help with steering gear removal

Hi all,
I've been reading and learning from your posts for awhile. Now I need advice. My nephew recently purchased his first vehicle. 1968 CJ5: :v6: , three speed manual, no power steering. I'm very familiar with the Dauntless, as I've owned a jeepster commando for about 20 years. What I don't know about is the non-power steering. I need to take the steering box apart to rebuild it. The FSM says that I pretty much need to dismantle and remove the entire steering wheel, turn switch, column, floor pan, exhaust, yadda, yadda. I'm sure that several of you have done this. Is there a shortcut, or do I follow the instructions? I really haven't taken a good look at it yet.

Thanks for the help!!
Megan

 

Yup thats about it not fun but i'm sure you can do it let us or if you run into prob

 

only short cut I know of: Assumeing no top of any kind is involved, remove steering linkages from box. next remove mounting bolts. next remove bolts from dash. remove floor planel(s) at this time. using the steering wheel, remove the whole asembley from the jeep. use a vice to hold column when removing wheel.

 

Thanks for the response. I guess I knew that there's never an easy way.
The Nephew knows nothing about turning a wrench, I gues he's going to learn! . I hope to get started next week, I'll let you know how everything goes.
Megan

 

Be sure to inspect the entire system while moving the wheel back and forth. Many times you will find that most of the slack is in the bellcrank, a repair that doesn't require you to drop the box. Also check the pitman arm for vertical movement, indicating worn shaft bushings. You can do many repairs in the Jeep by removing the left fender.

 

Have you checked all the simple stuff, like the tie rods. Those have been some of major problems with slack on some of my jeeps.

One time I did have a bad box, and replaced a steering box with a used one that I got off of ebay. It was much quicker and cheaper than doing a rebuild.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I've already got the bellcrank rebuild stuff, spotted that play right away!. tie rods look O.k. The steering box had no grease in it. when I checked it, All I got was a puff of dust in my face!! I'm figuring it needs attention. Basically, the thing steers like an elephant, So I'll start with whats obviously worn, and move on from there. Thanks for the fender removal tip! This thing is a lovely beast, but I've got to say my jeepster's a lot easier to work on. You can lay upside in the floor without having to become a pretzel!
It'll probably be next weekend before we get a start, I'll let you know how it goes.
Megan