New Steering Gearbox installed.....Ahhh

[Longhorn 70]

I got tired of all the play in my front end. I also was tired of the "hunt and peck" while driving. I also had an issue with the truck not returning to center like there was not enough caster. Just got it aligned after disc conversion and could only get 3°. I think stock is 2°.

I decided to replace the power steering gear box. I bought one from AutoZone. Don't know if they are great rebuilds but $125 didn't sound too bad.

Pulled the Pitman arm, return and pressure line, steering coupling and unbolted the drivers side bumper bracket. The old gear box was easy to pull after that. Unbolted and it came right out.

Now installing the new one...Made sure the wheels were straight and aligned the new box in and out with the old one.

Lifted into place and started the 2 forward bolts, started the 2 rearward bolts. Got them almost all the way in by hand. Now Mr Ratchet and DARN IT!!

The 2 rearward bolts won't go all the way in....Crank a little harder right?? Nope that didn't help. SO take the @#$^!^$@ thing off again...!! Run a tap through the bolt holes and clean out the goop. Put it back in again. Clean the bolts and ahh.... Flush the PS pump and hoses a couple of times and hook everything back up.

SO Much better. It doesn't do the "hunt and peck" and it returns to center when I round a corner. NOW to test the lifetime warranty.

Hope your day was as good as mine.

Vince