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'73 - '90 Suburban steering swap

SUPER'BURB

SUPER'BURB

1/2 ton status
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I am switching front axles from my '73 Suburban to my '90 Suburban.
The steering on the '73 is awesome and it has much to be desired on the '90.
Just thought to myself "it's easier to do with nothing in the way so I should do this now".
Can I swap over all the steering parts, box, pump and what not?
I guess the question is what can swap over and what can't.

Sorry for the ramble.
Thanks guys!
 
The newer lines are o-ring style, rather than flair fittings. Other than that everything 'should' swap over as a whole, reuse the serpentine pulley on the older pump. Only thing I don't remember for sure is the steering shaft, but I think it's only the column end that's different. I think the '90 shaft will go onto the '73 steering box.
 
I'm almost positive the '90 shaft will go right on the '73 box, I just didn't want to guarantee it:waytogo:
 
The '73 box has flare fittings on the high pressure hose and has a 36 spline input. The '90 will be o-ring fittings and a 30 spline input.

If you keep the metal rag joint piece with the box, it will all swap over fine (i.e. the bolt pattern for the rag joint and the rag joint itself was the same across the board, the metal piece was splined differently from '76 and older and '77 and newer).

As for the flare fitting/o-ring deal, you can swap the pump (or even just the valve assembly) or you can have a hose made that is flare fitting on one side and o-ring on the other.

I'm not sure what you mean as far as the steering being better on the '73, the parts are 100% identical except for the way they seal the input spline (neither of which has any effect on performance).
 
38377k5 said:
The '73 box has flare fittings on the high pressure hose and has a 36 spline input. The '90 will be o-ring fittings and a 30 spline input.

If you keep the metal rag joint piece with the box, it will all swap over fine (i.e. the bolt pattern for the rag joint and the rag joint itself was the same across the board, the metal piece was splined differently from '76 and older and '77 and newer).

As for the flare fitting/o-ring deal, you can swap the pump (or even just the valve assembly) or you can have a hose made that is flare fitting on one side and o-ring on the other.

I'm not sure what you mean as far as the steering being better on the '73, the parts are 100% identical except for the way they seal the input spline (neither of which has any effect on performance).
Click to expand...

Thanks for that input it makes deciding what to swap and what to leave easier.

The '73 box, pump and lines are all relatively new and worked great with the axle that was in it. Steering was also tight and very responsive.

The set up in the '90 works but has room for improvement (could be caused some by the broken leaf spring pin and shifted leaves I found) and i figured that I would swap what I know works well.


:Edit:
Funny that you would reply to this as I talked to you guys last week and ordered up all new U-bolts, sway bar disconnects and some zero-rates.
 
38377k5 said:
I'm not sure what you mean as far as the steering being better on the '73, the parts are 100% identical except for the way they seal the input spline (neither of which has any effect on performance).
Click to expand...

Weren't the 70's versions variable rate, and the 80's constant rate? Or the other way around?
 
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