How hard to swap a steering box and power steering pump?

[Tin Medic]

Both items went south this week and it is going to cost about a grand. If I can do it myself or with help than I may look at going that route.

[talntar]

are you talking about the steering box?if so both can be done in less then a day in the driveway.when i did my steering box the hardest thing was getting the pitman arm off.a map torch was my friend.

[Mavawreck]

Pitman arm can be a pain, I cheated and took mine to a big truck repair place and they popped it off for 10 bucks. But it can be hard to get it off the drag link, buy the proper puller. It's not hard, patience, pb blaster, and maybe a helpful friend to keep you going. Other word of advice, make sure you use the proper puller to get your power steering pump pulley off. Don't use a jawed puller, late model power steering pump pulleys are a pain to find.

I think this is the one you want, I didn't follow my own advice.

http://www.amazon.com/PULLEY-REMOVER.../dp/B000F7VCDW

[Tripwire]

a grand seems high to me - IIRC i paid 300 ish for a reman box and probably 150 for the pump ( you can reuse the housing )

be sure to buy new hoses since you are in this deep !

trip

[Tin Medic]

A grand would include the install. I can get the parts from auto zone for 300 to include new lines and filter. Just dont see how it would cost 700 to install everything.

[Mavawreck]

Originally Posted by Tin Medic

A grand would include the install. I can get the parts from auto zone for 300 to include new lines and filter. Just dont see how it would cost 700 to install everything.

...What filter?

I recall the box being around $300, the pump being around $45 with exchange, and the lines being whatever lines cost. Plus fluid.

[Tin Medic]

There is a power steering inline filter. My current setup has one also.

[Mavawreck]

Really? Probably one of the many things that have been removed on mine over the years. My power steering hoses looked like they'd been cut with a pet rat.

[jpcoutts]

Are you sure they both need to be replaced? The pump is the most common failure point. A leaking box is a pain and replcament of the box is probably as easy as replacing seals, just more $$ than the seals.

[Tin Medic]

My mechanic said the steering box was very worn. That might explain the serious amount of play in the steering wheel.

[Tripwire]

Just bite the bullet and replace the whole kit and kaboodle ( IF YOU ARE INTENT ON KEEPING THIS RIG FOR A LONG TIME)

you can do all this work yourself if you are reasonably good with hand tools - its not rocket science.

now is a good time to replace the Rag Joint as well

pull all the old crapola, put all the new stuff in, have penty of steering fluid ready - like a half gallon - fill the resivor full....disconnect the coil wire, crank several times, refill resiviour - repeat a couple times

put the front on jack stands so you can turn left-right easilly

start engine and let idle, check fluid very often and turn full stop L-R a bunch of times till the system is "bled"

too easy -

[Carnuck]

^What he said^ Pretty easy job except aligning the box mounting bolts by yourself. Last time I did one, I grabbed a couple 5/16" bolts that were longer than the originals by about 2" and nuts with flat washers (so it wouldn't pull through the hole) Put a bolt into one of the holes so it is almost an inch through and lift the box onto it, then start a nut to keep it in place. Rotate the box till another hole lines up to put in the other, then align the rag joint (put the coupler on while the box is out!)
After that, aligning the bolts is much easier.