Power Steering Swap; New Problem

So, I had big plans to get the power steering swap done over Christmas vacation, but one small problem arose, the pitman arm I had did not match the splines of the AGS Suprebox 2 I had ordered from Summit racing (pt#AGR 262357) for the 1980 CJ-5. The shaft on the AGR box has 3 flats for indexing the pitman arm, the pitman armI have has 4 flats. I figured no worries, probably the wrong pitman arm was supplied when I bought the suspension back in 1998 ( yes, pitman had been on the shelf that long, have been running manual) so I called AGR, the tech assured me that the box I had was indeed the right one for my year and model of Jeep. So, I called Quadratec to order a new pitman arm, and asked the parts tech to ensure that the pitman arm I was ordering was the right one and had 3 not 4 flats. He assured me that the right part was on the way (he told me he checked personally). That was over a week ago, today I took a break from welding on the roll cage to find a box on the porch,, good, now I had the parts to do the swap.

NOPE, I opened it and guess what,,, 4 flats!!! SO, I called AGR, they again assured me that 262357 WAS the right box for a 1980 Jeep CJ. I called Summit Racing, they assured me they had sold me the right part, I called Quadratec and guess what, they swear they sent me the right part. SO I told them all to f*#% off and will be returning the box as well as the pitman arm. I will be out a bunch of $$$ for return shipping with nothing to show for it and no closer to getting power steering into my CJ.

Anyone have any ideas or options for doing a swap? Any idea of what 4 inch drop pitman arm has 3 flats and will still fit a 1980 CJ? I sure as he!! aint going to have it done before returning to work after Christmas. All in all I cant say I would NOT recomend Summit racing, Quadratec or AGR to ANYONE due to their lack of customer service or ability to supply the correct parts OR information.

 

Give Advance Adapters A call the guys are very cool and are willing to help any way they can i am Sure they can set you up with what you need.

 

Couldn't AGR supply you with the proper pitman arm? I'm not absoutely positive, but I think my pitman arm has 3 flats and it's for a '72- '80 Saginaw PS box. It's also the same as a '80 - '86 Saginaw (Jeep) PS box. The only difference between those two boxes is the style of fittings for the hoses. If you haven't sent the box back, I'd keep it and find the correct pitman arm. Can't be that tough.

 

Hummm. I've never had a problem with Summit, actually I've found them to be outstanding, so far, at least. Especially when compared to some of the bigger 4wd parts houses.

Anyway, if I'm understanding your post correctly, you purchased an aftermarket "upgraded" steering box for your 80' jeep from Summit. You also had a pitman arm on your shelf from 1988, from an aftermarket lift kit and figured it would fit your new aftermarket box. When you discovered that the arm from the 1988 aftermarket suspension kit would not fit your new aftermarket steering box from Summit, you called yet another supplier (Qtech), and ordered an arm to fit a stock steering box for an 80 CJ. It wouldn't fit your new box.

If the above is accurate, it seems to me that you're not really ordering the correct part.

I sure wouldn't have bothered with Qtech, at least until I had ordered a pitman arm to fit the new aftermarket box you bought from Summit.

A lot of times upgraded aftermarket stuff has been reengineered in order to be stronger, and will require special parts to adapt to the stock set up. More often than not, in fact, in the jeep world.

You should see some of the stuff I've received after ordering a stock replacement part for my 75. You get used to it.

But in this case, I would work with Summit and/or AGR to get the correct arm for the box.

 

Ain't that the truth.dead horse

 

PSC Motorsports. Just call 'em. They know their stuff.

www.pscmotorsports.com

 

I have bought a few pitman arms within the last year or two for both full size jeeps and CJ's. They all had 4 flats on them, so did all the saginaw boxes I bought. Two of those pitman arms were for 86 CJ's and one for a 74 CJ5.

 

I called several shops and suppliers yesterday with the same results,, the CJ steering shaft & pitman arm should have 4 flats. AGR still insisted it should be 3. SO who's wrong? If this is the part they keep selling, I cant be the first person with these problems.

Will be back on the phone soon instead of out welding, trying to get this sorted out.

In the meantime, does anyone konw of a pitman arm/steering shaft with the following measurements which might fit this box? 1-1/4 inch diameter,33 splines, 3 flats, 4 inch drop.

 

Dude, send it back, get your money, call PSC. I've not had stellar results with AGR - especially if the pump you bought from them didn't come with the reservoir attached. That's asking for trouble since most end-users mess up the O-ring seal when installing the reservoir. Even if it doesn't leak while sitting the pump can still pull air in through the O-ring aerating the fluid.

And I'm with Quadratec - I think it should have 4 flats, not 3. That's what my memory is telling me. Checked the box on my M-715 that PSC sent me - it's 4 flat and I'm using a stock '70s/'80s CJ pitman arm. My flattie has 4 flat and I'm using a late-model Saginaw 800 box from Borgeson and a pitman arm off a '70s GM car. Pitman arm Rubicon Express sent for my '89 Wrangler is 4 flat.

FYI - as long as the flat clocking is the same you can run the 4-flat pitman arm on the 3 flat box, but not the other way around. You can do that or ask for a 4 flat box.

 

OK,
just got off the phone to Quadratec (off for the holidays), but will be returning the pitman arm,, I dont need 2.

managed to get someone at AGR's tech-support who knew what they are talking about and guess what,,, THEY INSTALLED THE WROND SECTOR SHAFT DURING MANUFACTURING!!! ( it's an early type GM shaft) Then all I got was a "Ooops,sorry 'bout that" and a recomendation to call Borgenson directly for a pitman arm that will fit it. Borgenson, nor anyone else I called had one to fit a 3 flat shaft.

So, I called Summit racing, they are going to be good enough to pay return shipping on the gearbox, since it is the correct part number but was manufactured incorrectly. They offered to do a direct exchange, but given the track record AGR is racking up (pretty poor in my book) I chose to get a refund and take my business elsewhere.

I called PSC, the only one in the office was the receptionist, and she was shutting down for the holiday break but assured me that first thing Monday their tech guys could help me out. I did look over their site and it looks like PSC has the steering gear box I need, and they can make the hoses to mate it to the Ford pump, so PSC will get my business first thing Monday morning when they open again.

 

regardless, it's a moot point now, AGR box is going back as well as the pitman arm I bought from Quadratec. I will be getting PSC gearbox, which the pitman arm I had to begin with will fit, I'll have PSC also make the hoses to mate it to the ford pump and all will get bolted together about 2 weeks later than planned.
Looks like AGR could use some better QC to me:evil:

 

Wow John, at least you got to the bottom of the problem. Whoda thunk? Glad to hear Summit ultimately took care of you, they've always been one of the better suppliers in my experience. I sure won't be buying an AGR box when the time comes, though!

The whole ordeal is just another example of the fun you can have while trying to make our jeeps just a little bit better, seems to be the dominant theme in jeep repair, especially when doing upgrades. Its even harder when you're trying to sort the whole thing out over the phone with some guy with a headset, a computer, and no brain on the other end.

I find myself at the local NAPA counter more and more. At least its a place where you can physically examine the part, or take it to return/exchange, or throw a hissy fit if necessary. For me, I've learned that the small extra expense is worth it in the end for my sanity.

Way to hang in there, I know how it really twists my panties to have to do some morons job for him.

 

I used a variable ratio saganaw steering gear from an 83 CJ and it has 4 flats on the pitman shaft, I had to use a 72-75 pitman arm whick also had 4 flats so it would seem that you have the wrong steering box.

 

Never mind, I posted my reply before I noticed there were 2 pages on this topic.

 

No worries bro,
Merry Christmas

 

OK,,, got home from New Years celebration out of town, Tombstone, AZ so it's back to the projects. Got the AGR box packed up and shipped back to Summit Racing and got PSC on the phone.

Their tech support was great and they squared me away with ALL the parts I need for the PS swap, their Extreme Duty steering gear with variable 13-16:1 ratio so it will still be great on the trails or streets, a new Saginaw pump with remote resivior and adaptor to my Ford bracket (seems the ford pump isnt strong enough to run saginaw style steering),all the hoses I need (high pressure, return and reservior) as well as the fittings for it all.

I should have enough time to finish installing my roll-cage before these parts come in ,,, I have to repair the body where the factory hoop mounted,,, lots of rust.

Then it will be on to the PS install.

 

Got the steering done end of Feb, but have been too busy to update the thread. Works awsome, P/S is a fantastic modification, the Jeep is now a pleasure to drive both on and off-road. A lot of the road-wandering, etc on the pavement was also cured as well.
Will have pics, etc up on the builds post. http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62786
Now the transfer-case had gone south on me. Replacment time.