Recomend a good steering box replacment?

[candymancan]

My quest to fix all major leaks has led me to the next leaker. My power steering gear box is leaking like mad covering everything around it where i always have to refill it and keep an oil pan under it when i park, it isnt the pump or hoses. It leaks so bad when you go under and look.. Its like you splashed fresh power steering fluid all over it and its freshly dripping... Ive fixed my rear main leak which was puking oil out. my shift linkage shaft seal on the tranny which was pissing oil.. And my valve covers i did today.

Still have other seals leaking like the two rear intake manifold bolts leak coolant outside engine. rear diff pinion leaks.. But none of these leaks cover the pavement.

Anyway anyone know a good steering box ? that isnt like 500$. Autozone.advanced auto has them for 121$ plus 125$ core and a 20% off coupon.. Seems like a good deal. but between alternators. radiator power steering pumps and everything else basically leaking and breaking from those stores i dunno..

The steering box they sell also seem to be for wranglers and xjs and so forth.. Did they use the same box from FSJs on other Jeeps ?

How hard is it to do this install and removal ?

[Stuka]

I got mine at Napa, but it was like a decade ago. Back then it was like 250 with I think a 90 dollar core. But has been rock solid all these years.

[candymancan]

Isnt hard to install.remove is it ?

[Tatsadasayago]

The steering gear is fairly easy: Rag joint is splined to the shaft and usually comes off with some penetrating oil and pry-bar-pursuasion®.
Two hoses and four mounting bolts are easy but the drag-link joint and steering arm are more of a PITA. The old school method for getting the drak link loose is to steer the tires so you have a straight on shot with a 4 Lb sledge, loosen the nut about 5 turns then whack the end of the steering arm loop fairly hard until it pops loose. The new method is to employ a puller then tap the end under pressure which usually breaks it loose. The gear itself requires a stout puller and a few swats. It's quite a bit easier to do these two things with the gear in place rather than trying to fight it in a vice or on the ground. As far as replacement gears, you take your chances with the RockAutos etc. and will likely have better luck with the McParts stores or NAPA.

Lastly, if it's the input or steering shaft seal that is leaking you could get brave and do a mini rebuild of yours for the price of some seals and possibly a bushing or two...

[ferrum]

It costs a bit more but I opted to replace my gear box with AGR gear box. I'm very happy with the result.

[Stuka]

The only special tool you need is the pitman arm puller. It's not a hard job.

[Cheapthrills]

I'd stay away from "a1cardon" (probably misspelled) they tend to be real sketchy rebuilds... often found in major auto part distributors. That's my 2 cents.

The most difficult part of this job is getting the pitman arm off.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[SemperFIGuy]

I pulled one from an XJ for the rag joint delet, supposedly higher steering ratio, but I haven't installed yet. If I'm not mistaken it's just a Saginaw, used on many vehicles.

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

[candymancan]

Yea the part number on the auto stores sites say its compatible with xjs wranglers ect.. it looks like its the same as my grand cherokees too.. As for leaking. its leaking out of the pitman arn section and where the steering shaft goes.

as for penetrating oil lol i dont need that its been coated in steering fluid for a very long time haha should probly pop loose easy im hoping.

Yea the a1cardones are in all the autoparts stores... And im reading some real crap reviews on those boxes. So i guess i need to find another brand somewhere.

Are our boxes 3 or 4 bolts ? i didnt check I noticed some are 3 or 4

[Cheapthrills]

It should be 4 bolt mount to frame

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[Cassidy]

My son just installed one from autozone no problems works well. Nice thing about autozone is the lifetime warranty. I have gotten bad parts but you just exchange it for another one.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[babywag]

Get it local...
Most stores carry same rebuilds, just different box/label.
Here even NAPA sells same ones just more $.

I went through 3 to get a good one, but it's now been leak free for many years.
Had I cheaped out and tried saving a buck via rockauto woulda been a nightmare.

[candymancan]

Yea i dont like ordering online because of that.. But there has to be a good name brand out there ? the cardone ones im reading some terrible reviews.. But i guess it cant be any worse then mine lol.. Mine dribbles fluid so badly now.. Reservoir was empty today and i just put fluid in 2 days ago.

Its funny how after i fixed my trans leak this one statts to leak worse..

[sonoraed]

Look at the Lares 525 box, new box quicker ratio fits 60/70's big GM cars bolts right, got mine at Rockauto

[440sixpack]

Cardone is junk. been there, done that more than once. I learned my lesson.

For Jeep the only viable option I found was Redhead in WA. you can buy direct or save a few bucks through BJ's.

[candymancan]

Well i found out ine leak was just the return line to the pump. The metal line was degraded and leaking.. This fixed 50% of the leak. The other leak is coming from the input shaft.

Since ny steering box has no real play and works fine. Is there just a seal kit i can buy in like autozone or something to replace the input seal. Watcjed a few videos seems easy enough just a typical seal for any shaft.

[tgreese]

It's a common part. Look it up or let your parts store get it for you.

[candymancan]

Well yea but whats the part number . Ive looked and all i can find are the pitman seals.