Power Steering Pump and Gearbox Replacement?

[WahooSteeler]

Next on the agenda is repairing/replacing the power steering pump and/or gearbox. Not 100% if it's one or the other........or both, but it's been losing fluid slowly for awhile but seems to be more so lately. Steering overall is a bit loose but I would not call it "sloppy". IF I have to replace one or both components, what recommendations does everybody have regarding mfr's or reman suppliers? Truck is used as DD for my son during the summers and basic work truck for me, probably won't have more than 6k miles a year put on it. Don't want the cheapest stuff, don't want or need the high dollar stuff. Quality at a good value is what I'm after. Still running 31s for the foreseeable future, could possibly see going to 33x10.50s at some point. 

[Limeyjeeper]

I used redheadsteeringgears.com

[cruiser54]

How about a good used box from a Grand Cherokee ZJ?

Have you ever changed the fluid? 

[75sv1]

I rebuilt a WJ power steering pump, for a '98 XJ.  NAPA has rebuild kits.  The gearbox, I used a rebuilt unit from Advanced, as I needed the vehicle running. I did rebuild a Dakota box. Haven't installed it yet. 

[AZJeff]

In general, I don't recommend that most of us here attempt to rebuild the actual Saginaw steering gear box.  There are some special tools and procedures that need to be used/followed, and most of us don't have that stuff.

 

It's easier to get a good used junkyard box, or if you are wealthy, buy a remanufactured box from a trusted source.  (I do NOT recommend Autozone, as I went through 3 boxes from them for my 1991 F150.   Rock Auto has AC Delco remans, and they seem to be OK.)

[Smokeyyank]

I used lares when I did the upgrade on my XJ. They are based in US and I didn't have any issues.  Bought off rockauto. Redhead is good too just more. 

[WahooSteeler]

3 hours ago, cruiser54 said:

How about a good used box from a Grand Cherokee ZJ?

Have you ever changed the fluid? 

 

No sir, not in either unit. 

[75sv1]

I'd also look at the P/S lines. I think the one that screws into the P/S pump has an oring.

[WahooSteeler]

6 minutes ago, 75sv1 said:

I'd also look at the P/S lines. I think the one that screws into the P/S pump has an oring.

 

I was just thinking of that as I was pricing AC Delco and Lares reman units, i.e. the other parts that should be replaced at the same time including the pressure lines. Did not know one had an o-ring....thanks!

[Zenobian_84]

Lares is pretty good; I've used a few at some of the shops I've worked at when I could convince my service manager to spend the extra money to avoid having comebacks with the "parts house" remanufactured garbage ones that Autozone and O'Reilley's sometimes ship out. Although I would see if you could get a beefy ZJ one; although I'm not sure there's a physical difference, although there is a "high" assist steer option in some of them (longer high pressure lines, not sure about actual increase in turn ratio). Although I'm not sure if that option is for the 5.2's only, or if the 4.0 optioned ZJ's had that as well.

 

If you were looking to rebuild the gearbox, I have done one before on my fiance's XJ, and another on my 84 Trans Am when we had them; they are both basically the same part set (o-rings, snap rings, gaskets, etc etc) as any other GM Saginaw styled box from the eighties to mid nineties. There are "special" tools you need (preferably a bench vise, snap ring pliers, etc etc) and some special fitment procedures to take into consideration when rebuilding one, but there isn't much to them. Took me about an hour, and that's with cleaning the box and installing new lines as well; hard, but not impossible to do as long as you don't mind getting dirty and keeping track of small parts that may fall out of the box itself (ball bearings).

 

And as others had stated, there are nitrile o-rings at the pump fitting and gearbox fitting ends of the high pressure line. Worn o-rings at either of these can cause seepage over time, and they're easy to replace. Just be sure to put a drop or two of power steering fluid on them so they don't tear when you install the fittings onto the pump / gearbox.

 

 

[75sv1]

You need an Inch-LB torque wrench for some load settings on the gear box. Also, there is the large sheet metal nut to torque.  I think the dial torque wrench is needed. 

[WahooSteeler]

FWIW, this is not a repair/replacement that I will tackle myself, I'll have my shop do it. 

[schardein]

Last week I picked up the original Saginaw steering gear from my 1983 CJ-7 after having it rebuilt by Marty at http://www.powersteering.com  

 

This is the second box I've had done there.  In both cases, he replaced the original slow ratio internals with a faster 16-13 variable ratio.  Improved the steering feel in my old CJ.  I haven't shopped rebuilt steering box prices, so can't say if this is competitively priced.  I feel like aftermarket boxes, you don't know what you are going to get.  

 

I've recently been reading up on steering gears, here is an interesting article that is recent:  http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/additional-tech/1904-we-test-four-different-ratio-saginaw-power-steering-boxes

[cruiser54]

ZJ box is a bolt in with a nicer ratio. Why not change the fluid first?

 

Simply suck the fluid out of the pump with an old turkey baster best you can. Refill with new fluid and see what happens.

 

folks tend to never change their power steering fluid or bleed their brakes. 

[Comanche1]

Local wrecker supplied me with a great used xj box for 60 bucks when I added PS to my truck. Rebuilt pump, pulley and lines from NAPA cheap. 

[WahooSteeler]

Anybody know the size and/or a part # of these O-rings? I'm going to replace the whole pressure line and then put a new O-ring and hose on the return line and see what that does before doing anything else. 

[WahooSteeler]

Found the part #.........J3251183

[eaglescout526]

That part can be hard from vintage parts. Didn't get to help you in time.

[WahooSteeler]

6 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

That part can be hard from vintage parts. Didn't get to help you in time.

 

No worries! Found one on eBay with 1/3 the shipping cost. A few out there at online dealers also. 

 

[Eagle]

On 12/19/2019 at 10:08 PM, Zenobian_84 said:

Lares is pretty good; I've used a few at some of the shops I've worked at when I could convince my service manager to spend the extra money to avoid having comebacks with the "parts house" remanufactured garbage ones that Autozone and O'Reilley's sometimes ship out. Although I would see if you could get a beefy ZJ one; although I'm not sure there's a physical difference, although there is a "high" assist steer option in some of them (longer high pressure lines, not sure about actual increase in turn ratio). Although I'm not sure if that option is for the 5.2's only, or if the 4.0 optioned ZJ's had that as well.

 

 

The ZJ box isn't any beefier than the XJ/MJ box, it just has a slightly faster ratio. XJ/MJ ratio is 14:1, the ZJ box is 12.7:1.

 

If you want beefier, get the Dakota box.

[DirtyComanche]

Change the hoses.  They will come with new orings.  If they are old enough to need orings then they are old enough to need replacement.

 

Change the fluid at the same time.

 

Looseness might be other things.  Rule  that out before changing or adjusting the box.

 

In general good used OEM parts will be better than the hack remans out there.

[WahooSteeler]

17 minutes ago, DirtyComanche said:

Change the hoses.  They will come with new orings.  If they are old enough to need orings then they are old enough to need replacement.

 

Change the fluid at the same time.

 

Looseness might be other things.  Rule  that out before changing or adjusting the box.

 

In general good used OEM parts will be better than the hack remans out there.

 

This is the direction I'm going to start with. Picking up a new pressure line tomorrow, the return hose is just clamped on to the fitting so for about 1/2 what a new complete return line costs I can get a new O-ring and new hose. I don't think the box is the problem. When I changed the radiator a few months ago I degreased the box and it remains almost completely dry. So I'm pretty sure it's either the hoses or the pump......or both. I'll see what happens after the new hoses and fresh fluid and go from there.

[Minuit]

These situations are exactly why I keep a huge stock of various size o-rings around. Never know when you might need some, or in a weird size. They're dirt cheap at all the usual suspects and you'll get plenty of use out of them. I do, anyway.

[Andy in Pa]

On 12/28/2019 at 2:08 AM, WahooSteeler said:

 

This is the direction I'm going to start with. Picking up a new pressure line tomorrow, the return hose is just clamped on to the fitting so for about 1/2 what a new complete return line costs I can get a new O-ring and new hose. I don't think the box is the problem. When I changed the radiator a few months ago I degreased the box and it remains almost completely dry. So I'm pretty sure it's either the hoses or the pump......or both. I'll see what happens after the new hoses and fresh fluid and go from there.

I want to extend on what DirtyComanche said about looseness being other things...  See your death wobble post where castor was mentioned.  This could make the steering feel loose and sloppy as well.

[75sv1]

Also, there is a break in or install procedure. It might be from the FSM. Jack up the front axle, both wheels off the ground. With the engine running and PS fluid at full, with the steering wheel turn right and left close to lock to lock 3-5 times. Check fluid and fill. Repeat. Then lower front axle. With wheels on the ground, repeat. At least that is what I remember. I replaced one of my XJs about 2 years ago.