OldTires

My steering gearbox is leaking now, so it's time to change it.

Retail options (I can return in person if something is not right):
AZ is about $150 plus $16 core charge - I like the cheap core charge. But are they good?
Napa is about $160 plus $222 core charge (wow) - not crazy about the core charge. But are they better than the AZ one?

Online RA (can't go back in person to replace if something is not right - gotta ship it back and wait)
Lares for $83 plus $50 core charge,
AC Delco $100, plus $100 core charge.

The only one that says they replace the bearings is the AC Delco, so I lean towards that one, but who knows, does it really matter?

Does anyone have any experience with the above? Recommend?

Thanks.

cruiser54

They're all pretty much junk. I'd be inclined to go AC Delco

OldTires

That's what I was thinking. Thanks, Cruiser.

downs

Redhead steering box. Or if you have the disposable income PSC. Ive seen very few instances of people getting decent reman boxes from the big box stores.

Junkyard might be a good option as well.

DustyWagoneer

Tried two from NAPA and both were bad. NAPA uses A1 Cardone, and they are the worst. NAPA gave me back my money after the second one.
SO I tried one from VatoZone.................... It was great for the first 100 miles, but now my steering is loose again.

Cruiser is probably right once again!

OldTires

Well, I pulled the trigger on the ACDelco and I am hoping to install it this weekend. I ordered a new (used) set of bolts and support bracket from Ebay because every other bolt in this Jeep snaps when I try to remove them. And I am not looking forward to the pitman arm removal process.

OldTires

Short story:
I changed the gearbox and 2 hours later the steering pump died, leaving me stranded.

Long story:
So I changed the steering gearbox this weekend (what a PITA). I drained the old fluid before connecting the new gearbox. Then I ran more steering fluid through the reservoir until it was coming out clean.

Then I connected it to the new gearbox. With the front wheels off the ground and the Jeep off, I filled the reservoir with new fluid and turned the steering wheel back and forth, adding fluid as needed. Once the fluid level stabilized, I turned on the Jeep. Turned the steering wheel end to end about 20 times. It was a little noisy at first, but then it stopped whining.

So I took it around the block, and it was really stiff to turn the wheel.

Back on the driveway, I lifted it up again, turn the wheels again about 15 times. Took another test drive around the block, and it is much better, feels close to normal. All set, air out of the fluid, I think.

So I have to drive back 60 miles and I am thinking this is great, the steering fluid will get better with the long drive.

Well half way there, the steering gets really stiff. If the idle slows down to 1000 the steering it stiff as hell. If the engines revs up, the steering gets a little better, but it is still bad. So I keep driving on the slow lane of the highway, straight lines, and muscle it close to home and find a nice industrial block to leave the Jeep parked. With the Jeep on idling and parked, I can't turn the wheels without really using a lot of muscle, which I don't want to do.

To check that it is not the new gearbox, I lifted the front wheels of the ground with my jack, and turned the wheels back and forth using the steering wheel. They turn, but stiff. I then turn the wheels by hand, grabbing the wheel and pushing it back and forth. I managed to move no problem. So I don't think it is the linkage or new gearbox, or else I would not be able to turn it manually.

So I am thinking the steering pump died. Reservoir is full, and hot. I changed it 2 years ago, and now thinking about it it was giving me some warning signs before this, like the pump not engaging at start up when really cold outside on occasion (but I thought it was the gearbox).

so now I am 60 miles away from my tools and will have to have an unknown mechanic fix it. Oh well.