Steering gear box question for the gurus - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MountainGoat1966 · 03-21-2016, 02:14 PM

The alignment shop refuses to touch my 83 C20 because there is play in the steering wheel. Not a whole lot, but some.
I adjusted the sector shaft allen screw gently snug but the play is still there.
Is there anything I can do with my box, or do I need to try a rebuilt one and hope the gears in it are not towards the end of their life?
Any tips or advice is greatly appreciated.

enaberif · 03-21-2016, 02:55 PM

Is it the box or the rag joint? I would replace the rag joint first and if that doesn't fix things replace the box.

Adjusting that sector screw can make the box worse.

MountainGoat1966 · 03-21-2016, 03:00 PM

It's definitely in the box.

MountainGoat1966 · 03-21-2016, 07:29 PM

I had what may be a thought ............
I have another box from a different model squarebody that seems tight.
So tight, I think it's crudded up inside.
I tried to turn the input spline but can't get any rotation in it.
If the gear isn't worn bad, and the threads and spline are the same for the pittman arm I currently have, maybe I can just swap the one in my present box with it.

**1774btcrew** · 03-21-2016, 09:14 PM

Rebuilt boxes are cheap. Just get one. Rebuilding these takes some skills and if you don't do it right you can have some serious problems. Depending on what your budget is and your needs for the truck, look up the CPP boxes. I bought one for mine and LOVE it!

MountainGoat1966 · 03-21-2016, 09:21 PM

Cheap ?
The best I can find is $150 plus sales tax.
I live on a low fixed income, and that is a LOT of money to me.
I have been doing mechanic work for 45 years, and have done manual boxes.
Getting the recirculating balls in correctly was a challenge, but I did it.

80SPORT · 03-21-2016, 10:06 PM

Please read the shop manual before touching a steering box;it is important to adjust the worm thrust bearing preload BEFORE adjusting the gear over center adjustment.This is covered in the factory overhaul manual.

MountainGoat1966 · 03-22-2016, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80SPORT

Please read the shop manual before touching a steering box;it is important to adjust the worm thrust bearing preload BEFORE adjusting the gear over center adjustment.This is covered in the factory overhaul manual.

Thanks, I did that already when I replaced the leaky input shaft seal recently.

03-21-2016, 02:14 PM	#1
MountainGoat1966 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: northern arizona Posts: 259	Steering gear box question for the gurus The alignment shop refuses to touch my 83 C20 because there is play in the steering wheel. Not a whole lot, but some. I adjusted the sector shaft allen screw gently snug but the play is still there. Is there anything I can do with my box, or do I need to try a rebuilt one and hope the gears in it are not towards the end of their life? Any tips or advice is greatly appreciated. __________________ "Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know."

03-21-2016, 02:55 PM	#2
enaberif Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 1,181	Re: Steering gear box question for the gurus Is it the box or the rag joint? I would replace the rag joint first and if that doesn't fix things replace the box. Adjusting that sector screw can make the box worse.

03-21-2016, 03:00 PM	#3
MountainGoat1966 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: northern arizona Posts: 259	Re: Steering gear box question for the gurus It's definitely in the box. __________________ "Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know."

03-21-2016, 07:29 PM	#4
MountainGoat1966 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: northern arizona Posts: 259	Re: Steering gear box question for the gurus I had what may be a thought ............ I have another box from a different model squarebody that seems tight. So tight, I think it's crudded up inside. I tried to turn the input spline but can't get any rotation in it. If the gear isn't worn bad, and the threads and spline are the same for the pittman arm I currently have, maybe I can just swap the one in my present box with it. __________________ "Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know."

03-21-2016, 09:14 PM	#5
1774btcrew Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 4,584	Re: Steering gear box question for the gurus Rebuilt boxes are cheap. Just get one. Rebuilding these takes some skills and if you don't do it right you can have some serious problems. Depending on what your budget is and your needs for the truck, look up the CPP boxes. I bought one for mine and LOVE it! __________________ AZPartsLocators on Instagram 1972 Cheyenne Super Short Bed big block "Blackie" 1977 Crew Cab GMC Short bed with 4BT Intercooled Cummins Diesel and a 4L80e "The Junkyard Dog" 1985 Crew Cab Chevy dually with 5.9 Cummins "The Big Dog" This is what my dad liked to be called by the grandkids before he passed so it seems fitting for his old truck.

03-21-2016, 09:21 PM	#6
MountainGoat1966 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: northern arizona Posts: 259	Re: Steering gear box question for the gurus Cheap ? The best I can find is $150 plus sales tax. I live on a low fixed income, and that is a LOT of money to me. I have been doing mechanic work for 45 years, and have done manual boxes. Getting the recirculating balls in correctly was a challenge, but I did it. __________________ "Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know."

03-21-2016, 10:06 PM	#7
80SPORT Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: red deer alberta Posts: 777	Re: Steering gear box question for the gurus Please read the shop manual before touching a steering box;it is important to adjust the worm thrust bearing preload BEFORE adjusting the gear over center adjustment.This is covered in the factory overhaul manual.



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