Upgraded steering gear selection

[John Reason]

I've got a 83 Chevy K10 that is lifted with 35x12.50 R15 tires. I carried my truck into the shop to look at the leaking steering gear and he told me he would need to replace the entire box cause the seals were shot. Said to not buy the AutoZone or other parts store replacement. Said I needed one that was upgraded for off-road use. Now keep in mind this truck is not a mud truck. It is being built to play around and enter into car shows. I have been looking on the internet for information and have not had much luck. I'm looking for some guidance and what to replace my stock steering box with which can hold up. I'm tired of it leaking on my garage floor. I need help.

 

[77 K20]

I've heard good things about PSC steering boxes- but I do not own one. Instead I've went thru several O'reillys ones that are crap. Someday I'll get a good one when I go to cross over steering.

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/PSCsteering.htm

 

[Charlie]

 

[Obwonkonobe]

I've got a 83 Chevy K10 that is lifted with 35x12.50 R15 tires. I carried my truck into the shop to look at the leaking steering gear and he told me he would need to replace the entire box cause the seals were shot. Said to not buy the AutoZone or other parts store replacement. Said I needed one that was upgraded for off-road use. Now keep in mind this truck is not a mud truck. It is being built to play around and enter into car shows. I have been looking on the internet for information and have not had much luck. I'm looking for some guidance and what to replace my stock steering box with which can hold up. I'm tired of it leaking on my garage floor. I need help.

I will say this for autozone, I used their rebuilt one on my c10 and its worked fine. I dont abuse it as much as a 4x4 but it is a daily. Plus if it does leak, They should replace it for free. And its not the worst part to put in and out

 

[rpcraft]

I'd look at a PSC steering box as an upgrade for your bigger tire and suspension setup. Pricing for the unit isn't really terrible considering how high some of the high performance units are and my understanding is that with the PSC item if it fails I think they have really outstanding CSR's. One other thing I would check for and have done, if it has not been already, is the frame reinforcement kit. No sense installing a 370 dollar steering box and then turn around and crack the frame... Just my $02. I think you can get the reinforcement parts off ebay or amazon for around 60 USD too.

PSC steering box: http://www.pscmotorsports.com/80-91-gm-4wd-truck-suv-steering-gear.html

 

[rpcraft]

You already have one post people are replying on, You might want to delete this one and not double post for ease of reconciliation.

 

[animal]

You already have one post people are replying on, You might want to delete this one and not double post for ease of reconciliation.

Threads merged and cleaned up

 

[Snoots]

frame reinforcement kit

Absofriggin' Lutely!

 

[Chevynut46]

off road design has a good steering box brace for about a 100 buckls IIRC. I personally went with a psc steering box with the ports in it for hydro assist if I ever wanted to go that route.. Do it once kinda thing.. I understand budgets though, so its not for everyone. I see nothing wrong with a regular reman from a parts store for just a normal daily

 

[highdesertrange]

go to a medium/heavy truck repair shop and ask who does their steering boxes. then take it there and get it rebuilt. the places that rebuild the boxes for medium and heavy trucks don't mess around and do half ass rebuilds. I had mine done last year and it cost 240 bucks. highdesertranger

 

[yevgenievich]

I tried autozone route and it did not work out even after couple of returns. Vote for proper rebuild

 

[John Reason]

Thanks for all the advice. Sorry for the double post. First one I hit the post button too soon without clicking the tracking option.

 

[dougbert]

any mid level gear box recommendations out there, way above Autozoo and below the PSC?

 

[rpcraft]

FWIW, PSC is actually the mid-level. There are some other brands that are about 200 bucks more.

 

[Jerry phillion]

Does GM or any other company make a quicker steering box,
Like the newer trucks have, that will fit a 87 r10 swb 2wheel
Drive truck.