Steering gear box replacement or rebuild?

[redneck_reed78]

Steering box is leaky and very sloppy on my 87 R3500 with hydro boost if that matters... Is there a good quality and cost affective reman or new unit out there? Or should I have some one rebuild mine. If that's the way I should go what is the preferred company?
Thanks all

 

[Craig 85]

I got one from Napa 3 years ago for my K30. No issues so far.

 

[K201979]

I rebuilt mine because i didn't trust the cheep remans and didn't want to pay for good one. Wasn't really that bad. I watched a few different utube videos and just was real careful. Came out great and been going strong for almost two years. There were a couple of small headaches so if you decide to go this route let me know and i can give you a heads up.

 

[Vbb199]

I've been in a box or 2.
Not bad to rebuild, some of it is a pain.

You have a slop adjustment on the very front of it, socket head set screw with a nut. That can resolve some of the slop.
Just do SMALL turns, go for a test drive.

I'm gonna take a guess to say the leak is around where the steering shaft goes in?

 

[K201979]

Mine blew out the the big seal at the pitman arm, right in the wamart parking lot. Puked ps fluid everywhere. I drove it like that(dry) for a week or two while i found a cheap used box and got a kit for mine. My brake booster was out for part of that time too. Lifted k20 with disabled ps and pb is a workout.

 

[Vbb199]

Mine blew out the the big seal at the pitman arm, right in the wamart parking lot. Puked ps fluid everywhere. I drove it like that(dry) for a week or two while i found a cheap used box and got a kit for mine. My brake booster was out for part of that time too. Lifted k20 with disabled ps and pb is a workout.

Ya, I haven't had steering in my s10 for the past 4 years or so up until I setup the crossover. Lol

 

[Shorty81]

You are better keeping and rebuilding your factory unit. Reman boxes are a crap shoot.

 

[K201979]

You are better keeping and rebuilding your factory unit. Reman boxes are a crap shoot.

This

 

[nabeshin]

I've been in a box or 2.
Not bad to rebuild, some of it is a pain.

You have a slop adjustment on the very front of it, socket head set screw with a nut. That can resolve some of the slop.
Just do SMALL turns, go for a test drive.

I'm gonna take a guess to say the leak is around where the steering shaft goes in?

Can you elaborate on the slop adjustment? I take it only so much to adjust and that it is possible to over tighten.

We talking 1/8 turns here?

 

[Shorty81]

Can you elaborate on the slop adjustment? I take it only so much to adjust and that it is possible to over tighten.

We. talking 1/8
turns here?

. I always raise the front end up where the tires are off the ground, then turn your adjuster in till you just slightly feel tension. Then back off 1/4 turn, then tighten up lock nut.

 

[Vbb199]

Yes, small turns.
If you just torque it all the way down, there will be irreparable consequences lol

 

[nabeshin]

I would guess that most wear occurs in the middle and not on the ends of the steering range, is there any danger of not being able to reach full lock to lock after this?

 

[Vbb199]

I would guess that most wear occurs in the middle and not on the ends of the steering range, is there any danger of not being able to reach full lock to lock after this?

No.

 

[Tmich396]

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These guys are the best I’ve ever used, not cheap but they do it right.

 

[Tmich396]

The pictures are just examples from their website, I’m sure they carry what you need.