Steering box valve issue

[Slooptin]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my steering box and I noticed some pretty serious grooves in the bore where the valve rides (also I'm not a steering box expert so the terminology may be wrong). this would be a deal breaker on an engine and I know it will mess up the teflon seals on the valve eventually, but can I reassemble and run this for a couple months or do I absolutely need to source a new steering box?

 

[AuroraGirl]

maybe it can be honed

 

[Slooptin]

Its almost too deep to be honed. I know I'm running a risk killing the teflon seals installing the valve again (and two were broken when i pulled it out), but since there's no fore/aft movement and its just rotating, would these grooves mess with anything?

 

[AuroraGirl]

Its almost too deep to be honed. I know I'm running a risk killing the teflon seals installing the valve again (and two were broken when i pulled it out), but since there's no fore/aft movement and its just rotating, would these grooves mess with anything?

i would think without fore/aft movement after install you would probably run most risk from decreased service length of the seal. is that the seal the steering shaft goes into from the column for that part of it? if it is, if the joint, column, and bearing are good, I would think the lack of play would mean it wouldnt leak right away and maybe for some time.(if this seal is not for that nvm)

there is probably a special tool to bore it and sleeve or an oversized piece to insert with new seal, but the cost to do that on your own may exceed just another box.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my steering box and I noticed some pretty serious grooves in the bore where the valve rides (also I'm not a steering box expert so the terminology may be wrong). this would be a deal breaker on an engine and I know it will mess up the teflon seals on the valve eventually, but can I reassemble and run this for a couple months or do I absolutely need to source a new steering box?

is your steering gear a saginaw 700 or 800 series box? 4 bolt cover

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The bore of this Saginaw power steering gear is scored beyond service. An attempt to “hone” a cylinder worn this badly will prove futile. A new or rebuildable gear housing is required here.


i found that on a jeep website for a 700-800 series


I would say your best recourse if you cant fix that truly would be another housing unless you want it to just work which you could probably sand down the ridges so they dont tear the seals... but then you will have seal leakage which to my understanding will mean probably some steering effort increase and blowing other seals over time, if not just some leaky mess here or there.

 

[Snoots]

Just for the sake of aggravation and headache, I'd go with a new box.

 

[Slooptin]

Thanks guys, I decided to bite the bullet and just get a reman box

 

[Bextreme04]

Thanks guys, I decided to bite the bullet and just get a reman box

I was trying to see what grooves you are talking about in your pics. I just rebuilt mine a few weeks ago and the smoother looking rings around the circumference that I can see are actually a raised smooth lip that the teflon seal rides on. That portion of the valve body does NOT move in and out at any time, it rotates on the raised portion that the teflon seal rides on. Mine looked like your pics and I put it back together with the black o-rings backing the new teflon seals in the valve body and it sealed up great and works perfect.