Steering Box Rebuild

So my CJ5 wanders like a drunk when I hit a bump and try to keep going staight. I have a dead spot of about 4 to 5 inches on either side of dead center in the steering wheel, and when I'm under the Jeep and have someone turn the steering the sector shaft doesn't just turn it wiggles from side to side, even before the wheels start turning.

Napa has a rebuild kit for 50 and Quadratec has one for 75, I'm not sure what parts come in the Napa one but the one from Quadratec has all the parts and bearings with it. Both are much cheaper than 175 to 250 for a new box.

Has anyone every rebuilt their steering box? Is it pretty easy or would I be better off just buying a new box?

 

Well, the FSM gives very detailed instructions. It requires some special tools, which you can kludge up except for an inch-pound torque wrench. You may be able to use a fishing scale on the end of your flex handle for that.

IIRC the seal kit is a lot less expensive. The sloppiness is likely from the worm end play and gear mesh, which are adjusted when you put the box together per spec. If it were mine, I'd get the seal, take it apart, inspect the bearings, and put it back together with new seals. If it's not leaking, you can simply adjust it per the instructions and see if that solves the sloppiness.

 

Before rebuilding it check the steering couplings and try adjusting the box through the hole in front cross member.
I also rebuild mine with the Quadratec kit when i noticed my sector shaft would wiggle in the housing.It came with seals berings,bushings and sector shaft, it didn't have any instructions so get your self a full service manual. I didn't use any special tools but i just did it by feel. Remember to fill it with White lithium grease.

 

The steering couplings are a good idea, however ... the factory manual tells you specifically DO NOT adjust the gear mesh unless you adjust the end play first. There are two adjustments: the end play is the big nut on the steering shaft end of the box. The gear mesh is the screw on top. If you adjust the mesh without adjusting the end play, you are pushing the worm assy sideways to remove the lash - not a good idea.