Tri_X_Troll Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Going to try to do a grand cherokee steering box swap on the MJ, since I'm off work today. Tried calling the local boneyard to see if they had one, but got stuck on hold for too long and gave up, so I had a look at their website. You guys think these are what I'm looking for, or PS pumps? Edit, got them one the phone. They lady seemed a little clueless, but said they she's pretty sure it's the box. Here's what she said her computer is telling her. Do I want the spd proportional steering, or are they all that way? Power Steering, Laredo Power Steering, Limited (w/spd proportional strg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri_X_Troll Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 opps. Forgot the screen shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 All steering boxes from any 1992-1/2 - 1998 ZJ are the same. Also the XJ/MJs only have an aluminum triangular spacer between the box and the frame that sometimes falls apart when removed. Mine didn't, but if this happens, you'll need to get another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri_X_Troll Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 Would the donor ZJ have the same spacer? Is it something i can order from JCWhitney or Quadratec? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Nope and nope. :D Only used on XJ/MJs. Dealer or junkyard item only, p/n 52000090. It should be okay, but you know what happens to aluminum over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanotherjeepr Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Consider also the steering box from a late 90's 4x4 Durango. Same bolt pattern and lines, but much bigger bore for more turning power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Consider also the steering box from a late 90's 4x4 Durango. Same bolt pattern and lines, but much bigger bore for more turning power. But what's the ratio? The ZJ box the original poster is looking for is better for street driving because it has a 12.7:1 ratio, whereas the XJ and MJ boxes have a 14:1 ratio (or 18:1 in the early ones with the off-road package). If you'll be doing serious off-roading with larger tires, especially in/on rock, you want more of a reduction ... higher number, but the trade-off is "slower" steering on pavement. If most of your driving is on the road, the faster ZJ box makes it much easier to stay in your lane on the highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanotherjeepr Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Consider also the steering box from a late 90's 4x4 Durango. Same bolt pattern and lines, but much bigger bore for more turning power. But what's the ratio? The ZJ box the original poster is looking for is better for street driving because it has a 12.7:1 ratio, whereas the XJ and MJ boxes have a 14:1 ratio (or 18:1 in the early ones with the off-road package). If you'll be doing serious off-roading with larger tires, especially in/on rock, you want more of a reduction ... higher number, but the trade-off is "slower" steering on pavement. If most of your driving is on the road, the faster ZJ box makes it much easier to stay in your lane on the highway. IIRC, the Durango box is a faster ratio than the XJ/MJ stock box. Here's a link with some more info. The piston bore is much bigger which turns those tires a lot easier. http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/dodg ... yj-571945/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri_X_Troll Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 Picked up the ZJ box today. $53.25 out of a 98 ZJ. Does anyone know if I can use the pitman arm that came on the ZJ steering box? I thought about the Durango box, but the ZJ box was nearly half the price. The LWB Comanche is so long that I'm not going to play on the rocks like I did with my TJ. I'm looking at a 4" lift and 31's when things are caught up around the house. The ZJ box should turn 31's just fine and Ohio isn't exactly known for its rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Does anyone know if I can use the pitman arm that came on the ZJ steering box? Yes, I know. Oh ... you wanted to know, too. Yes, you can use it. But you shouldn't. It's a 1" drop compared to the XJ/MJ pitman arm, and that causes bump steer problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Agree - use the pitman arm off your original box. Dayem - Eagle beat me again........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwk2race Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 The zj pitman arm is the same one thats sold as a drop arm for lifted xj and mj's. If you aren't lifted then reuse your original one. The speed proportional steering zj's had a sensor on the p/s steering pump. I believe the gears were the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 The zj pitman arm is the same one thats sold as a drop arm for lifted xj and mj's. If you aren't lifted then reuse your original one. The speed proportional steering zj's had a sensor on the p/s steering pump. I believe the gears were the same. Comments on the above statement: "The zj pitman arm is the same one thats sold as a drop arm for lifted xj and mj's. If you aren't lifted then reuse your original one." If your rig is lifted more than 3" it might be okay to use the dropped ZJ pitman arm. I'm at 3" and the extra 1" drop on the ZJ arm did knock my drag link / track bar parallel geometry out. Easy enough to check it out. "The speed proportional steering zj's had a sensor on the p/s steering pump." May be true, but it's no reason NOT to use the ZJ box on an MJ or XJ. I have run one w. both the stock 91 steering pump and an 04 TJ pump. Both worked just fine w. the ZJ box. "I believe the gears were the same." Not sure what you mean by that, but if you are referring to the steering gear turn ratio, you're wrong. 14.1 or higher (MJ) vs. 12.7 (ZJ) verified on a side-by-side bench check. Also check this link out: http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref29.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwk2race Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I never once said, not to use the zj gearbox, not sure where you got that. I was stating the power steering pump had a sensor, that's what the difference is between speed proportional and non speed proportional pumps on a zj. I was also stating that the zj steer gears were the same between speed proportional or non speed proportional. Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough, I will try better next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I never once said, not to use the zj gearbox, not sure where you got that. I was stating the power steering pump had a sensor, that's what the difference is between speed proportional and non speed proportional pumps on a zj. I was also stating that the zj steer gears were the same between speed proportional or non speed proportional. Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough, I will try better next time. Okay, maybe I worded my reply wrong - definitely did not mean you said not to use the ZJ box, because you didn't. :D By speed proportional and non speed proportional pumps, are you referring to variable or non-variable ratio steering gear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwk2race Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 "By speed proportional and non speed proportional pumps, are you referring to variable or non-variable ratio steering gear?" Not sure, but I was always told the pumps were the only thing that was different, because of that sensor in them. I'm not sure what the sensor did exactly. I could be wrong, but I always thought the gears were the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aemsee Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Speed pro was designed to give less assist at highway speeds, and more assist at slower speeds. There is a control module under the dash that regulates it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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