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

[69Rumbler]

i need to replace mine to ..... dam thing wont stop leaking lol

[davischevy]

Don't you love it when a plan comes together Vince. I have had good luck with the Autozone units on several occassions.

Just curious, is yours 4+ turns post to post? I order the one for 77-79 to get the closer ratio, 3+ turns. I have a buddy that doesn't like the closer ratio.

Thanks,
Larry

[Longhorn 70]

Larry, I do love it when things come together and when they teach me too. I should have checked the bolt holes and made sure it was going to go in easy before I began. Lesson Learned.

I do still have the 4+ turn box. I had thought about the closer ratio.... I am going to put a smaller diameter steering wheel on and thought it may be too much for these old arms. It steers great now and stops too.... I can finally feel secure about driving the old beast again.

[leftybass209]

I'm really glad to hear a few of you have had good luck, because I'm in the market this week. I can't justify the price for a new unit yet!
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[PanelDeland]

I know what you mean about the bolts.I was putting new rear wheel cyl's on.First side went great.Went to do the second side and just could not get one of the the bolts to start.Finally pulled it out to see if the threads were boogered.They weren't,they couldn't be,they hadn't been tapped.Oh well at least they were new.

[Lattimer]

I'm working on the same thing with mine. I'm doing the pump, new lines, steering box, rag joint, pitman, and idler arm. So far, got the new pump in. The back mounting bolt by the engine mount is a mother..........

Bought the pump, lines, and box from Napa, they are reman units. Price was actually better than RockAuto when you add in shipping. I think I trust Napa more than Autozone. The rest I ordered from RockAuto.

[Longhorn 70]

The one from AutoZone was a CARDONE unit. I think they are done in Mexico... Do you know where and so on NAPA does theirs or who does the reman for them?

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

The one from AutoZone was a CARDONE unit. I think they are done in Mexico... Do you know where and so on NAPA does theirs or who does the reman for them?

No idea. Everything on the box just says Napa. All of the notes and paperwork in the box have no name on them at all.

[Longhorn 70]

Shawn for what it is worth, the NAPA part I saw online is about $13 cheaper too.....


D'oh.

[70cst]

I have one word for you ...

[Lattimer]

I got the pump, box, rag joint, pitman arm, and idler arm installed tonight. Freaking pump leaks like a sieve, so I have to pull it back out. I think its the o-ring on the pressure fitting. Made a hell of a mess in the garage. Me and power steering pumps don't get along all that well.

I wish they sold it as a complete unit with the reservoir, might have avoided this. They list it that way, but none available.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

Shawn for what it is worth, the NAPA part I saw online is about $13 cheaper too.....


D'oh.

Yeah, I just recently started going to Napa. Its about the same distance as Advance, and closer than Autozone, but for some reason I kept forgetting it was there. Some things are much more expensive, and others are a little cheaper. Pays to shop around.