Modified JK sector shaft brace

[Jeeper]

Hiya

Im looking to modify the plethora of sector shaft braces out there for the JK market to my TJ. Can anyone tell me if the steering box nut on TJ/XJ would be the same as on the JK?

Cheers

[TJ]

Your terminology is confusing me. Can you speak in American/Jeep terminology for what you are thinking about doing.....

[Jeeper]

Haha. Yeah OK - I keep leaving a puddle of steering fluid everywhere I go and its always leaking from the where the sector shaft exits the steering box. So. I was hoping to adapt the JK sector shaft brace to fit my TJ but this will only cross over if the thread and pitch on the JK nut is the same as the TJ.

http://www.jkowners.com/forum/attachmen ... 1315533296

[TJ]

I'll have a look tonight at how TJ differs from a JK and come back. Even visually comparing them would be useful.

Although JK steering set up resembles more WJ than TJ or XJ in terms of other components.

[00falcon]

Excuse my terminology... i don't really do cars...

Anyway... my output shaft on the steering box on my TJ was leaking quite badly.

I replaced the whole box with one from an XJ, but it leaked just as bad.

Long story short, i ended up getting a seal kit from quadratec for next to nothing (comparatively)
http://www.quadratec.com/products/56112_0901.htm

Didn't even have to remove the box to install it... just the output shaft...

I have now have a clean garage floor for the sake of about $50.

[Jeeper]

Yeah the box in there at the mo is from an XJ - Leaks like a sieve. How much of a PITA was the seal kit caus I hear they're not worth the effort... a notable comment from Gerry over at Wranglerforum who seems to be the TJ Yoda.

[Jeeper]

Ooops - just read output only - Seems to be holding up??? ?

[00falcon]

Yup, it was only the output shaft that was leaking....
the input shaft was fine (fingers crossed)

the replacement output shaft seal has been in about 2 months now... and shes as dry as a bone...

I got another box, that is leaking from both input and output shafts...
I might give this a go at some point in the future...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=661ov4GIXAA
but i will need to be fairly committed...

Cost effective... but as you say... a PITA...

[TJ]

If you are thinking this would help with oil leakage, its not going to work on a TJ.

http://www.synergymfg.com/Synergy-Jeep- ... 32ziE1ZokI

There is no way it would work in TJ orientation.

Here is what a TJ steering box looks like and how it sits relative to ground (fairly horizontal):



Now compare that to a JK steering which is nearly vertical in its orientation (relative to ground):





Indexing on the pitman arms are completely different as well.

Hope this helps. If its leaking, best fix is proper seals.

[TJ]

If you want to brace your steering box on a TJ, there are many specific items are available:

http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/mounta ... 73703.html

or

http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/rough- ... 66505.html

or

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-steer ... ce-tj.html

The part I'm not sure about is whether any of these would work on a RHD steering box on a TJ.

[Jeeper]

Yeah they all brace the box tho which is only a prob if your really doing hard core crawling. I do concur tho that the box needs some further structural assistance as according to a guy who reco's them in AK here frequently the bracing does help reduce the instance of frame cracking which he sais he sees on about half of the jobs he gets through the door. In the very first image I linked to up the top of the thread which has the nut with the heim joint and then a rod - surely this could be made to work irrespective of the box angle.

I was thinking It would screw over the top of the in place pitman arm nut and then head out to tie into the frame like the box braces do......

Might just order it for shits and giggles and see if a bit o number 8 thinking gets me any where..

[TJ]

Frame cracking on TJs or XJs?

XJs are unibody hence a plethora of braces available. I have not read about TJs cracking frames due to stressed steering boxes. That's a new one for me.

[lax2wlg]

TJs cracking frames due to stressed steering boxes.

Please dont flame me for this...Having worked in an offroad shop/garage around the time of the JK release... even under mild conditions, the problem with the JK box is sector shaft deflection - damaging seals, bending and (in extreme cases) shearing completely. Hence the aftermarket came up with the sector shaft brace. The general consensus is that any JK would benefit from a shaft brace.

The TJ shaft however is stout, but frame cracking around the mounts is a relatively common thing with big tyres/front locker/aggressive driving. It takes a while and you dont know about it till you either remove the box, or it tears itself off the frame. The TJ brace isn't really considered necessary for mild stuff.

[TJ]

I can see how the pitman arm would stress the shaft on JKs. Additionally, JK comes with bigger tyres from the factory (32" on Rubicons) and suspension allows easier fitment of 33s on factory suspension. All this will stress it. Hence all the options available in the market. I know about that.

I have not seen or read too much about TJs having similar issues, hence so few options for bracing it. Older TJs now being 17 years old, metal fatigue and age will start showing too with big tyres and heavy foot. Interestingly, JK frame is heavier/sturdier construction than a TJ.

[TJ]

I might get one for the TJ and see how LHD vs RHD fitment works.

[yeti]

The TJ shaft however is stout, but frame cracking around the mounts is a relatively common thing with big tyres/front locker/aggressive driving. It takes a while and you dont know about it till you either remove the box, or it tears itself off the frame. The TJ brace isn't really considered necessary for mild stuff



should be sweet then ................

[TJ]

should be sweet then ................

[lax2wlg]

Older TJs now being 17 years old, metal fatigue and age will start showing too with big tyres and heavy foot.

Yeah Nissan Safari steering boxes do it too, V8s/big tyres/lockers/rocks are all stress rising factors.

Kind of like gusseting the C's on a Dana steer axle. Certainly won't hurt anything and might just save you in the event of a heavy landing or sudden weight transfer. I've bent a C on a low pinion D30 (YJ Wrangler, the one with the Peugeot gearbox)

Interestingly, JK frame is heavier/sturdier construction than a TJ.

Thats good.. I knew it was a bit wider but I didn't know they beefed it up. IMO they really got it right with the JK Rubicon, esp. the beefed up HP44 front end

[Jeeper]

Yeah a Rubi is definitely the next vehicle esp with the wife putting pressure on to flick the TJ for a more family friendly vehicle.

[TJ]

Yeah a Rubi is definitely the next vehicle esp with the wife putting pressure on to flick the TJ for a more family friendly vehicle.

Keep the TJ it's old enough to be modified and messed around with.

If you are looking at JKs, I highly recommend 2012+ with new Pentastar V6. Nice reving 205kW unit.

[TJ]

Thats good.. I knew it was a bit wider but I didn't know they beefed it up. IMO they really got it right with the JK Rubicon, esp. the beefed up HP44 front end

It is definitely beefier, even the sports bar has heavier wall tubing. Overall, 2 door JK is around a couple of hundred kilos heavier than a similar TJ even though the engine is aluminum (hence lighter).