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| Steering Gears |
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Jim Butler (butler@comm.mot.com)
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| Rebuilding to Remove Slop and Wear |
| I've been looking around to have a steering gear rebuilt to remove some of the slop and I've found a few sources who, unless otherwise noted, are prepared to disassemble and rebuild steering units for various autos. Their addresses are below, and the specific information for each of them follows afterwards. If you're like me in that you can't stand any steering slop and you want to do something about it, read on. Note that a good source of information is the Ameritech Industrial Yellow pages under "Autmobile Steering Mechanisms" and "Automobile Parts: Rebuilt". It's also worthwhile to check auto body shops since they sometimes have to get a box rebuilt and will know of someone who can do the work |
| Sources |
| Lee Manufacturing 11661 Pendelton St. Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-768-0371 (talk to Tom Lee, et al.) Cost $210 Tom Lee - Lee Manufacturing at 818-768-0371 Lee Manufacturing was the subject of an article in Oct. 1992 "Popular Hot Rodding" titled "High Effort", in which the expertise of Lee's company was presented. Lee is not only prepared to rebuild steering boxes but is knowledgeable about modifications to change the "feel" and rate of a box, according to the article. When I spoke with Tom Lee I explained that I was satisfied with my box's rate but that it had gotten sloppy. He said that the box probably would require a new set of balls to take out the slop. Those, along with a std rebuild (all new seals & soft parts) would be about $220 ($10 for the balls and $210 for the std rebuild). Mark w/ Tamraz Parts at 708-904-4500 Tamraz is, as far as I know, a GM parts house. Perhaps they're jobbers for other lines; I don't know. I talked with Mark and explained what I wanted,and he said that one of their rebuilders might be able to handle the job. I called him back two days later and he said that they COULD handle it. He didn't give me the name of their rebuilder (probably so that they could collect a finder's fee, but that's business); rather, he said that I could drop the box off or ship it to their address and they would arrange the rebuild. Mark said that rebuilt boxes are available on an exchange basis, but to insure that I get my core back (I've got a Trans Am box and I want to be sure that I get it back) he said that I should drop it off for them to rebuild and return. Mark said the cost would be $240. I want to follow up with him and have him explain just what is and is not included. I would guess that, like Lee, the cost includes soft parts and balls. Dan w/ Chicago Power Steering 312-842-3083 10/18/94 He said that they could rebuilt it, replacing the bearings, seals, and shafts. I asked if this would take the slop out and he said yes. Price: $120. I'm a little cautious about this. He didn't say anything about replacing the balls. He seemed a little cocky. Maybe they're worth trying. Keith w/ Tietz-Lynde 815-397-2131 10/18/94 Keith said that they deal with only rebuilt units... they don't take a unit and and HAVE it rebuilt, rather they sell rebuilts from the "shelf" and take in the old as a core. For a TransAm (same as a Firebird, he said, which makes me cringe) it's $228.15 for the unit, $15 core charge. I didn't ask where they get their rebuilds from. For that price I'm not too excited since I can get my very own unit rebuilt elsewhere for about the same. Lyle w/ Edelman in Dixon 815-288-3344 10/18/94 10:30am This fellow Lyle handles the technical issues, he said. Lyle suggests an adjustment prior to returning the steering gear for rebuilding. There's an adjustment plug on the input-shaft end of the box (e.g., see the article in which Lee Enterprises is discussed for a picture). Put a spanner wrench on and loosen the locknut (which I assume is somewhere around the input shaft) and then tighten the adjustment plug (using the spanner wrench) all the way down snug, and then back it off 1/4 turn and tighten the locknut. This adjusts the preload: "Inside there ... you probably had one of those gears apart, but you probably noticed the spool valve that's in there that directs the fluid, OK, on I asked if it makes sense to replace the balls. He said replacing the balls can be a way of taking some of the slop out. He also said that sometimes the teeth get worn on the pitman shaft and/or the sector shaft, and so they replace that (if necessary I assume). The input shaft can get worn out too, says Keith. The way they would do it is COD for me, since I'm an individual. Keith said that price would be in the $100-$200 range, depending of course on what's wrong. George w/ Champion Frame Align 708-931-7698 10/18/94 They can tear it down and rebuild it. He said to bring it in so that they could see what was wrong and then they could give me a price. Curt w/ Hartman 708-695-7755 10/18/94 He said that only the major rebuilders rebuild steering gears (well, not from what I've seen). $257 to rebuild a box, plus shipping, puts the cost around $300. ApCo in Phoenix is their rebuilder. Lifetime gearbox warranty (for whatever that's worth). |
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