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steering gearbox rebuild?

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by ronar, Jan 28, 2011.

  1. Jan 28, 2011
    ronar

    ronar New Member

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    I have a lot of slack in my cj5 steering box and I am thinking about rebuilding it. I have a repair manual for it. Are parts available still? It is a manual steering box. I have tried the adjustment route already and it did not help much. Would it be better to find a used gearbox? Thanks:
    Ron
     
  2. Jan 28, 2011
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Putting aside all the "Put in a Saggy" advice you'rr ecieve rebuilding your Rossbox can be a Fun and Rewarding experience. :)

    All the parts are readily obtainable, the only tricky part is you'll need a reamer for the new sector shaft bearing, not reaming this leads to much arm muscular development. (don't ask me how I know :()

    You'll probably find that a lot of you slop is actually external to the steering box, usually the bellcrank is the worst offender but wear on the pitman arm ball & the cups in the drag link should also be investigated.

    A properly re-built Ross steering system steers as well as anything else, their downside is just that they have more wear points than other systems & are more susceptible to damage from things like hitting potholes on the highway.

    H.
     
  3. Jan 28, 2011
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    This is in the Intermediate forum, so isn't it already a Saginaw gear? What year is this Jeep? Any '72 or later CJ Jeep (which this forum covers) will have a Saginaw gear from the factory.
     
  4. Jan 28, 2011
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Oops, my bad :oops:

    Of course you could always perform a Rossbox upgrade :D

    H.
     
  5. Jan 29, 2011
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    No word from the OP on whether this is a '72 or newer. eh?

    If it is a Saginaw gear, if the gear is not leaking, I would first remove the gear from the car and adjust it according to the directions in the manual. Look at any '70s factory manual, such as the '74 or '76 manual at www.oljeep.com - there's an article here about rebuilding a Pontiac manual steering gear, which will be basically the same as the Jeep gear http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/tech/hppp_1008_steering_box_rebuild/index.html

    If it were mine, I would not take the gear apart unless it was leaking. Instead I would clean it up, adjust it and put it back in the chassis. The only parts you can replace are the top and bottom bearings, the pitman shaft bushing, and the seals. Your parts store should also be able to get a rebuilt gear, if you feel the gear needs rebuilding and the rebuild is beyond your comfort zone.

    If the gear leaks, you can get the oil seals from RockAuto or I presume from your local parts store. Here's a source for manual Saginaw gear parts from the Pontiac article: http://www.steeringgearrepair.com/ If your parts store is good, they should be able to get these parts for you from one of their suppliers.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2011
  6. Feb 21, 2011
    ronar

    ronar New Member

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    Tim, the gearbox had a lot of slack, also it leaked grease, not gear oil as the PO had packed it full of chassis grease and as thick as it is, it still leaked. It is a 77 cj5 with Saginaw gearbox. I am having trouble getting the local parts stores to be able to find a rebuild kit for this box. I have it apart, the worst part is the lower bushing is worn out. Does any one have a part number for this rebuild kit as shown on the pontiac rebuild link? Anybody have a source for this kit? Thanks:
    Ron
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2011
  7. Feb 21, 2011
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    A Saginaw manual gear is supposed to have grease in it, not oil.

    Parts book says the bushing is Jeep PN 940513 (use 3200496).

    Several places online sell the 3200496 - that's a GM PN. Have you contacted the company linked above? It's their kit. I presume they put it together from parts sourced from GM and/or seal and bearing companies. A Saginaw gear is a commodity part - they should be able to get you a kit that works for the Jeep gear.
     
  8. Feb 21, 2011
    ronar

    ronar New Member

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    I guess you mean the link to "done right steering repair"...will call them tomorrow, couldn't open their link today at work...was blocked for some reason:(
     
  9. Feb 21, 2011
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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  10. Feb 22, 2011
    ronar

    ronar New Member

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    If the gear leaks, you can get the oil seals from RockAuto or I presume from your local parts store. Here's a source for manual Saginaw gear parts from the Pontiac article: http://www.steeringgearrepair.com/ If your parts store is good, they should be able to get these parts for you from one of their suppliers.

    [​IMG][/QUOTE]


    Tim, I ordered a kit today, here is the info, maybe it needs to go somewhere else on the site but this is a start.: It cost approx $70 with shipping. Kit # H-1010
    Thanks.
    Ron

    Harry's Steering Gear Repair
    33410 Groesbeck Highway
    Fraser
    MI 48026
    586-296-2920
    www.steeringgearrepair.com
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2011
  11. Feb 22, 2011
    chsullivan

    chsullivan Member

    Houston TX
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    post some pics of the gear box apart if you have time mine is leaking from the front and its oil not grease. I dont have any slack and all i need is to replace the seals how hard should that be
     
  12. Feb 22, 2011
    ronar

    ronar New Member

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    It is a simple thing to disassemble, follow the directions on the site Tim posted.......a "good" parts store should have have been able to order those parts locally as they are GM part numbers for the most part. Our Car Quest store was not co-operative at all. Make sure when you re-assemble that you follow the adjustment sequence...it helps...don't ask me how I came to realize that.:rofl:
     
  13. Feb 23, 2011
    mikieboy

    mikieboy Member

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