2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering box

[Kalaehina]

Okay, my steering box is leaking bad, what am I looking at here (costs, hard job or easy job to myself or should it go to a pro?). I figured if it's coming off I might as well swap in a new one instead of trying to fix a seal. Okay, any suggestions??

 

[Tardog]

I'm in the same boat except that instead of leaking I have an excessive amount of slope(have done the preload and over the center). I saw a post a while ago with a link to a supplier in the USA with a heavy duty box for our trucks. But I can't find the post. Can any one help us?

 

[Extreme1]

I went with a cheap one from AutoZone. It was around $130 with a lifetime warrantee. The swap isn't bad. You'll need a puller to get the pitman arm off the box, AutoZone loans them for free.



Do you have one on Oahu?

 

[KenHokie]

Mine was leaking also. I checked the 4 bolts on the top of the box and they were very loose. Tightened them down good (I thing the service manual says 40 ft-lbs ?) and no more leak. That was 3 months ago. I guess I'll have to eventually change it out since the seal is probably damaged but so far, so good.

 

[Kalaehina]

Extreme1 How are yah?, I don't know if there is an AutoZone, but we have Checkers and NAPA so I think they would be able to offer similar services. Would you say it's an easy job, or major PITA? I will check those 4 bolts also, after I clean all the fluid spray that's under there.

 

[LHartman]

It's a very simple job, just takes a little time getting things unhooked and put back together.

 

[Kalaehina]

Okay, confidence level going up, very good.

 

[Glen Pratt]

Try these guys www.pscpowersteer.com . Click on off road components, then power steering gears. A Dodge steering box with 16-13:1 ratio is $240. 00. Quite a few people on www.pavementsucks.com web-site have been buying them and have been giving them the thumbs up. They are supposed to be a heavy duty steering box. I bought a AGR steering box (Part#AGR 284452) from www.windrockoffroad.com . Currently the AGR box is $322. 70 also with a 16-13:1 ratio. I know a few guys on the TDR have had problems with the AGR boxes, but mine has been fine for 2 years now. It is a very easy job. The hardest part is getting the pitman arm off. A tip when you get the new box installed, fill the pump with synthetic power steering fluid, without starting the truck turn the steering wheel back and forth about 20-30 times to purge the air out of the system. Hope this helps you out. -Glen

 

[Kalaehina]

Thanks Glen, I'll check it out. All this info is very helpful and I appreciate it guys!

 

[jrobinson2]

If the box is still tight and only leaking from the pitman shaft just change the pitman shaft seals, you can do it without removing the box, the last one I did was less than an hour start to finish. You will need a pitman shaft seal kit and a top gasket. I don't have part #s, the parts were around 35. 00 from Dodge.

Clean everything around the top plate and the lower seal.

Center the steering wheel.

Remove the pitman arm.

Clean the grease from the seal cavity.

Put a drain pan under the box, remove the four top cover bolts then remove the top cover and pitman shaft together.

Remove the snap ring and the old seals, you can push the seals out from above through the bearing with a small pry bar, they are rubber coated and fairly easy to push out.

Clean the seal bore and install the new seals and snap ring.

Completely fill the space between the seals with the grease included in the seal kit.

Put the new gasket on the top cover and install the pitman shaft, top cover and bolts.

Fill the cavity below the seals with the remaining grease.

Install the pitman arm and bleed the system.

If you dont disturb the adjustment screw it wont be nessesary to re-adjust the overcenter.

The hardest part by far was removing the pitman arm, if you can get that off the rest is easy.

Jared

 

[Kalaehina]

Thanks for the info, more options the better.

 

[rholcom2]

How much is a new pitman arm? Would that be an answer if mine is stuck good?

 

[wes reeves]

Originally posted by rholcom2

How much is a new pitman arm? Would that be an answer if mine is stuck good?

Mine was stuck good too. I was using a gear puller and couldn't get it off so I got a pitman arm puller, tightened as much as i could with a wrench and it still wouldn't come off. I put an impact wrench on it and it popped right off.