Rebuilt my steering gear box

[bigd65]

Well guy's I was bored and decided to try and rebuild my old steering gear box. It worked better than the old junk yard one but leaked. Well let me tell you something, IT AINT EASY. If your gonna try, you need to be at least a little bit mechanically inclined. The kit I got from O'Riely's has every O ring and teflon seal that goes in there. Then re-installing the bearings are a trick, I didnt have the tool, but where there is a will there is a way. I got them back in and inside of the ball bearing retainer. I am waiting for a dry day to put it in my truck. I cant satand to work on a wet truck. Anyway, when I get it installed and try it out, I will letr yall know how it does.

BTW, Is there a special way to adjust the play in it. When it was in the truck before, it was great, NO PLAY at all and the truck didnt track down the road. The one that is in there now, I cant get the play out and it tracks down the road and doesnt straighten out automatically after going around a curve

[bigd65]

Dosen't anybody have any input about how to adjust this gear box ????

[Eyegore]

Bigd I asked this question yesterday about the power steering gear, no response. What instructions did you use to rebuild it, and when you mention trouble reinstalling the bearings, what happened? I'm about to tackle this job myself, for some reason my mechanic has not come back to do this for me.


Tom

[chevychic]

There's an adjustment nut on the steering box but I hear it's the last thing you want to adjust.
Make sure your play isn't coming from anything else, such as a crack in the frame....my truck tracked horribly until I discovered the crack and had it fixed.


Here's a write up I found on how to make the adjustment:

That adjustment is pretty simple to make. if you look down on the steering box you will see an adjusting screw with a straight slot for a regular screwdriver. Around that is a lock nut. Using a screwdriver, hold the adjusting screw and loosen the lock nut. Turning the adjuster in tightens the steering and turning it out will loosen it. Turn it in about ¼ turn and tighten the lock nut. Check the steering play, it should have about one inch of play to be adjusted right. If it is still too loose, adjust it some more. I usually drive it around the block to settle the box before making another adjustment.

[bigd65]

Thanx I didnt see that reply, I know where to adjust it, I just didnt know if there was a special procedure. I have adjusted them before and the start leaking, I thinbk it started because I used tranny fluid instaed of powers teering fluid, DONT DO IT.


Anyways, When you get the rear cover (laerge one off) be careful that you don lose the bearings when you pull the piston out, They will fall. There is a U shaped retainer that hols some of the bearings. If you notice on the U shape retainer, they have a small extrusion on the end that prevents the bearings from going ouf the grooves in the pinion shaft during normal operation. The instruction say there is a special tool to use, but you dont have to. When you are ready to install the large piston again, you can angle it enough so you can reisntall the bearing. just becareful and watch what your doing and it is possible. and above all KEEP YOUR PATIENCE. the instructions you get with the kit are pretty good, but you still have to figure out how some things work. another thing i noticed, is keep trying when your removing the retainer clips and such, they will come out. GOOD LUCK