2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission napa steering box

[Gregg Mig]

has anyone put a napa steering box on their truck? How do they perform? I am currently in the process of changing my 4 1/4 box to a quicker ratio. Napa offers two different ones for our trucks, the 4 1/4 and a 3 1/4, would this be the same as a 3 turn box others are talking about?

 

[Joe Mc]

Who makes it?

How much is it?

You are changing yours because?

 

[Gregg Mig]

Joe its a reman sold at Napa auto parts, there about $200 and have a lifetime warranty. I want a quicker ratio box.

 

[RKraiza]

Lifetime warrenties are a joke! I've been through 5 boxes, yes 5!! in 2 years from advanced. there are 2 major remans wigh napa and advanced ect. use lares and caldera(spelling might be wrong). The first 4 were caldera, the last is a lares with a 31/4 ratio. If you look up your truck as a 2500 gasser, with a lighter gvw, the 31/4 turn box will come up. diesel 8800gvw and heavier, the 41/4 turn box lists. Anyways, 31/4 seems better, and bolts right in. hope this helps

 

[ASimpson]

If I Were Gonna Spend That Much Id Call Psc Or Power Steering Services In Missourri I Believe They Are. Do A Search On Here. I Went With Psc $300. 00 No Exchange. My Brother Went With Pss I Think Around $ 200 Final Caot After Trade In. Ive Had No Problems He Had His 3 Months Then One Day A Loud Pop And Blew Out One Of The Seals Pss Had Him A New Box The Next Day. Thats Where Your Money Counts Customer Service. Just My . 02

 

[Signal73]

Im on my second PSS box, Pitman shaft seal after 4 months.

 

[PRattenbury]

I've got a PSC box and pump. So far, so good.

 

[The patriot]

I have a Cardone (which I NOW know arent known as the best)from advanced auto parts.

It was about $160 + core.

I havent had any problems. In fact I was to a front end shop to get an estimate on balljoints, and the mechanic was amazed at how good it felt.

BTW 115K miles and my balljoints are fine. I installed my own zerks about 70K miles ago.

 

[TGroves]

napa reman box is a piece of junk ,,, still waiting on napa parts junk people to pay me back for my last box that was installed ,,, so need less to say after a year no money back on the first junk box that was installed ,,, so i payed for two installs junk junk junk junk junk " rebuilt ford"

 

[Gregg Mig]

has anyone had a good napa box?? TG your scaring me! Its either napa or wait 2 weeks for a pss, I send mine out, they rebuild it then send it back. I just want a 3 1/4 turn box 16:1 .

 

[RKraiza]

f youor n that much need of a 31/4 box. go to advanced auto. buy the 31/4 lares box not the cardone! lftme warenty and t seems to be worng so far. To get the chucleheads to order you the right box, tell them you need a box for a ram 2500 4x4 with a gas engine(not the 8800 gvw heavy dana axle) If you want to make sure, look up the box for the diesel 2500 4x4 witha 88oogvw axles. it'll be a different part number if they looked them up right. hope this helps

 

[The patriot]

f youor n that much need of a 31/4 box. go to advanced auto. buy the 31/4 lares box not the cardone! lftme warenty and t seems to be worng so far. To get the chucleheads to order you the right box, tell them you need a box for a ram 2500 4x4 with a gas engine(not the 8800 gvw heavy dana axle) If you want to make sure, look up the box for the diesel 2500 4x4 witha 88oogvw axles. it'll be a different part number if they looked them up right. hope this helps

FWIW the Cardone has a lifetime warranty.

I would STILL reccomend getting another brand based on what I've heard about them even though mine seems to be fine.

Who wants to spend their weekend(s) swapping out boxes.

 

[Gregg Mig]

to be nonest with you guys, it seems people have had problems with all of the reman,and new boxes, the one in my truck now has only 20,000 miles on it. It was a new dealer warranty. I have had bad luck with agr,I went thru 5 boxes with them on my 97 ram. With that said the only plus side of using the napa or advanced auto box is if I have a problem its not going to cost me $25 shipping everytime there is a problem with it.

 

[JL penner]

PSC is the way to go. Quick shipping, you will not regret going with them. My truck drives better with the PSC better than it did when it rolled off the lot. Plus you can get the different rations, just call them.



Just another happy customer

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I got my steering box from Power Steering Services in SPringfield MO. 3 turns and maybe another 10 degrees. After talking to "Chip" you may want to go with the smaller pistons. 417 864 6676. My 98 12v had the 4&1/4 and when replaced with the 3 turn the difference was amazing. Chip has had the proper training and experience to rebuild these boxes as they should be and he does it himself. I never met him but when you talk to him you will get the straight stuff. If you are installing it yourself send me an e-mail and I will tell you how I did mine. It is a job but if I could do it when I was 77 I think anybody could with the necessary tools, jack and JACK STANDS. -- email address removed --

 

[Gregg Mig]

All I can say is WOW what a difference, the steering feels likes it connected now,I love the quicker ratio,would never go back to the 4 1/4 box. I did get a box from Nappa because of the convenience, doesn't seem to be any problems so far will keep yah all posted.

J B thanks for your offerings, I had no problem installing the box,the biggest pain in the a-- was preparing everything for assembly, whenever I do a job on my vehicles if I see any rust I prep it ,prime it , paint it,this is a PIA thats whats adds hours onto any job. When I'm done everything looks new.

Overall I am very pleased with the results, maybe not the time putting into it but it was worth it. One last thing bleeding it took forever, and that was with the wheels off the ground engine off, going lock to lock 20 or more times in all.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Gregg Mig, glad to hear the job turned out OK for you. Nappa is a big outfit and should have their Ducks in a row. Their box should be just as good as anybody else's. I went through 7 years of misery until I learned about the different ratios and discovered I had a 4&1/4 and changed to a 3. My 98 12v steers like a car. I have decided to keep it. These are GM boxes and different ratio boxes appear the same on the outside. I feel sure GM knows and puts the right box where it belongs in their vehicles and ships the 4&1/4 to Dodge to make Dodge look bad. I would bet a lot of guys have traded for a GM or Ford (pardon the "F" word) just because of the bad steering and not knowing about ratios. I complained at alignment shops and nobody knew about ratios. I suspect dealers would not be interested if they were told. It does not annoy some people so the dealer is going to say you are the only one with the problem like they are trained to say about everything. From what I now know if I was buying I would turn the steering wheel to see what ratio the steering box was before starting a test drive and if it was a 4&1/4 the test drive would end right there. No sale.