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Leaking steering box.

S

Silverbullet555

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Reno. NV/Santa Rosa, CA
Looks like it is time to replace the steering box on our 88 Suburban 3/4 ton 4wd. I also have the ORD brace to install at the same time. Been sitting on that for 2 years.

4 questions.

1.) There are a few jobs that I will let a mechanic handle because it is too much of a pita to do myself. Is this one of those jobs?

2.) What kind of job am I getting myself in to? I'm pretty handy and do all the maintenance on the Suburban, all of it on our boat and most of it on the Subaru and Duramax. Just curious what to expect.

3.) Any tips or tricks that will make this job easier? Common mistakes to avoid?

4.) I don't wheel this truck. I was going to just install a Napa rebuilt steering box. Any issues with that and anything else I should be replacing while in there?
 
First off, don't waste money on a mechanic for this. Its pretty easy. Get someone to help you though. The box is heavy.have him hold it while you bolt it in. If the ORD brace you have is bolt in, then no problem. You can do that solo. When I removed. My box, the lines going into the top were kind starting to strip. Tip, use a box end wrench like you use when doing brake lines. I got mine at Sears.

No need to pay someone 200 bucks when you can do it yourself.
 
munepit said:
First off, don't waste money on a mechanic for this. Its pretty easy. Get someone to help you though. The box is heavy.have him hold it while you bolt it in. If the ORD brace you have is bolt in, then no problem. You can do that solo. When I removed. My box, the lines going into the top were kind starting to strip. Tip, use a box end wrench like you use when doing brake lines. I got mine at Sears.

No need to pay someone 200 bucks when you can do it yourself.
Click to expand...

It's the bolt on brace. Should I install that first and then take the steering box out or can it all be done at the same time or should I do it at the end?

Sounds like I have my project for the end of the week.
 
no..no.. you have to install it when you go back to install the new box..
just put the one bolt in to hold the box in place.. then install the ORD per the instructions...you will understand when you see it.

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Yes... you can go either way with that. But it just seems stronger to me to use both together... no modification or anything needed.
 
Don't forget, the bolt in brace is for an uncracked frame.
If you find cracks when you get the box off, it will need to be drilled and welded and I'm pretty sure you will have to use the weld in type brace.

If you can't do the welding yourself, and the frame is not too bad, you can probably just install the new box and brace and then drive it to a welder.
 
+1... once you remove the box.. clean it up and look for cracks first before anything. They need to be address before anything else happens.
 
Fordum said:
Don't forget, the bolt in brace is for an uncracked frame.
If you find cracks when you get the box off, it will need to be drilled and welded and I'm pretty sure you will have to use the weld in type brace.

If you can't do the welding yourself, and the frame is not too bad, you can probably just install the new box and brace and then drive it to a welder.
Click to expand...

I would be surprised if the frame is cracked. This truck wasn't off-roaded, it was owned by an older couple before we bought it and the tires have been 235/85/16 at the biggest so there has been very little stress to the frame.

I think I'll be ok, but I am quietly hoping for a crack so I can buy a new welder. I have been considering it and it could push me over the edge to by a millermatic.
 
Mine wasnt cracked.. that's why I wanted the ORD brace... to keep it that way.

that brace does work well to keep it solid
 
small hijack- I'm converting my 2wd to 4wd...will that brace work on my truck (burb)..? -hijack off...:whistle:
 
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