joe98tj
Moderator
Figured I share my experience. In one video someone mentioned this same box style was used from '87 - '01/'02.
I followed the following two videos:
Bleepin Jeep - full tear down and tap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7BESAD_EIY&t=864s
Drilling and tapping without disassembly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQlAscIxfaY
Its probably about an extra hour to take apart and put the box back together. For me well worth it since I'm not the lucky or patient type to make sure no metal shavings got inside.
Following the videos alone makes this an easy at home job. It's one of those, if I can do it, you can do it too. But this was also a spare box I got for 50 bucks so I was not that concerned with messing up.
One thing not shown in the bleepin jeep video is when he removes the steering gear (cover with 4 bolts) he turns the gear inside to access the ball bearings. I just removed it with the ball bearings in at a controlled environment so I did not lose any ball bearings.
Another thing that doesn't get explained well, especially not helpful when you are not familar with NPT taps, is NPT taps. Both videos just say drill a hole and use the tap. Doing some research online shows a special drill bit should actually be used to, I think, create the taper for the tap to go in easier. Just following the bleepin jeep video I used a 29/64th drill bit and tapped the holes. No issues using a regular drill bit but I'm assuming I put much more strain on the tap.
I would also recommend buying two taps like mentioned in the bleepin jeep video and cutting/grinding one down. I tried to get two but between lowes and home depot I could only find one so I ended doing what the guy in the other video did, tapping both holes with the normal tap, then grinding the tap down and going back to both holes.
Another thing to mention is check your tap set to make sure its going to work. If you watch the second video you'll see the guy uses a wrench, would not recommend that if you're not good with taps like myself. You really need an extension setup like in the bleepin jeep video. I used the setup below but it took two of us to make sure the tap was going in straight.
Other than those things I followed the bleepin jeep video to the T and it got the job done.
Disclaimer: When I say I tapped the holes I mean my dad since he saw me pull out the tap set and goes "You want some help with that" and just took over. Probably worked out for the best that way...
I followed the following two videos:
Bleepin Jeep - full tear down and tap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7BESAD_EIY&t=864s
Drilling and tapping without disassembly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQlAscIxfaY
Its probably about an extra hour to take apart and put the box back together. For me well worth it since I'm not the lucky or patient type to make sure no metal shavings got inside.
Following the videos alone makes this an easy at home job. It's one of those, if I can do it, you can do it too. But this was also a spare box I got for 50 bucks so I was not that concerned with messing up.
One thing not shown in the bleepin jeep video is when he removes the steering gear (cover with 4 bolts) he turns the gear inside to access the ball bearings. I just removed it with the ball bearings in at a controlled environment so I did not lose any ball bearings.
Another thing that doesn't get explained well, especially not helpful when you are not familar with NPT taps, is NPT taps. Both videos just say drill a hole and use the tap. Doing some research online shows a special drill bit should actually be used to, I think, create the taper for the tap to go in easier. Just following the bleepin jeep video I used a 29/64th drill bit and tapped the holes. No issues using a regular drill bit but I'm assuming I put much more strain on the tap.
I would also recommend buying two taps like mentioned in the bleepin jeep video and cutting/grinding one down. I tried to get two but between lowes and home depot I could only find one so I ended doing what the guy in the other video did, tapping both holes with the normal tap, then grinding the tap down and going back to both holes.
Another thing to mention is check your tap set to make sure its going to work. If you watch the second video you'll see the guy uses a wrench, would not recommend that if you're not good with taps like myself. You really need an extension setup like in the bleepin jeep video. I used the setup below but it took two of us to make sure the tap was going in straight.
Other than those things I followed the bleepin jeep video to the T and it got the job done.
Disclaimer: When I say I tapped the holes I mean my dad since he saw me pull out the tap set and goes "You want some help with that" and just took over. Probably worked out for the best that way...
