What did you do to your jeep today?

[lfhoward]

I found the steering shaft clamp bolt was loose, the one that slides onto the rack splines.

Thanks, I will take a look at that. It is hard to imagine one of the big bolts going through the new bushings could be loose. But I will check. Your idea sounds more plausible.

 

[CheddarGau]

I found the steering shaft clamp bolt was loose, the one that slides onto the rack splines.

Often times with just about every car manufacturer, they are listed as one time use parts. If its been out a couple times you may want to consider replacing it......especially if you are reasonably sure you tightened it the first time

 

[KJowner]

Often times with just about every car manufacturer, they are listed as one time use parts. If its been out a couple times you may want to consider replacing it......especially if you are reasonably sure you tightened it the first time

I didn't, the previous owner replaced the rack I found it when I was investigating why the newish rack had play and a knock
Good point, a lot of critical stuff is torque to yeald now, I'll see if I can get another one.

 

[sota]

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I want to figure out how to do that on the jeep, but on the front driveshaft.

 

[DadOSix]

So - 06 finally out of the garage AGAIN. At last report, I managed to pop the clockspring and was on the hunt for a replacement. I found one up by Erie PA. It was used, natually and the yard had 3, so they shipped me one down. Recall that the 06/07 is a strange clockspring - 10 circuits due to ABS / ESP / Traction control, etc. The replacement was not in the same orientation as the old one. Musta had the donor with the wheels askew. Anyway, after a beer and some thought, i came across a hint on lostjeeps.com about steering angle sensors. Seems as this is computed thru the clockspring. So, the trusty KingBolen K8 scan tool will show the angle of the SAS. On hookup, it was -358 degrees. Slowly rotate to get back to zero’ish (neutral) which says the jeep is going straight ahead.

Finished the install and it is lights out! No Christmas tree on the 06.

Now really onto the 04 and the ac and heater cores before I get side tracked again.

 

[ikuo78]

I changed the engine oil to 10W-40.
I could feel the Mobil1 5W-30 deteriorating after about 1500km.
Cold idling has become much quieter, but it doesn't seem to be much different from a new 5W-30.
I drove it for a bit to see if it was quieter while driving, but I couldn't tell the difference because of the noise from the MT tires.
I'll check to see if there's a difference in the darkening of the oil when I change it before winter.

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[CherokeeLiberty]

I drove down to St. Paul, MN last night so I could take a test for work this morning, then I came back home this afternoon. I put on about 500 miles. Torrential rain was encountered today. The citiots were white-knuckling with their flashers on, and I was eyeing up a bag of chips in my passenger seat… People were leaving wakes on the pavement—that’s how hard it was raining. 2” in 1 hour, is what the radio said.

Hydroplaning happened a little bit, but only one side of the jeep at a time.

 

[CherokeeLiberty]

Oh, and the AC is still working

 

[burntkat]

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I want to figure out how to do that on the jeep, but on the front driveshaft.

What's the purpose?

 

[lfhoward]

Update on the steering clunk…

The new rack bushings are functional and the rack is tight. The bolt on the steering shaft that secures it to the rack and pinion is tight and there is no play.

There is a ton of play in the U-joint on the steering shaft. It will move maybe 1/16” side to side if I grab it and shake it. There is a metallic clunk there that matches what I hear when I turn the steering wheel right-left-right-left a few inches.

Has anyone made this repair before? I left the battery and battery tray out because I know I am going back in there.

 

[derekj]

I have done tons on other makes but not on a Liberty yet - most common failure we see with those shafts is the u joints seize up and the wheel turns nice 3/4 of the way then gets really hard to turn.

On another note - I installed a t case skid last night - just need to try and find the elusive transmission skid still.......

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[lfhoward]

Thank you, Derek. I have been studying the factory repair manual and it looks like the steering “intermediate shaft” (between the steering wheel and the rack & pinion) is one part number. I was beginning to see dollar signs floating into the sky, but then I remembered I had a spare steering rack from the junkyard in my basement. It just might have what I need…

Here is the old steering U-joint that clunks.

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And here is a spare! The U-joint was on the junkyard rack I had. Talk about serendipitous…

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This “new” used U-joint has about 80,000 miles on it but the joint has zero play. It will last the life of my 230k mile Jeep for sure. I will see if I can get that swapped in tomorrow morning before the heat index hits 108° beginning at 10 am.

A quick rant…

I hate hate hate it when shops use an impact to install the battery hold down!!!!! Stripped. Again. This is the third time (two different shops and an auto parts store during a battery replacement). This stripped bolt slowed me down for a good 45 minutes while I figured out how to release it. I needed the battery and battery tray out of the way to get to the steering.

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Luckily I had a spare bolt from the last time, so I can reinstall the hold down at least. Sheesh.

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End of rant.

 

[DadOSix]

What's the purpose?

Takes him forever to say - but safely tow a 4wd vehicle with all 4 wheels on the ground.

 

[PNWJeeper]

New brake pads all around. I also finally got to the parking brake that has never worked. I installed new pads and rebuild kits on both rear drums but still no parking brake. I'm guessing the cable is stretched or something, no adjustment at the handle, only at the drums and I've got those set.

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[ledmircy]

Keeping a 230,000 mile (370,149 km) Jeep going is a hobby in itself.

Also I have an 07 Jeep Commander 4.7 V8 with 160,000 miles I am trying to keep happy.

Kind of like having two girlfriends at the same time or something.

Totally agree!!!

Keeping them running is definitely a full-time hobby.

 

[CherokeeLiberty]

On my trip the other day, I filled up and had some great mileage.

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[profdlp]

...I installed new pads and rebuild kits on both rear drums but still no parking brake...

Same thing happened to me when I did my parking brakes a few years ago.

On my trip the other day, I filled up and had some great mileage.

I got numbers like that when I drove mine back to Ohio after buying it in Virginia. Then I started bolting stuff onto it and never came close to that again...

 

[REDACTED]

New brake pads all around. I also finally got to the parking brake that has never worked. I installed new pads and rebuild kits on both rear drums but still no parking brake. I'm guessing the cable is stretched or something, no adjustment at the handle, only at the drums and I've got those set.

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The end of the cable should connect to a sort of hinge that then pulls the brake hardware. Check to see if the hinge has rusted and seized up. Mine did that and I haven't gotten around to disassembling it yet

 

[REDACTED]

On my trip the other day, I filled up and had some great mileage.

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What app is that?

 

[CherokeeLiberty]

What app is that?

Fuelly