Replacing Steering Box

[beking]

Well guess my first project will be replacing the manual steering box on my new 84' CJ7 . I have looked online and the cheapest new box I found was on E-Bay for $172. Is there anything I should know before getting started or is it as simple as replacing the existing box and going to the next project? BTW, the reason I am replacing is there is a lot of play in the steering. You can turn the steering whell and see the shaft moving until it gets to the box and that is where it seems to stop. Any info would be great!!:ty:

 

[LongHorn]

Well guess my first project will be replacing the manual steering box on my new 84' CJ7 . I have looked online and the cheapest new box I found was on E-Bay for $172. Is there anything I should know before getting started or is it as simple as replacing the existing box and going to the next project? BTW, the reason I am replacing is there is a lot of play in the steering. You can turn the steering whell and see the shaft moving until it gets to the box and that is where it seems to stop. Any info would be great!!:ty:

What tires & wheels are you running?
It might be a great time to upgrade to power steering.
That's what I did.

 

[beking]

Currently 31x15 AT tires, but one of my future projects will be a lift and new 33" tires. The main reason I was looking at sticking with the manual steering was the budget. You think its worth the extra $$$? I am only driving the jeep on a joy ride and hunt club visit basis.

Thanks for the reply

 

[LongHorn]

Currently 31x15 AT tires, but one of my future projects will be a lift and new 33" tires. The main reason I was looking at sticking with the manual steering was the budget. You think its worth the extra $$$? I am only driving the jeep on a joy ride and hunt club visit basis.

Thanks for the reply

I don't think you need P/S for 31 x 10.50's, but 33 x12.50's are a lot tougher to turn on technical trails & parking lots at low speed.

 

[IOPort51]

I was surprised to find that Napa sells a major rebuild kit for the steering box for a whole lot less than $175.
not saying that is the way you should go but it is an option I thought I would mention.

 

[beking]

OK, so I have now discovered that Advance Auto Parts sells the manual box for about $AMC 150 and the power steering box for about $140. So how hard is it to change the current manual box to power steering box? What all is involved?? Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I am new to this

Thanks

 

[Petescj]

Your going to need quite a few other things to convert to power steering. You'll need a pitman arm , pump , resevoir , bracket ,belt ,return line, pressure line and I think a different steering shaft as well.

 

[beking]

OH!!

Think I'll just replace the current manual box

Thanks

 

[Petescj]

Sorry didnt mean to burst your bubble , just didnt want you to go grab a power steering box without knowing the rest. Alot of times you can find all the pieces in a package deal on Ebay. Its all used and usually goes around $200 or so. I dont see any on there currently though.

 

[dalefan88]

Your going to need quite a few other things to convert to power steering. You'll need a pitman arm , pump , resevoir , bracket ,belt ,return line, pressure line and I think a different steering shaft as well.

thanks for that info pete. im in the middle of roundind up all the stuff to make mine power steering. didnt know i had to change the shaft.

 

[CJ]

thanks for that info pete. im in the middle of roundind up all the stuff to make mine power steering. didnt know i had to change the shaft.

You do not need to change the shaft... Just the coupling...

 

[Petescj]

Thanx Cj. I underlined think people.

You do not need to change the shaft... Just the coupling...

 

[dalefan88]

You do not need to change the shaft... Just the coupling...

thanks cj and pete i have a thread on this but not much said on it. sorry to hi jack the post.

 

[Petescj]

I dont know much about the Yj stuff. I steered clear.

thanks cj and pete i have a thread on this but not much said on it. sorry to hi jack the post.

 

[dalefan88]

I dont know much about the Yj stuff. I steered clear.

the only thing i got off of it was the pump cause it looks the same. the rest will be cj stuff to save me a big headache.

 

[beking]

Well can tell I'm new at this. A few turns of the ajustment screw on the steer box and seemed to do the trick

So, is there a negitive side effect to this????

Thanks

 

[jerzee]

im not trying to hyjack a thread, but this is the same mod im working on at present, i have a power steering box off of a 90 wrangler, im guessing with a torch and a welder i can make whatever modifications needed to install it, my 76 CJ5 has 33's on it and is near impossible to steer in tight turns at low speeds, im slowly collecting the other parts one at a time.
i try to keep as close to original as posible but sometimes thats not possible "hance the torch and welder"