Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

Hi everyone,

I brought my Jeep TJ (97) in for an oil change today and they told me there
are a couple of things I would need done quite soon on it:
1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);
2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;
3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;

What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
those myself? Are all of them necessary?

Any input is very much appreciated.

Thank You very much,
Joe.

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);

You can do this in a few hours on your driveway. All that is involved is
removing both diff covers, draining old oil into a drain pan (buy from
cambodian tire), clean the covers and mating surface on the diff's, re-seal
with some rtv (silicone) then fill the diff's via the fill port.

This ia one thing haynes is pretty good for.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;

No picture, but if you look under the front of your jeep (below the engine,
in front of the oil pan) you will see what looks like a shock, that is the
steering stabilizer. again it will only take a few hours (2 at the most)
to change out by yourself (i dont think you need any sort of special
tooling, save for a tourch to heat things up if there stuck)

> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;

This is just a messy job, but I would wait until you need your brakes done.
>

> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?

prices fit with stealership, you can do the first 2 items yourself and the
money you save will
pay for the tank of gas for all the running around, the drain pan, gear oil
for the diff's and beer to help with the jobs at hand.

Snow...

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);

You can do this in a few hours on your driveway. All that is involved is
removing both diff covers, draining old oil into a drain pan (buy from
cambodian tire), clean the covers and mating surface on the diff's, re-seal
with some rtv (silicone) then fill the diff's via the fill port.

This ia one thing haynes is pretty good for.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;

No picture, but if you look under the front of your jeep (below the engine,
in front of the oil pan) you will see what looks like a shock, that is the
steering stabilizer. again it will only take a few hours (2 at the most)
to change out by yourself (i dont think you need any sort of special
tooling, save for a tourch to heat things up if there stuck)

> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;

This is just a messy job, but I would wait until you need your brakes done.
>

> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?

prices fit with stealership, you can do the first 2 items yourself and the
money you save will
pay for the tank of gas for all the running around, the drain pan, gear oil
for the diff's and beer to help with the jobs at hand.

Snow...

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);

You can do this in a few hours on your driveway. All that is involved is
removing both diff covers, draining old oil into a drain pan (buy from
cambodian tire), clean the covers and mating surface on the diff's, re-seal
with some rtv (silicone) then fill the diff's via the fill port.

This ia one thing haynes is pretty good for.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;

No picture, but if you look under the front of your jeep (below the engine,
in front of the oil pan) you will see what looks like a shock, that is the
steering stabilizer. again it will only take a few hours (2 at the most)
to change out by yourself (i dont think you need any sort of special
tooling, save for a tourch to heat things up if there stuck)

> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;

This is just a messy job, but I would wait until you need your brakes done.
>

> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?

prices fit with stealership, you can do the first 2 items yourself and the
money you save will
pay for the tank of gas for all the running around, the drain pan, gear oil
for the diff's and beer to help with the jobs at hand.

Snow...

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);

You can do this in a few hours on your driveway. All that is involved is
removing both diff covers, draining old oil into a drain pan (buy from
cambodian tire), clean the covers and mating surface on the diff's, re-seal
with some rtv (silicone) then fill the diff's via the fill port.

This ia one thing haynes is pretty good for.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;

No picture, but if you look under the front of your jeep (below the engine,
in front of the oil pan) you will see what looks like a shock, that is the
steering stabilizer. again it will only take a few hours (2 at the most)
to change out by yourself (i dont think you need any sort of special
tooling, save for a tourch to heat things up if there stuck)

> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;

This is just a messy job, but I would wait until you need your brakes done.
>

> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?

prices fit with stealership, you can do the first 2 items yourself and the
money you save will
pay for the tank of gas for all the running around, the drain pan, gear oil
for the diff's and beer to help with the jobs at hand.

Snow...

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

GA wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I brought my Jeep TJ (97) in for an oil change today and they told me there
> are a couple of things I would need done quite soon on it:
> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);


Always a good thing to do periodically. I'm overdue.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;


It's the shock mounted sideways on your front suspension.
Quite possibly leaking, but you're being raped for that one!


> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;


Borrow your nephew to pump the brake pedal. He'll enjoy it.


> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?


It all depends on tools and mechanical ability.

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

GA wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I brought my Jeep TJ (97) in for an oil change today and they told me there
> are a couple of things I would need done quite soon on it:
> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);


Always a good thing to do periodically. I'm overdue.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;


It's the shock mounted sideways on your front suspension.
Quite possibly leaking, but you're being raped for that one!


> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;


Borrow your nephew to pump the brake pedal. He'll enjoy it.


> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?


It all depends on tools and mechanical ability.

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

GA wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I brought my Jeep TJ (97) in for an oil change today and they told me there
> are a couple of things I would need done quite soon on it:
> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);


Always a good thing to do periodically. I'm overdue.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;


It's the shock mounted sideways on your front suspension.
Quite possibly leaking, but you're being raped for that one!


> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;


Borrow your nephew to pump the brake pedal. He'll enjoy it.


> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?


It all depends on tools and mechanical ability.

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

GA wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I brought my Jeep TJ (97) in for an oil change today and they told me there
> are a couple of things I would need done quite soon on it:
> 1) Front and Rear differential service, liquid is dirty... as far as I
> understood that meant drain everything there is to drain, clean it, reseal
> it and pour in the new fluid... for a grand total of $352 (Canadian);


Always a good thing to do periodically. I'm overdue.


> 2) The steering damper is leaking (not sure exactly what this is... some
> pictures would be nice), replace it for a grand total of $291;


It's the shock mounted sideways on your front suspension.
Quite possibly leaking, but you're being raped for that one!


> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;


Borrow your nephew to pump the brake pedal. He'll enjoy it.


> What do you guys think? Are those reasonable prices? Could I do any of
> those myself? Are all of them necessary?


It all depends on tools and mechanical ability.

Re: Advice Needed... TJ servicing...
 

>
>> 3) Brake fluid is dirty, brake fluid flush for ~ $120;
>
>


I don't have the recommended $40 brake fluid vacuum tool so I bought a
bottle of the DOT 4 synthetic fluid and a turkey baster at the dollar store.

Dot 4 is compatible with the factory DOT 3 but is less susceptible to the
water contamination that turns the fluid black.

(Note: DOT 5 is incompatible)

I suctioned the master cylinder out with the turkey baster and then refilled
it. A couple weeks later I repeated the procedure and a couple weeks later
I repeated the procedure again.

The synthetic DOT 4 is $4.99/quart and it takes about 12 ounces each
exchange. I did not need to get air out of the brakes so I did not need to
get a neighbor's assistance pumping. Is the fluid totally clear and
replaced? No but it is much cleaner and I now have a fluid with better
specs.

Total cost $4.99 + tax (DOT 4 costs a dollar more than a quart of DOT 3)