1972 Manual Steering Box Rebuild

[Ark Bigfoot]

The manual Steering box does not hold oil. Being 50 years old the seals have gone bad and the oil leaks out overnight. Is there a place to get a rebuild kit or a place to send for repair? Or perhaps a rebuilt one?

 

[fluffybunny]

I have the one off of my 70 sitting on my garage floor that's good. I just converted to power steering. You can have it for free. I'm in Denton TX.

 

[thegreatjustino]

Send it to West Texas Offroad

Steering Assist | Redneck Ram

Redneck Rams are designed, engineered and manufactured on our own state of the art CNC milling machines right here in the Great State of Texas. For over 25 years we have been serving the offroad and outdoor adventure community worldwide with our trail proven hydraulic steering components.

www.westtexasoffroad.com

 

[bronkenn]

Pretty easy to reseal. I found new old stock seals online.

 

[Ark Bigfoot]

I have the one off of my 70 sitting on my garage floor that's good. I just converted to power steering. You can have it for free. I'm in Denton TX.

 

[Ark Bigfoot]

I have the one off of my 70 sitting on my garage floor that's good. I just converted to power steering. You can have it for free. I'm in Denton TX.

I would greatly appreciate you sending me your old manual steering box. . Thanks, neighbor. I am 80 years old and bought the 72 Bronco new but just like me some parts are starting to not work as well as the original. Especially my memory. LOL. I sent you a message with my address.

 

[fluffybunny]

I would greatly appreciate you sending me your old manual steering box. . Thanks, neighbor. I am 80 years old and bought the 72 Bronco new but just like me some parts are starting to not work as well as the original. Especially my memory. LOL. I sent you a message with my address.

Replied to your PM.

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

Send it to West Texas Offroad

Steering Assist | Redneck Ram

Redneck Rams are designed, engineered and manufactured on our own state of the art CNC milling machines right here in the Great State of Texas. For over 25 years we have been serving the offroad and outdoor adventure community worldwide with our trail proven hydraulic steering components.

www.westtexasoffroad.com

I only see jeep options on their site. Am I missing something?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[LUBr LuvR]

I have the one off of my 70 sitting on my garage floor that's good. I just converted to power steering. You can have it for free. I'm in Denton TX.

More proof the Bronco folks on this forum are awesome people!!

 

[thegreatjustino]

I only see jeep options on their site. Am I missing something?

Apparently so since their home page shows Jeep, Ford, Toyota, Dodge, and Chevy.

 

[fluffybunny]

More proof the Bronco folks on this forum are awesome people!!

Hopefully it's working good for you!

 

[Boccanegra]

I have the one off of my 70 sitting on my garage floor that's good. I just converted to power steering. You can have it for free. I'm in Denton TX.

Fluffybunny, do you still have that good manual steering box from your 1970? I just got a rebuilt one from buyautoparts.com and it's extremely tight. My old box, which leaks and has some play, can easily be turned with my fingers when out of the vehicle. The new (reman) one needs a wrench with force to turn the shaft. Since I also just installed a new tie rod and drag link, I'm pretty sure the stiff box is the problem.

 

[thegreatjustino]

I just got a rebuilt one from buyautoparts.com and it's extremely tight.

Adjust the preload on the gear mesh to within spec and the box should work correctly.

 

[Boccanegra]

Adjust the preload on the gear mesh to within spec and the box should work correctly.

Is that the screw adjustment on top of the box? I did that, no difference. I'll look into how to adjust the preload if that's different from the top adjustment screw. The person at buyautoparts basically told me the boxes are "ready to installl) and filled with grease - nothing pours out when holding it upside down.

 

[Pa PITT]

ART BIGFOOT... I'm jealous I'm the oldest member on here. & I'm 73+
& here you come along & your a junior member.
But yes those things are throw away items ... I too was going to say someone will most likely send you one for free...
No need to try fix them you can just get a 2nd or a 3rd one .
Welcome aboard. where are you from ..
i'm from Stephenville Texas .. Pro & Retired Cowboy Capital. of world.
Us Locals are not exactly proud of that title.

 

[thegreatjustino]

Is that the screw adjustment on top of the box? I did that, no difference. I'll look into how to adjust the preload if that's different from the top adjustment screw. The person at buyautoparts basically told me the boxes are "ready to installl) and filled with grease - nothing pours out when holding it upside down.

You need to set it using an inch pound torque wrench. Doing it by feel is unlikely to be within spec. It is possible that you got a bad box from the rebuilder. It's certainly been known to happen to have a bad part out to the box. I'd try setting it correctly before swapping it out.

 

[fluffybunny]

Fluffybunny, do you still have that good manual steering box from your 1970? I just got a rebuilt one from buyautoparts.com and it's extremely tight. My old box, which leaks and has some play, can easily be turned with my fingers when out of the vehicle. The new (reman) one needs a wrench with force to turn the shaft. Since I also just installed a new tie rod and drag link, I'm pretty sure the stiff box is the problem.

No, I don't. I sent it to LUBr.

 

[Boccanegra]

You need to set it using an inch pound torque wrench. Doing it by feel is unlikely to be within spec. It is possible that you got a bad box from the rebuilder. It's certainly been known to happen to have a bad part out to the box. I'd try setting it correctly before swapping it out.

Thanks for the info. I called the supplier - Buyautoparts and told him about the situation. He will send me a replacement and (hopefully) check it thoroughly before sending. He kept saying that it takes a long time for manual boxes to loosen up but this is rediculous. I can barely steer the vehicle as is, despite loosening the adjustment screw on the top. I doubt an inch-pound torque wrench would be helpful because it takes so much effort to move the wheel.

 

[thegreatjustino]

I doubt an inch-pound torque wrench would be helpful

It would be extremely helpful. If you can't turn the input shaft with one at all, it clearly indicates it's not within spec. You're not supposed to put all your might on the torque wrench to get the box to turn, you lightly turn it to check to see if the box is within spec. Loosen the nut/screw assembly and keep trying the wrench to get the inch pound reading. If you loosen the adjusting mechanism as far as it'll go and you still have to put too much torque on the input shaft, then clearly something is wrong. The torque wrench is the only tool that's accurately going to tell you that.

 

[Boccanegra]

It would be extremely helpful. If you can't turn the input shaft with one at all, it clearly indicates it's not within spec. You're not supposed to put all your might on the torque wrench to get the box to turn, you lightly turn it to check to see if the box is within spec. Loosen the nut/screw assembly and keep trying the wrench to get the inch pound reading. If you loosen the adjusting mechanism as far as it'll go and you still have to put too much torque on the input shaft, then clearly something is wrong. The torque wrench is the only tool that's accurately going to tell you that.

Thanks! I'll try adjusting it again.