2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Chevy steering box

[DSeamans]

I have a box from Chip that I think has gone bad. Two guys (one a chev steering and susp tech, the other a lifetime mechanic and racer) have told me the gear is bad. Chip will warrant it if bad, but I can't be down two weeks waiting for shipping and for him to go through it. I remember seeing on here that you can order a chevy replacement, but I can't find it. What year and truck fits? I don't remember if ours are 32 or 33 splined shaft. I have gone through everything else that could be a problem. New borgeson steering shaft and all tie rods. The ball joints are like new, track bar is tight, control arm bushings are tight, and axle u-joints are good(not tight or dry). What happens almost feels like a track bar but isn't. The most noticable issue is driving down the i-state. To hold it straight is almost 1/4 turn each way. Go to change lanes - give some left wheel to start, then instantly 1/4 right wheel and its still going left! In a parking lot where the pressures are higher, turn the wheel 1 turn either way and it will bind up completely! You have to rock the truck to get it to turn the rest of the way. Set the box at zero backlash centered, and off center there is way to much slop. Almost +/- 1/4 turn in to move output with truck running. Tighten it up to take off center slop out and binds on center. What else could it be? I guess I'm back to the original question, what chevy box do I order?



Thanks,

Dave

 

[DSeamans]

Nobody knows?

Nobody knows which chevy gearbox to order?

 

[Alphacowboy]

IIRC, the box on my brothers 1999 GMC suburban 4x4 is the exact same box. I know for a fact that my pitman arm fit on it perfectly. as far as the top splines that go to the steering shaft, I have no idea, but it looks the exact same.

 

[Simplysmn]

are you sure that your frame isn't cracked ? sound's like something is flexing ?

 

[DSeamans]

Frame

Thanks for the suburban reply. I'll find one and check it out. As far as the frame, I haven't seen anything. The guy from the chevy garage that I know, thinks something gave in the box. He figured it was a bearing or a tweaked shaft. He said that it did't make sense that it would be tight on center and then have so much play off center.

 

[BILLVO]

I just installed a PSC [55-313 part #] 3. 3 turn on my 02 yesterday. My 4. 25 turn factory box had about 1/2 turn wheel play and it wandered all over the road, it now feels exactly like my 05 except it still has a very slight wander which I believe is just a lack of enough caster. I bought the box through Inland truck parts and service which uses the same part number. I have heard that psc isn't selling this one anymore or if they just sell it as a GM under a different part # now. I had heard that the supply of good cores was exhausted and saginaw doesn't build this one anymore. but I do not know how true it is.