The steering wander has become progressively worse over the last few months, I am running a rebuilt Cardone thee-bolt box and it was loose from the beginning. I bought a rebuild kit for the original 76 casting 4-bolt Saginaw 800. Honestly, I don't recall why I replaced it, I think it was leaking and decided not to tackle a rebuild but I bought a kit and disassembled it before I moved last May. It may seem anal, insignificant and not required but the missing bolt bugs the crap out of me.
It also seems like I lost turning radius with the rebuilt box, it may be my imagination but I hope the original box cures it.
I powerwashed and de-greased it several times, took a carbide grinder and cleaned up some sharp flashing especially around the pitman shaft where it was hammered on, probably with a pickle fork and sprayed it with two coats of VHT caliper paint that seems to be pretty durable but I will bake it tonight for good measure.
I will start working on it later this week, I ordered a 50 inch pound torque wrench so no rush, at least until I get the wrench.
I will also order a u-joint for the upper end of the factory steering shaft, the lower was replaced with a 12.00 shaft off a 2000+ XJ. I guess if I was smart, I would order u-joints for both ends and never have to work on it again.
I also noticed the tilt column is loose, the steering wheel is off by a good 30 degrees and I will need to re-center the box, steering wheel and steering linkage. I will probably pop the wheel and tighten the tilt bolts at the same time.
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