Steering box swap
csuengr
Senior Jeeper
- Posts
- 767
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- Location
- Loveland, CO
- Vehicle(s)
- 1980 CJ-7 LT1 TF727 NP231-D300 Waggy D44's ARB's 35" tires
Well, I wanted to get rid of the goofy joint at the bottom of the steering shaft where it connects to the steering box. It isn't the greatest design and the Chinese replacements really aren't worth the money. I also am not going to give my money to AGR or Borgenson. So since my CJ is an 80' with the metric fittings, I had a pretty good selection. So I took a trip to the pull and pay and came back with a 94' Caprice steering box and two lower XJ shafts, for $60. These shafts are from later models with the upper Ujoint inside the firewall.
This box has the 12.7 ratio and low steering effort. The only down side is it only has three bolts.
I won't go into the outstallation or installation, since that is covered elsewhere on the internet. One piece of advice, when installing the bolts, anti-seize is your friend. So I got everything back together and took this unimpressive picture. Only item of interest is the pitman arm, which I had to shorten .75". This was done awhile ago, but basically cut the amount out, ground large bevels, several passes with a welder, ground smooth, wrapped and welded a piece of 1/8" plate.
All the fuss for this.
One issue I did run into. The indexing of the sector shaft is a little different, which caused me to have to adjust the drag link out about an 1.25". That left me with a little less than an inch inside the adjustment sleeve. I didn't like that, so I modified another drag link, cutting it a bit longer to work. BTW, I have an SJ Dana 44 in the front. That is why everything is wonky looking.
On the short test drive, the steering is much more responsive and quicker. There is no noticeable dead zone. I am also one of those weird people who runs a track bar with leaf springs. I helps greatly.
This box has the 12.7 ratio and low steering effort. The only down side is it only has three bolts.
I won't go into the outstallation or installation, since that is covered elsewhere on the internet. One piece of advice, when installing the bolts, anti-seize is your friend. So I got everything back together and took this unimpressive picture. Only item of interest is the pitman arm, which I had to shorten .75". This was done awhile ago, but basically cut the amount out, ground large bevels, several passes with a welder, ground smooth, wrapped and welded a piece of 1/8" plate.
All the fuss for this.
One issue I did run into. The indexing of the sector shaft is a little different, which caused me to have to adjust the drag link out about an 1.25". That left me with a little less than an inch inside the adjustment sleeve. I didn't like that, so I modified another drag link, cutting it a bit longer to work. BTW, I have an SJ Dana 44 in the front. That is why everything is wonky looking.
On the short test drive, the steering is much more responsive and quicker. There is no noticeable dead zone. I am also one of those weird people who runs a track bar with leaf springs. I helps greatly.
