but had to change the ends over as it was laid out differently. If anyone on here and I'm sure some do let me know of a upgrade as I'm tired of feeling the little pop in turning.
 
Just get another stock one. The reason you don't see anything about them is that they almost never fail. In 15+ years of wheeling XJ's I've seen only one fail.
 
Yah never seen them fail either but was more curious about a different shaft that doesn't have that rubber bushing in it that's causing my current problem. I'll prolly grab a couple of stock ones from the JY next time out. Although what I have seen is that the 97+ have a splined end under the booster, is this true so I know what to look for as mines a 93 and my other rig's a 92.
 
Don't know........never changed one.
 
IIRC the late model XJ's are different from the early ones, and they dont have the rubber bushing, its more of just a "hard" type slip connection. i could be wrong, and i have never seen the two side by side. definatly something to check on while you are at the JY.
 
Yah I've seen people talking about the borgesen one but for that price i could get quite a few at the JY and have plenty of un-needed spares. Only thing I've been able to find out is that instead of the double d style joint under the booster that pre 96 had the 97+ ones have a spline on them. I might check out some durango's and see how they look since the durango box is a popular swap which means that end should be mounting up fine.
 
I've been tracking down a pop I feel in the wheel when turning. Turns out it's the rubber bushing in the shaft under the brake booster, it's broken loose from the metal housing and allows the tab to move before catching itself. I've searched through numerous pages here but most just talk about upgrading the steering box and not the shaft itself. If I have to I'll just pull the shaft from another xj in the JY but if anyone knows of a direct bolt in like from a zj or wj or something else let me know as it's always good to upgrade. I remember a thread on here where someone upgraded to a wj shaft IIRC but had to change the ends over as it was laid out differently. If anyone on here and I'm sure some do let me know of a upgrade as I'm tired of feeling the little pop in turning.

I have the same issue but it doesn't pop, it's just the huge amount of slop in my steering that is annoying.
My fix(since I don't drive mine on the road) will simply be to cross drill it with a 1/4" bit and put a grade 8 bolt in so it doesn't move.
 
Yah I've seen people talking about the borgesen one but for that price i could get quite a few at the JY and have plenty of un-needed spares. Only thing I've been able to find out is that instead of the double d style joint under the booster that pre 96 had the 97+ ones have a spline on them. I might check out some durango's and see how they look since the durango box is a popular swap which means that end should be mounting up fine.


let us know if that durango one works....
 
84-00 Cherokee & Wagoneer (XJ) #000893
[000893]$284.00
pixel_trans.gif
Heavy duty steering shaft for 1984-2000 Jeep Cherokee and Wagoneer (XJ) with power steering. Includes two billet steel needle bearing universal joints and a heavy duty telescopic shaft that will accommodate up to a 4" body lift. Includes vibration reducer upgrade. #000893


.....so just in case you wanted to do that body lift, this will be :thumbup:

:rolleyes:
 
84-00 Cherokee & Wagoneer (XJ) #000893
[000893]$284.00
pixel_trans.gif
Heavy duty steering shaft for 1984-2000 Jeep Cherokee and Wagoneer (XJ) with power steering. Includes two billet steel needle bearing universal joints and a heavy duty telescopic shaft that will accommodate up to a 4" body lift. Includes vibration reducer upgrade. #000893


.....so just in case you wanted to do that body lift, this will be :thumbup:

:rolleyes:



hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I don't know I was thinking about going with a 8" body lift and an 8" suspension lift since we all know bigger is better.:roflmao:
 
The XJ shaft is an UPGRADE for the old Blazers. The set screw on each end is an odd size like 11mm. I've sold several to those guys. The design is supposed to prevent the wheel from being pushed into the driver in a front end collision. Don't know if pinning it with a grade 8 bolt is a great idea.
 
The XJ shaft is an UPGRADE for the old Blazers. The set screw on each end is an odd size like 11mm. I've sold several to those guys. The design is supposed to prevent the wheel from being pushed into the driver in a front end collision. Don't know if pinning it with a grade 8 bolt is a great idea.

Pinning the vibration damper has no effect on the collapsable portion of the steering shaft.
 
I'll be able to get out to the JY this weekend and I'll report back with what if anything I find as this seems to be the main failure of these shafts.
 
I put a couple of small aluminum bushings between the metal parts and clamped them in place with a hose clamp to prevent the shaft from slipping. It has worked just fine for several years that way.
 
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