Power steering gear - did I get burned?
#658738
04/02/10 02:19 AM
04/02/10 02:19 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,037 hi
sharpie
OP
Moparts Linguist
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OP
Moparts Linguist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,037
hi
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I caught what I thought was a good deal from a steering gear rebuilder at Good Guys last weekend - $160 for a remanned box. No core, no shipping costs.
The reason I bought this newish one was that my old box had a bunch of slop - dead area in the wheel before it moved the pitman arm. I tried making the sector shaft adjustments without any progress, so I gave up and searched for a new box.
With this new box, I am having similar issues. There is almost as much dead play in the wheel. I have seen as the wheel moves, the column rotates fine and rotates in time with the box input shaft, but the input shaft rotates up away from the box at least 1/8" upward (like it's a bolt being unscrewed) toward the column before the wheels rotate. Additionally, the output shaft wobbles within this dead play area and causes the pitman to move up and down. Is this normal on Chrysler power steering boxes? Was this factory?
I have a two year warranty on this box, though I'm sure it's just for leak-related problems, not sector shaft problems. So I doubt they'd give my money back.
Any advice, help, or information is highly appreciated. Please prevent me from throwing this steering box through the rebuilder's store window...
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Re: Power steering gear - did I get burned?
[Re: 1_WILD_RT]
#658744
04/02/10 02:21 PM
04/02/10 02:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,516 Santa Cruz, California
Lefty
master
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master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,516
Santa Cruz, California
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Quote:
Is this engine running or engine off? Engine off will always have play because there is no hydraulic pressure, as you turn the wheel it opens fluid passages, if theres no fluid flow then theres lots of free play... Engine running somethings wrong...
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Re: Power steering gear - did I get burned?
[Re: sharpie]
#658745
04/02/10 03:18 PM
04/02/10 03:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,025 Bucks County, PA
500Stroker
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,025
Bucks County, PA
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Quote:
Maybe my column coupler was installed incorrectly before I got the car? It's been this way since I've had it.
That is very well possible. especially since you have the same problem with both boxes. The pin is extremely small and may be hard to see.
Small one on the right of this rebuild kit.
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Re: Power steering gear - did I get burned?
[Re: sharpie]
#658747
04/02/10 04:58 PM
04/02/10 04:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,109 Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,109
Grand Prairie,Texas
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It only sticks in about a 1/4". If the coupler doesn't have any looseness when you twist it cw and ccw then it's fine. It will have in and out movement which is normal. You need to check the slop in the wheel with the engine running. The same way you need to adjust it. Don't tear it apart if it isn't bad. That's a waste of time and money.
Last edited by stumpy; 04/02/10 05:27 PM.
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Re: Power steering gear - did I get burned?
[Re: 500Stroker]
#658749
04/02/10 08:33 PM
04/02/10 08:33 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,822 Colorado
denfireguy
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,822
Colorado
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Mine came out with a pair of common pliers. I put a 6-32 nut over the outside of the pin and just squeezed the pin in its hole with the pliers until it was flush. I did not remove it completely so I would not lose it. I put it back with the nut on the other side. I kept the rebuild kit pin as a spare. Craig
2014 Ram 1500 Laramie, 73 Cuda Previous mopars: 62 Valiant, 65 Fury III, 68 Fury III, 72 Satellite, 74 Satellite, 89 Acclaim, 98 Caravan, 2003 Durango Only previous Non-Mopar: Schwinn Tornado
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Re: Power steering gear - did I get burned?
[Re: sharpie]
#658750
04/02/10 10:18 PM
04/02/10 10:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 329 Orange Park, FL
MRHWS
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 329
Orange Park, FL
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Does your steering shaft have another coupler between the steering box and the coupler with the pin? My '73 does and it also goes bad. I just had my steering box replaced and slop still exists. It's called a rag joint and I am in the process of tracking one down. Hard to find and costly.
1973 Charger SE
1974 Charger Rallye 440 Aztec
2008 Charger SRT8
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