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Need steering system recommendation

Timsar

Timsar

Registered Member
 Premium
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SF / N. Kali
Hi,
Newbie here again, with a 74 K5. I have a pretty loose steering. You can turn the steering wheel nearly 1/2 turn, back and forth, without any wheel movements.

Just upgraded my tires to 285/70/R16, not that it matters.

Did a tiny bit of online look and liked what I read about Borgenson steering box and telescopic shafts and inner seal replacement. The detailed youtube video helped also.

Use case is purely senior citizen cruising on asphalt.

What do you guys recommend for steering control improvements?
1- Steering box
2- steering shaft
3- steering stabilizers
4- what else?

Thank you in advance for sharing your experience and wisdom.
 
Steering box reinforcement and repair kits!
 
I recommend searching through the threads here about loose steering. Basically, you need to do some work identifying what's loose and what's not, going over the whole steering system and also the front suspension. You may have to start with whatever you find to be the worst and work your way down the list until it's satisfactory. Keep in mind that the frames tend to crack behind the steering box and until it's really bad, it's impossible to see with the steering box installed.
 
Thank you for the advice. It sounds like that i need to remove the steering box to check for cracks. If so, then i need the Steering box reinforcement and repair kits, as another prem. Member mentioned earlier.
Doesnt a ujoint type steering assembly work better than the original rag joint? Given the truck is 50 yrs old, the flexible rag joint is bound to become loose.
 
Thank you for the advice. It sounds like that i need to remove the steering box to check for cracks. If so, then i need the Steering box reinforcement and repair kits, as another prem. Member mentioned earlier.
Doesnt a ujoint type steering assembly work better than the original rag joint? Given the truck is
Blue85 said:
I recommend searching through the threads here about loose steering. Basically, you need to do some work identifying what's loose and what's not, going over the whole steering system and also the front suspension. You may have to start with whatever you find to be the worst and work your way down the list until it's satisfactory. Keep in mind that the frames tend to crack behind the steering box and until it's really bad, it's impossible to see with the steering box installed.
Click to expand...
Is there a spray or some chemical that you can use to find cracks, like magnetic particle inspection?
 
Timsar said:
Thank you for the advice. It sounds like that i need to remove the steering box to check for cracks. If so, then i need the Steering box reinforcement and repair kits, as another prem. Member mentioned earlier.
Doesnt a ujoint type steering assembly work better than the original rag joint? Given the truck is

Is there a spray or some chemical that you can use to find cracks, like magnetic particle inspection?
Click to expand...
I don't think you'll need anything to see the cracking. Magnetic Particle Inspections, like on heads on motors, finds hairline cracks on non-moving parts. The steering box will actually crack and then shear the material, so the cracks should be relatively clear. If it's super greasy, I'd definitely clean it off so you can see what's going on.
 
Blue85 said:
The quickest way to get going in the right direction is to have somebody work the steering side to side while you look at what's moving. You'll want to look at the slop with engine off and also with full force of the power steering on it.
Click to expand...
Exactly, that will even show you the box moving if the frame is cracked.
Another place people rarely check but did cause my steering to have a 1/2 turn slop was a sheered centering pin on my springs, that was easy to spot once I knew what to look for, the spring will have evidence of sliding back and forth, usually on the steering side.
 
Timsar said:
Thank you for the advice. It sounds like that i need to remove the steering box to check for cracks. If so, then i need the Steering box reinforcement and repair kits, as another prem. Member mentioned earlier.
Doesnt a ujoint type steering assembly work better than the original rag joint? Given the truck is

Is there a spray or some chemical that you can use to find cracks, like magnetic particle inspection?
Click to expand...
Pull the box and clean the frame. I used a flap disk to get it to bare metal here:
IMG_20220423_110824162.jpg
Also, I have run a Borgeson double u-joint shaft on my K10 since 2019 and its worth the money:
IMG_20190106_133600736.jpg
 
A Jeep Cherokee “xj” shaft can also be made to fit, depending on the year it’s from it will have the right ends already.

Steering stabilizer is only a mask for the problem, I’m running 37’s with no stabilizer or any issues, but have improved/replaced all worn components.

Even if the frame isn’t cracked the weld on brace + the bolt on brace isn’t a bad idea. Bolt on brace being a minimum.

Checking everything for play is a great first start and go from there. I found loose engine crossmember rivets checking the steering :eek:
 
the xj shaft may not fit a 74. The steering column might be 1" 41-42 spline.
 
I don't think pulling the box is the place to start, but it certainly is somewhere on the list for peace of mind. Getting the bolt-on brace is a good idea and maybe the only part I would recommend buying before climbing underneath it and doing the proper diagnosis. Wouldn't you be bummed to tear things apart to replace whatever you guessed was wrong, just to have a problem remain and have to do it over again? Wouldn't it be silly to replace some good quality old part with a crappy new part that doesn't address the problem?
 
Well, fortunately, this is a project car and it is not being driven till i have everything taken care of.

I am leaving on a trip and when back, i plan to order the following regardless to start with:

Borgenson steering shaft and close ratio steering box and frame reinforcement.

After jacking the front end up, with engine running, i will check all the loose connections and report back to the tread on what to do next.

Then will check for cracks, once i removed the box, sand off the frame, install the plates, apply finish and replace the box and shaft.

Question: if I find a crack, should i weld the seam, even though i am still installing/welding the support plates?
 
Drill the ends of it and weld up yes, drilling a small hole at the ends of the crack relieve the stress and help reduce further cracking is what I remember. I think “stress riser” is the term
 
yes drill the ends of any crack, V grind the crack, weld up. The weld on frame plate many times need custom fitting to the steering box. Sometime the center is not concave enough to clear the box while sitting flat at all bolt flange tabs.

Don't jack up the front axle while checking for play. Have your help move the wheel only enough to take up the slack and then back. You really don't want the wheels to turn just see what is loose.

after that then jack up the front, use body stands on axle, rear tires chocked. Use a large pry bar to pry the tires straight up while watching the ball joints. If any up and down movement ball joints are bad.
 
Timsar said:
Borgenson steering shaft and close ratio steering box and frame reinforcement.
Click to expand...
Oh man. Delay parts cannon. Focus on diagnosis. Meanwhile, search threads here for XJ steering shaft (in case diagnosis shows it's needed). Please explain how close ratio box became a sudden priority.
 
I like the feel and responsiveness of a close ratio box.

In terms of parts cannon, these cars and the components are 60 design years and 50 manufacturing years old. Bushings, rubbers, Joints wear out, degrade and fall out of tolerance. Plus they were not manufactured for tight tolerances and longevity. Hence, if I am down there, might as well. O intend to keep this car and pass it down to my son and maybe put a e-crate engine in it when they ban gasoline engines.
 
Timsar said:
Hi,
Newbie here again, with a 74 K5. I have a pretty loose steering. You can turn the steering wheel nearly 1/2 turn, back and forth, without any wheel movements.

Just upgraded my tires to 285/70/R16, not that it matters.

Did a tiny bit of online look and liked what I read about Borgenson steering box and telescopic shafts and inner seal replacement. The detailed youtube video helped also.

Use case is purely senior citizen cruising on asphalt.

What do you guys recommend for steering control improvements?
1- Steering box
2- steering shaft
3- steering stabilizers
4- what else?

Thank you in advance for sharing your experience and wisdom.
Click to expand...
Ok check all the stuff you need, like the guys are saying. Also you can upgrade to a whole new system from PSC. If you are planning to do some upgrades. Then I would install the one you want later down the line!
 
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