Installing New Steering Box 79 CJ7

[Rusty79]

Just out of curiosity how difficult is it to install a new steering box? It looks pretty easy, but I don't want to tear into it and get screwed. My jeep is my only set of wheels at the moment.

 

[coldwater]

Provided all of the bolts come out without too much issue, It's a pretty staright forward process. Is it power or manual?

 

[Rusty79]

Its power steering

 

[CJ]

Power to power should a be a direct swap. Just a few bolts, two hoses and a coupling.

 

[Rusty79]

Alright, awesome...looks like I know what my plans are for the weekend.

 

[coldwater]

Its power steering

Be careful with the lines so you don't break them. Again, as long as your bolts come out without stripping out, the swap is pretty straight forward. I suggest that you throw away the torx head bolts and replace them with grade 8 bolts.

Power to power should a be a direct swap. Just a few bolts, two hoses and a coupling.

yup, nothing could possibly go wrong there!

 

[Rusty79]

I'm gonna need a tie rod puller right, I really don't want to pull it all apart and then have to put it back together to drive to the store to buy more tools

 

[coldwater]

Yup, you can knock it out with a simple fork that can be had for just a few dollars at just about any auto part store. For the cost of a new rod end, it may be worth your while to swap it out while you have it apart.

 

[countryman]

i am donig the same thing on my 79 but its manual steering and the pitman arm wont come off the steering box or tierod end. so i bout a new pitman arm and tierod end. they will be here tomorrow.

 

[Rusty79]

Well that was a fun 9 hour project. I think everything that could go wrong went wrong. I don't think the guy that owned this jeep before me knew about rust prevention. Ended up having to drill out a couple bolts. But it did work really well when I was done...for about 10 mins before my power steering pump took a on me. Guess I know what I'm doing next weekend.

 

[coldwater]

Well that was a fun 9 hour project. I think everything that could go wrong went wrong. I don't think the guy that owned this jeep before me knew about rust prevention. Ended up having to drill out a couple bolts. But it did work really well when I was done...for about 10 mins before my power steering pump took a on me. Guess I know what I'm doing next weekend.

Yup. Those were the bolts I was talking about. More times than not they will give you a pain in the <-BAD WORD->. Glad you got it squared away.

 

[Rusty79]

Yea, me too...one less thing. Thanks for all the help.