Reman Steering Box Oddity

[nvrenuf]

A few months ago I bought a Cardone brand reman box (stock replacement). I came with a rubber cover on the input so I didn’t notice the difference until it was bolted on. Anyone seen this before? Is there something I should transfer over from the old unit?

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

It wouldn't hurt to keep dust from settling in there.

 

[1-ton]

Those things are a dust cover. Cannot hurt to keep it. Those things usually go bye bye after someone that is too lazy to reinstall it chucks it.

 

[nvrenuf]

That rubber cover piece is really loose fitting, leave it on??

Since it fits loosely, any thoughts about gluing it in place with a few dabs of RTV?

 

[nvrenuf]

For the record, I called Cardone's tech line and asked about the difference and the guy says the spanner nut has a seal on the inner side so there is no need to run the rubber cover (it's for shipping only along with the sleeve over the splines). It's sealed as is, run it.

This makes me happy.

 

[bigjimmy82]

Guessing they had to bore and sleeve the box so that’s the result?

 

[nvrenuf]

The guy didn’t elaborate as to why, just made it sound like some were assembled the typical way and some like mine.

I wondered if mine could be a Cardone casting as opposed to a reman casting. In addition to the different nut, the mouth of the housing has square notches around the perimeter and the mounting bolt bosses are slightly thicker (I run lock nuts on the exposed bolt ends and there’s not enough thread showing now).

 

[bigjimmy82]

Oh, I thought the square notches were the sleeve, kinda like an upper ball joint where the taper is replaceable. New casting would be good too!

 

[1-ton]

One thing I did with my steering box set up was to drill out the threads in the box with a 7/16 drill. I then used 7/16 studs that run all the way through the box, and then installed nuts, lock washers, and washers on both sides of the box. That way I am not using the threads in the steering box to hold the box to the frame...the studs are now holding the box to the frame on both sides. I also have the steering box brackets, and the frame steel reinforcement plate welded to the frame. My frame was never cracked, but I installed the reinforcement plate anyway to give it all the strength it needs to handle cross-over steering, and 38" tires.

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

This is a napa reman box.

 

[nvrenuf]

If I hadn’t bought this box almost a year ago I’d have grabbed yours.

@bigjimmy82 your right it looks like some sort of collar etc put in during the reman. I went back out and looked, there’s a seam that goes all the way around just behind the notches.

 

[bigjimmy82]

So they can get another round out of the housing, but probably more in-spec now then most!