Anyone ... Quick/Variable Ratio Steering Gear on a K5

[CJ5 Convert]

Allright I crushed my steering pump with a jackstand this weekend. The good news is it has been leaking for months. Also I'm looking to put a new steering box in. I want something that has less mush than stock but if it is astronomicaly priced I really don't want to do it.

1st Question:

Is anyone running a quick ratio box on your K5 and could it cause any problems?

2cd Question:

I can't find a replacement box at NAPA or AutoZone all they have are steering rebuild kits.

So these are my options so far(as found in different threads).
1. http://www.powersteering.com/ $149.00 for a remanufactured box- 259 for a 16:1 quick steer
2. http://www.agrperformance.com/ $418.00 for one of there boxes with (total control bearings). I'm sure it is better than the first but is it 2 hundred better. The other seemingly good thing (I guess is you can also get a high flow pump).
3. http://www.steerandgear.com/ I don't know crap about these folks but found it in a thread.
4. http://www.classicheartbeat.com/67-72_chassis_2.htm (Classics stuff looks good and The price is around the same as the other remanufatured).

I'd like to know the pro's and con's of all of this stuff. If anyone is running gear like this I would appreciate any input.

3rd question:

Do I need crossover steering or anything like that for my '69 K5 w/4"lift and 33's. I would like to get it on the road shortly and will be doing mostly road and trail riding (no rock crln).

Last question:

Is it a safety thing to have quicker steering n something that is lifted?

Thanks -Jason

[Yukon Jack]

For your lift and intended use I think crossover steering would be way overkill. I don't have any experience with the quick ratio boxes on a 4wd but I seem to recall a post or two in the main 67-72 forum where people have complained the quick ratio was a bit to much.

You might want to do a search or two in that forum for some assistance. Edit - I did a little searching and found just one post where a member mention on his short wheel base truck the quick ratio felt a little squirely to him.


For your intended use and lift, I know I would be sticking with a stock style setup. I couldn't justify spending an extra $200 for AGR parts.

[pumpkin]

I put a quick ratio box in my Blazer. Got it from a 90 Suburban. The ps hoses are different, they use an "O" ring seal rather than the double flare. I personally preffer the quicker ratio, it makes the truck drive like a newer model.

[Classic Heartbeat]

We have sold many of both the quick ratio gears and variable ratio gears to board members here. (Bolt in) Every one to my knoledge has been extreemly happy with them. Some have been installed in Blazers also. Our gears are a direct bolt in, power steering lines and all. What "Red Head" stearing does for us, is to install all new (quick or variable) guts inside the original housings, so that we can offer them to our customers as direct "bolt in" parts. Keep in mind when pricing that our gears are "Remanufactured" not just "Rebuilt", like many of our competers. That means the housings are machined, flamesprayed when necessary, and larger bearings installed making a stronger gear. "Rebuilt" is replacing only the stock size bearings that are worn out, and installing new seals.
The difference between a "Quick Ratio" gear and "Variable" is about 1/4th turn in the stearing wheel. What variable ratio gears do is to turn faster the more you turn the wheel ending up needing about a 1/4 turn less to make a full turn one way or the other. Our gears are 15:1 so they are a little faster than the 16:1 that has been posted. Hope this helps. WES

[vtblazer]

Good info to know WES, thanks.

Cross over will be more than you need with a 4" lift, it starts to be a real consideration with 6" and a necessity with anything more.

One other option would be to install a smaller diameter steering wheel, that would make it 'feel' not so much like your steering a bus anyway...

[CJ5 Convert]

Wes - Thanks for all the help and patience on the phone and the board. I'll look forward to gettin a box from you.
Kurt and Mark thanks as always for the help.

[ABLAZN]

Originally Posted by pumpkin

I put a quick ratio box in my Blazer. Got it from a 90 Suburban. The ps hoses are different, they use an "O" ring seal rather than the double flare. I personally preffer the quicker ratio, it makes the truck drive like a newer model.

Would you happen to know if all the Suburban gear boxes are quick ratio ? I have box off a '88 Suburban that I bought for the drop down pitman arm that cam with it. I was thinking of putting the whole unit it, but was not sure was the differences were between it and the stock unit.

[Classic Heartbeat]

The differences that I know on the gear itself is the fitting for the high pressure hose and the input shaft. The diameter of the input shaft is smaller than the 69-72s. I also would wounder about the drop down pitman arm. Does it take the same tie rod as the 69-72? WES