Steering Box source

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Author Message   Michael Cavender (Mike) Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 03:26 pm:    Sorry.. the first message was accidently placed in a sub heading... Does anyone have a good source for steering boxes.. need one for my 96 ! Thanks Mike   dave t (Geekforhire) Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 05:09 pm:    The best source that I know of is Meridian in San Diego. You should be able to find the # by searching the archives. I got a box from them about 1 year ago...$290 was the cost....or right around that. They modify the boxes so they will not develop leaks. You can find info about that in the archives as well.   dave t (Geekforhire) Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 05:34 pm:    http://www.meridianautoparts.com/   Anonymous Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 05:41 pm:    I tried to get mine rebuilt(no longer serviced by Cardone) and ended up with a used one. My old one had chewed up lowere needle bearings that let the output shaft wobble and leak around the seal. Guess what? Since I made the change no more front end shimmy. I don't doubt people with chronic front end shake also have a higher incidence of steering box leaks.   jec Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 09:13 pm:    So when you folks took out your old boxes, did you follow the manual and tear apart the steering wheel, including removing the air bag, to keep the cruise control spiral cassette from unwinding? Or is there an alternate trick? The air bag thing is the main reason I'm hesitating replacing my leaking steering box. Thanks, John   derek (Vortrex) Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 09:26 pm:    jec, before you replace the box to fix the leak, did you try any of the lucas power steering stop leak? my box was leaking pretty bad, spotting the ground even, not just seeping. I put 1 bottle of this in and it's instantly dry. others have had the same success. it's like $7 a bottle.   jec Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 10:54 pm:    I have a bottle in the garage ready to piut in, but am also looking at the long run of possible replacement. Thanks, John   Ron Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 12:01 am:    Why would you have to take apart the steering wheel? I am going to go look at the disco and see. On a RR you can seperate the colum from the box. Ron   jec Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 12:00 pm:    Ron: Yes, you can separate the column from the box on the disco as well. But in the "Replace power steering box" section of the factory manual, it says: "Caution: before removing any parts of steering linkage, it is imperative that road wheels are positioned straight ahead. Then steering wheel remo   jec Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 12:03 pm:    The dog ate my homework and the computer ate the message! Quote continues: "Then steering wheel removed to prevent cruise control spiral cassette from being wound up or damaged." It is this statement that is causing me concern over being able to replace the box myself. Thanks, John   Kristian Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 03:47 pm:    John- The manual doesn't need to be followed to the letter. I replaced my box about a month ago. I didn't mess with the steering wheel at all. Just disconnected the box from the shaft at the mini-u-joint. You WILL NEED a large pitman arm puller!   jec Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 04:18 pm:    Kristian - thanks for the advice and warning!   joe still Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 05:53 pm:    I did my box about 2 months ago. The trick was to drive in straight and not mess with the wheels until the new box is in. Then the pittman arm has an index mark that will allow you to line the box up using the wheels to position it. The only thing left (did I mention don't move the steering wheel!) is to slide the lower mini coupler onto the lower end of the input shaft. You can actually slide the lower coupler up enough to clear (takes some effort) and then rotate lower coupling until the wheel is straight. This all assumes that the relation of front wheels to steering wheel to blinker canceling cams and air bag in the wheel are correct. When done it wasn't that big a deal. You will also need a tie-rod end puller. Don't even try without a real pittman arm puller!   Michael Cavender (Mike) Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 11:22 pm:    Thanks... I'm checking it out... !.. I've already ordered the steering box... but who knows... maybe this will work..!   dave t (Geekforhire) Posted on Thursday, April 25, 2002 - 11:59 am:    "You WILL NEED a large pitman arm puller!" I hear that! When I did mine I needed to use my 4 ton portapower (I have a pitman adapter for it) and a torch to get mine off....even then it took close to 45 minutes! That sucker was really stuck.