2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering box R and R

[Kalaehina]

Hey guys, got my new steering box ready to go in some time next week, I also have service manuals on the way, but can someone give me a quick summary of what to expect, and what is the procedure for this process? Nothing detailed, in a nut shell. And maybe some advice from experience, that's always the best! Thanks

 

[Forrest Nearing]

might need the red wrench to get the pitman arm off the original box... other than that, it's pretty straight forward.



Forrest

 

[Kalaehina]

Like a puller? Would you recomend air power to do this job?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

red wrench = torch



nothin' like a little heat to remove a pitman arm



air is always nice, but I wouldn't say it's necessary by any means!



Forrest

 

[RT66DOC]

Kalaehina,



What kind of a box did you get and where did you get it? Why are you replacing yours? If because it was going bad, what symptoms of its impending demise did you notice? The reason I'm asking all this is because yesterday, while I was out and about trying to deal with the stupid A/C problem (see other thread about that), my steering started to feel like it was binding/vibrating at the start of every turn. Does that sound as though the PS pump is about to give up? TIA

 

[Kalaehina]

Since I got the truck the gear box has made this weird clicking noise when I turn the wheel at slow speeds, and just recently it developed a bad leak at the steering shaft connection.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Tom,



that actually sounds like a steering box problem, not a pump problem, but with power steering, when one thing goes, it often takes out another...



you might be able to buy another life by draining the fluid and putting some Royal Purple fluid in there and doing a proper bleeding on the system.



Forrest

 

[RT66DOC]

Well guys, after I wrote the post I went out and checked the PS fluid level Hey, so I'm a little dyslexic - I read magazines from back to front, too. Anyway, the fluid was so low I couldn't even see it peering in there with a flashlight. I topped it off with Valvoline Synpower fluid and all is well - for now. In January - 5000 miles ago - I flushed out all the old (original) fluid and refilled it with the Valvoline. I don't see any obvious leaks from the top but I haven't crawled around underneath yet.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

does your truck have hydraboost or a vacuum booster? I know 97's have the hydraboost, but I've heard some late 96's had the hydraboost also.



anyhow, I was chasing a leak for a while and finally tracked it down to the hydraboost unit... it was a slow leak, and it blended in so well with all the oil from the vent tube, it was hard to find! LOL!



but it started leaking more and more, and I tracked it down.



anyhow, I was topping off w/ Valvoline Synpower as well because it was the only synthetic they had at the store, but I don't feel comfortable using it because it has "seal conditioner" in it...



when I put the new booster on, I used Royal Purple and put a cooler on it too. The pump seems a little quieter w/ the RP fluid.



Forrest

 

[Kalaehina]

So what kind of fluid do you recomend to refil it? Got my manual today (Genos is fast!) so I'm ready for next week.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I would use Royal Purple or other full synthetic without seal conditioner.

 

[Kalaehina]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Extreme1]

I'd use a puller instead of a red wrench for the pitman arm. AutoZone (if you have one on the island) will loan tools like that for free.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

sometimes a puller just won't cut it...



Forrest

 

[RT66DOC]

I don't think I have hydraboost but I'm not positive. The truck was hecho in Fenton, MO 12/95 - it's a '96 with 4-wheel ABS. I can see a master cylinder, a vacuum pump in front of the PS pump and a whole lot of ABS stuff cluttering up the driver side firewall making it even more of a pita to change the fuel filter. So how do I tell for sure if it's hydraboost?



BTW, what's wrong with seal conditioners?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

if you've got a big vacuum booster, and your fuel filter is a PITA to get to, you don't have hydraboost



I ran valvoline synpower for a couple weeks, but I wasn't comfortable about it...



seal conditioners are basicly solvents that cause seals to swell, but they also cause them to get soft... I contend that all a seal conditioner does is give you a little more time on a leaking seal. BUT, it also reduces the life of all the other seals!!



lots of guys run synpower w/ no complaints, but I just don't like having seal conditioner in anything...



Forrest

 

[RCapehart]

Originally posted by Kalaehina

Hey guys, got my new steering box ready to go in some time next week, I also have service manuals on the way, but can someone give me a quick summary of what to expect, and what is the procedure for this process? Nothing detailed, in a nut shell. And maybe some advice from experience, that's always the best! Thanks

What kind of box did you get? I am looking at a Performance Steerig Components box. I talked to Tom (the owner) and he explained how they build there boxes and the upgrades they do. They put a lot into it.



Ron

 

[Kalaehina]

Honestly I'm not sure what brand it is yet, I haven'tlooked at it closely since I got it Tuesday. I'll let you know when I find out.

 

[wes reeves]

I replaced my steering box about 3 weeks ago. I went with a Cardone unit form O'Reilly auto parts and I havent been too pleased with it. The first Cardone replacemtn box had more plat in it than the original box so I took it back and got another one and this one is a little better, but not what I would expect from a new (rebuilt) box. I took my truck to a frame and wheel shop yesterday to make sure nothing else was loose under the front end and they said it was just the box.



As far as replacing the box, it's fairly simple. Unbolt the two hoses on top, then the steering shaft, then pull the pitman arm, then the threee bolts holding it to the frame. My pitman arm was stuck pretty good so I used a gear puller, then a gear puller and some heat and it still wouldnt come off, so I bought a pitman arm puller and had to use a 1/2" impact on the pitman arm puller to finally get it off. The next one should go in just like the other came out. When I installed the second box on my truck I connected the steering shaft first because it took me a while to get it with the box already bolted to the frame.



If someone has installed one of the PSC boxes in a Dodge Cummins I'd like to know how they like it.

 

[RCapehart]

Originally posted by wes reeves

I replaced my steering box about 3 weeks ago. I went with a Cardone unit form O'Reilly auto parts and I havent been too pleased with it. The first Cardone replacemtn box had more plat in it than the original box so I took it back and got another one and this one is a little better, but not what I would expect from a new (rebuilt) box. I took my truck to a frame and wheel shop yesterday to make sure nothing else was loose under the front end and they said it was just the box.



If someone has installed one of the PSC boxes in a Dodge Cummins I'd like to know how they like it.

Wes,



Cardone is the box I almost ordered. I started finding posts where problems just like you described was happening.



I to would like to here some feed back on a PSC box. I think I will post another question with that as the subject.



Depending on where you bought it they may give you your money back so you can start over. Do you have a DSS?



Ron