ICEBOX Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 any with a newer Xj notice they steer harder than the older ones ? or maybe I have a pump going bad. makes no noise and using no fuild but notisably harder to steer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 They switched to thicker oil. I'd change fluid and lift it off the ground to see if it still feels heavy. Make sure the tierods and balljoints are all greased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 the brand new pump in my minivan failed and left me with essentially no power. :fs1: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 carnuck. What fluid are you refering to ? The power steering fluid is the same . are you talking about the Geardbox fluid ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boots Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 My sister has a 2000 xj and the steering is definately harder than my 88 MJ. And my mj has 31" tires on it while the xj has stock tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Ok thank you boots. anyone wanna buy a 1999 xj ?? lol I have a messed up shoulder and it hard to drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boots Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I thought that the only difference between the newer ones and the older ones was that the pumps ran at different pressures. Couldn't an older pump be put in to achieve more pressure and easier steering? Maybe it's not the pump but some sort of regulator that could be changed out? Just thinking out loud... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I do mean the power steering fluid which goes into the box. They switched from an ATF thickness oil to equivalent of 30W which is 3 times as thick. Switching it to Amsoil PS fluid makes many rigs easier to turn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 carnuck: Well I have never heard about this. I will look into it. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 Ok I have not found any info on using a different weight oil . So I think boots is right . Different pressure. So I'm going to see if the earlyer pump will fix the 99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Steering effort is controlled by the spool valve in the box. The early XJs and MJs (like all AMC vehicles with power steering) were much TOO light, and had essentially zero road feel (i.e. tactile feedback). The late model XJs have a different calibration in the spool valve, so there is less power assist and better control and road feel. So I'm going to see if the earlyer pump will fix the 99. Please don't. It's not broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 Eagle: in the gear BOX or the ps pump it's self. Looking in my cataloges at work.The Grearbox are the same old and new , So I was going to try to put and older ps pump on my 99 and see what happends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 My understanding is that it's the spool valve in the power steering box itself. This is how, for example, Generous Motors was able to use the same basic box in Impala sedans and in Camaros and Firebirds, and still have "sport" steering in the pony cars. They just stiffened up the spool valve. When you say they all have the same part number where you work -- do you work for a Jeep or other Chrysler dealer, or do you work in an aftermarket parts house? The parts chains don't know and don't care about the steering effort -- they sell refurbished Saginaw boxes and I'm sure they are all the same. If it'll bolt in -- it must be the right part. Irrespective -- the newer XJs do have firmer steering than the old ones. I have two 2000 XJs, and I have an 87 MJ, an 88 XJ and and two 88 MJs, an 89 MJ, and some other heaps that I haven't ever driven. Both the 2000 XJs have firmer steering than any of the old ones, and the steering on the new ones is IMHO infinitely better than the old ones. The old ones are all OVER-boosted. (Which, as I commented above, was typical of American Motors.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 :agree: When I swapped in the 1999+ intake I also swapped in a newer PS pump from a 2004 Wrangler. The steering was considerably tighter than before and much more preferable to the light wishy-washy steering from the old pump. And NO, do not use anything in the PS reservoir other than the ATF it's designed for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 Ok so i can change PS pumps.. I work for NAPA auto parts .BTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Ditto on NAPA. I would take the pressure control valve from the older style pump and put it in the new one to up the pressure. The steering boxes are NOT all the same. There are different ratios (just like diffs) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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