Guess I shouldn’t have forced it (steering).

[WILDHOBO]

Technically, that pitman nut should be replaced each time the pitman arm is removed.
If you look at the TSB for the steering box it gives the part number and it's one of the required part.
I guess barring a new nut - Loctite is the next best.
Years ago they were locknuts and the shaft was staked to prevent the nut from working loose.

Agreed if it’s the oem nut. The Steersmarts brace replaces the nut with a specially designed one to ride in a bearing on the brace.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Agreed if it’s the oem nut. The Steersmarts brace replaces the nut with a specially designed one to ride in a bearing on the brace.

That's right - totally skipped over the fact you have that particular brace. It still really should be a lock nut...... but like I said - Loctite otherwise. Applied right, it's near impossible for it to let loose.

 

[Lunentucker]

Agreed if it’s the oem nut. The Steersmarts brace replaces the nut with a specially designed one to ride in a bearing on the brace.

That's the one thing I saved and used from my failed Yeti brace installation.

 

[Bjeepz]

I didn’t notice any leaks, but I’ll have to look again. Do you think I could have damaged the steering box internally?

Mine is really just 'sweating', but to me that is a leak since it should be a sealed unit. My Mojave has a 1inch spacer up front with an ARB Stubby and a WarnM8000s and 35's. So as far as I am concern that's pretty much stock!

Mine isn't leak

Try removing one end of the SS and see if you can compress and un-compress it by hand. If it moves with little resistance it's shot... you could have smacked it on a rock and lost fluid.

Or done this... but this one was pretty obvious

I did something like that to my stock Mojave stabilizer! Replaced it with a Teraflex Nexus 2.something adjustable. I was barely able to steer to get off the trail!

 

[Puch]

Looks like I figured out the problem with the loose steering and clunk noise. I mentioned that I checked every bolt in the steering. Apparently I lied.
Before I left for the Maine jeep jam in Oct, I installed a rubicon adjustable track bar in the front. I must not have tightened the adjustment flanges on the bar. The adjustment was so loose the bar could flex at the adjustment point and I could turn them with my hand.
Anyway I reinstalled my GIANT steer smart…….???…..smart steer track bar, adjusted my steering wheel and all is well. Another dumb ass moment??
Maybe I’m a little overly paranoid now, but it does seem to drift more on the highway so I ordered the Synergy track bar brace and sector shaft brace. Hoping that this puts an end to this learning nightmare.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Maybe I’m a little overly paranoid now, but it does seem to drift more on the highway so I ordered the Synergy track bar brace and sector shaft brace. Hoping that this puts an end to this learning nightmare.

That will help with flex under high-stress conditions (trails and rocks) but will do nothing for "drift" - which is a gradual pull or leading to one side.

 

[Puch]

That will help with flex under high-stress conditions (trails and rocks) but will do nothing for "drift" - which is a gradual pull or leading to one side.

Thanks for the info. There seems to be a few vids out there that say it makes a difference during regular driving? Of course they are YouTube vids so who knows how reliable the info is.
If it works under normal conditions, it’s a bonus. If not, guess I can be happy that i added a little strength for off road.

 

[Blade1668]

Looks like I figured out the problem with the loose steering and clunk noise. I mentioned that I checked every bolt in the steering. Apparently I lied.
Before I left for the Maine jeep jam in Oct, I installed a rubicon adjustable track bar in the front. I must not have tightened the adjustment flanges on the bar. The adjustment was so loose the bar could flex at the adjustment point and I could turn them with my hand.
Anyway I reinstalled my GIANT steer smart…….???…..smart steer track bar, adjusted my steering wheel and all is well. Another dumb ass moment??
Maybe I’m a little overly paranoid now, but it does seem to drift more on the highway so I ordered the Synergy track bar brace and sector shaft brace. Hoping that this puts an end to this learning nightmare.

S### happens steering is one area not to skimp on
I've pretzel'ed steering linkage(s) to include HD aftermarket parts, boxed sudo XJ frame, added steering gearbox brace after chasing D.W. among other things. A tip I got from "Rusty" of Rusty’s Off-road, years ago after I pretzel'ed linkage. "It's easier and cheaper to fix" vs broke steering knuckle(s)

 

[WilliamD]

Speaking of Steering Box problems. I was wondering if this looks like a leak to you all or is it just the "sweating" Bjeepz was talking about?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Speaking of Steering Box problems. I was wondering if this looks like a leak to you all or is it just the "sweating" Bjeepz was talking about?

I don't see anything at all - nothing looks wet or oily.
To what are you referring? Where? Can you point to it?

The fluid is below the minimum mark - is that what you are meaning?

Oil doesn't "sweat" - there's either a leak or there isn't. And if there's any dampness making something look slightly damp, collecting dust, that's not going to make a noticeable drop in the level in that reservoir.

Was that reservoir ever at the max or minimum marks? If so, how long ago - how many miles?
Did you look in the area of the power steering pump? (it's electric - these are electro-hydraulic power steering or EHPS)

Not really enough information to go by in your case.
You are showing a low fluid level, but don't show or say anything else.

 

[WilliamD]

I don't see anything at all - nothing looks wet or oily.
To what are you referring? Where? Can you point to it?

The fluid is below the minimum mark - is that what you are meaning?

Oil doesn't "sweat" - there's either a leak or there isn't. And if there's any dampness making something look slightly damp, collecting dust, that's not going to make a noticeable drop in the level in that reservoir.

Was that reservoir ever at the max or minimum marks? If so, how long ago - how many miles?
Did you look in the area of the power steering pump? (it's electric - these are electro-hydraulic power steering or EHPS)

Not really enough information to go by in your case.
You are showing a low fluid level, but don't show or say anything else.

I was more looking at the actually box in the 2nd picture because it looks wet and I haven’t messed with it at all. I would hope the reservoir has been full before, but I didn’t check when I got the truck.

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