Steering box is shot.... do I really need a new one?

[Manhattan]

Tried to get an alingment done yesterday. Nope. The lower ball joints are shot. The tie rod end is worn. The steering box is toast.

"No point in doing an alingment 'till you fix all these things" said the man in the pit. I have no reason to disbelieve him. I saw all of the parts wiggle. And, he doesn't even do those repairs.

Through BJ's, I can get a new steering box for $350. But I'm wondering if there's another option. With parts and labor, I'm looking at a $800-900 alignment!

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[LRRH]

FSJs use a very common steering box. You can either find one from a used SJ or cross over to GM and Chebby vehicles. You don't NEED a new one. The only problem with junkyards is unless the key is there and the vehicle isn't sunk into the mud it's hard to tell how much play your donor has.

[River Beast]

I just researched a box at A Zone for $179 with exchange... now.. I realize the newer FSJ's use the O-ring type fittings and the older use flared fittings....

Someone here needs to chime in on the S-10 Blazer box swap they did with the O-ring fittings... they said it was a bolt-in.....

[incocknito]

I used a 99 blazer box for my 91 GW. Straight bolt in other than the GW is 4 bolt and the blazer is 3 bolt.

[Ruptured Duck]

I put in an older saginaw box with the flared fittings on my 87 wagoneer. The old box was leaking like a sieve and i had a better one with less play in it from a 77 wagoneer. I had to change the pump as it was the newer o-ring style fitting.

[Bob Barry]

Mine was spurting out fluid a couple weeks ago; I grabbed one from my pile of extras, shot some brake-cleaner through it, ran some fresh fluid through it under pressure, and bolted it in. No leaks.

So a good used one would get you by.

[Bryan]

Or if you havn't done this already, try tightening the adjustment screw on top of the box. that, along with new ball joints and tie rod ends might do you just fine, assuming the steering box isnt shot...........

[Manhattan]

Thanks all! I think I'll do this in two stages - per Bryan's comment...

1. Replace the ball joints and tie rod ends. Adjust the screw on the current box.

2. Research the A-zone box, the 99 (and other) Chevy boxes... and hope #1 took care of enough of the slop!

[GaWag]

Mark www.westtexasoffroad.com (http://www.westtexasoffroad.com) will rebuild your box for 150 and send it back to you. Mine works great. Of course for 350 you can get your box rebuilt and get Hydr assist steering! smile.gif

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by Bryan:
Or if you havn't done this already, try tightening the adjustment screw on top of the box. that, along with new ball joints and tie rod ends might do you just fine, assuming the steering box isnt shot...........Not really an adjusting screw. If not done properly messing with this so called adjusting screw is DANGEROUS. If you have excessive play in the steering box you are better off replacing it.

[janie]

I bought a used box on E-Bay for $20.00. No slop. No leaks.

Janie

79 J-10 "Peso"
360 TH400
Rust...going away