Xj steering problem

RobMcBee

RobMcBee

Slow n easy when you're not gettin greasy....
Joined
Jan 12, 2009
Location
Fort Mill / Indian Land SC
My wifes xj has just started pulsing whenever you turn. When she first told me I thought mabey she had it in 4wd but it wasnt. So I checked the usual culprits... ball joints are solid, hub bearings are new, trac bar is tight.. The only thing I can find is mabey the steering gear or the pump have gone bad. Anybody ever run into this, or have any other ideas?

99 xj, no lift, 4.0l stock tires
 
maybe one of the front axleshaft U-joints are frozen. This is what caused my CJ to not return to center after coming out of a turn...quite scary the first few times it happened.
 
Actually, I just had this exact problem. The pump was low on fluid, but I don't think that was the big problem. The passenger side U-joint was frozen in one direction. Smooth one direction, but I couldn't bend it by hand in the other. Swapped them, filled the res, and worked the fluid through the system and the problem dleared up. The u-joints were easier than I expected them to be. Of course, having a press helps.

Now a question for you. If you crank the wheel full-lock and make a slow turn, does the outside tire scrub like it's pushing a little? About every 8 feet or so?
 
catfishblues said:
Actually, I just had this exact problem. The pump was low on fluid, but I don't think that was the big problem. The passenger side U-joint was frozen in one direction. Smooth one direction, but I couldn't bend it by hand in the other. Swapped them, filled the res, and worked the fluid through the system and the problem dleared up. The u-joints were easier than I expected them to be. Of course, having a press helps.
Now a question for you. If you crank the wheel full-lock and make a slow turn, does the outside tire scrub like it's pushing a little? About every 8 feet or so?
Click to expand...
Yeah it feels as if the transcercase is engaged but its not. Ida never thought to check. The ujoints.
 
yep sounds like the ujoints for sure. ive had to change mine twice. if u do change em spend the money once and get oem spicer joints. not the duralast :poop:
 
The u-joints didn't eliminate the scrubbing, but it took care of the steering modulation while making a turn. I guess the scrubbing is just a tradeoff you get from having the tight turning radius of an XJ. The only time I notice that symptom is when the wheel is at full lock.
 
gt500swim said:
yep sounds like the ujoints for sure. ive had to change mine twice. if u do change em spend the money once and get oem spicer joints. not the duralast :poop:
Click to expand...
catfishblues said:
The u-joints didn't eliminate the scrubbing, but it took care of the steering modulation while making a turn. I guess the scrubbing is just a tradeoff you get from having the tight turning radius of an XJ. The only time I notice that symptom is when the wheel is at full lock.
Click to expand...

well thats good lol I just so happen to have a set laying here (spicers too) that were collecting dust. Thanks Ill let ya know how this goes. I was thinking it was gonna need a new steering gear.
 
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