rebuilding a Saginaw steering box???

[Tacoma]

so the beautiful 89 Suburban some total ASSHAT sold me.. ( JUST KIDDING! It was MBryson, and I'm really happy with it! Especially after the ridiculously steep hills I took it through today... pics later) anyway the poor sad Sub has sprung a rather large leak in the steering box, appears to be the seals at the top of the box are just gone. I filled up the pump and about 3/4 it leaked out of the box, so it's time to do something.

Times being what they is, I'd rather save some cash, but not get a junkyard unit if possible. Very tempting to have Rocklogic rebuild and port it for me, but it's money nonetheless. Soooo...

Has anyone on here rebuilt a Saginaw box, and if so, does it suck enough that I am going to want to drive to SLC and fork out for the pros to do it????

Seriously, Marc... I like the Burb, man!

 

[cowmilker]

I had a pitman arm seal go out on one it was not too expensive (if I remember right it was under $20 for the seal) it was pretty easy too. BUT all I did was pull out the parts I need to get at that seal and then put it back together, from what it looked like the steering shaft seal will be a lot more technical.
Go to autozone or checker and ask them for a seal kit (they have about 3-4 kits available, a pitman seal kit, a steering seal kit, and a complete rebuild kit) most of the seal kits have instructions with an exploded view of the box and "some" instructions on how to get to them, that will give you some idea what you are getting into.

 

[DaveB]

I have rebuilt several of these, some by just putting in new seals on the input and output shafts and others by rebuilding the whole thing. The ones where I only replaced the easy to get to seals would usually start leaking again down the road a while. If you rebuild the entire unit there are a few tricky spots. These gear boxes use recirculating ball bearings and these can be tricky to get back in. The bearings come in two sizes which can be distinguished by the fact that one size is dull and the other shiny. The dull and shiny bearings must be alternated when you put them back together.

 

[Tacoma]

I've got an old Jeep service manual that has an awesome section on the steering box... just wanted the "real-world" opinions, EVERYTHING is easy in the manual hhahahah

thanks! still debating. The garage is cold.

 

[Shawn]

Not to HiJake this thread, but, can parts from one box be interchanged with another? Say I have a new box that faces forward, can I change out the shaft to make it face rearward?
Also, these kits that you can buy, the 3-4 different ones, are they all the same? are all saginaw boxed the same (seal and stuff) internally? In our world, some times we have no idea what the box came from, these days, the parts stores want 800 forms and two blood samples to identify the car it came from.

 

[Tacoma]

I know you can at least swap sector shafts, necessary for highsteer on Chebbies.

not sure what you mean by facing forward though???? the pitman arm er what?

 

[Shawn]

I know you can at least swap sector shafts, necessary for highsteer on Chebbies.

not sure what you mean by facing forward though???? the pitman arm er what?

I have one box that would mount behind the front axle with the pitman are facing forward. The others are the common ones the sit in front of the axle and the pitman facing back to the axle.

 

[RockMonkey]

The main parts inside the box would need to be changed to change from forward to rear facing. Otherwise the bow will turn the wheels the opposite direction you turn the steering wheels. You could probably drive it that way, but a panic reaction to a situation would be interesting. The shaft that the recirculating balls spin around (and the housing around that) are "threaded" the opposite direction on the forward facing pitman arm boxes.

 

[cowmilker]

Not to HiJake this thread, but, can parts from one box be interchanged with another? Say I have a new box that faces forward, can I change out the shaft to make it face rearward?
Also, these kits that you can buy, the 3-4 different ones, are they all the same? are all saginaw boxed the same (seal and stuff) internally? In our world, some times we have no idea what the box came from, these days, the parts stores want 800 forms and two blood samples to identify the car it came from.

I am not sure, I was one of those guys behind the counter requiring "800 forms and a blood sample", but I am pretty sure they are NOT all the same (as far as the shaft size goes for the seals).

 

[Tacoma]

Shawn: aaaah I see now.. I forget that there are other trucks besides FSJ's and Chevy's!!!
Between boxes from the same vehicles the parts at least interchange.... as far as I have been able to find. Some differences between different makes though.

 

[Vonski]

Hey Tacoma, If you want to know what parts are interchangeable, how to reverse direction, or change the number of turns lock to lock, give Me a call...

 

[tiny2085]

Ya know what you should really do, come get one of the ones I have and just put it on and screw the rebuild, like you really want to tear down a sag' box in winter.

 

[Tacoma]

damnit!

wish I'd have seen this post before I spent an hour beating one out of a junked Blazer!!!! figures...

Von, I'll be calling, oh yes oh yes.