Steering Box, 75 K5 vs. 89 K5

[MaxCrack]

Hello All,

It's been a while. I finally acquired another K5 and am slowly putting the heavy duty gear I kept from the 75 onto the 89. I am getting ready to put in the axles (Dana 60 w/ crossover amd 14 Bolt) and I have to do the steering at the same time.

My question is: What is the difference in the Steering Box/Frame from a '75 and an '89?
Is there any way to use the old box on the new(er) truck?

 

[nvrenuf]

I'm not sure if there's any difference at the input shaft (where the column attaches) but they're probably the same. There is a fitting difference, older have flared fittings and the newer has the o-ring style. It's not that big of a deal, you could go with a matching pump assembly, change the hose fitting on the pump to match(as opposed to the assembly) or have a custom hose made with the appropriate fittings at each end.

 

[Bent77]

Not sure if frame is the same. Need the lines with an o ring for the newer box, also has a small input drive. You need the 89 era factory steering extension or an XJ shaft.

The boxes changed on 88-98

 

[obijuank5]

Could they just swap sector shafts?

 

[diesel4me]

The boxes should bolt on OK ,the K5 used the same basic frame up until 1990...the '75 box will have SAE flared hoses and the later one will have the metric threads and O-ring fittings..

As noted the steering colum end of the box "might" be the same size,but a lot of earlier GM 4x4's had a large splined end on the steering colum,not the "D" shaped style used on later models..I'm uncertain if the box itself has the same spline size on the rag joint connection or not..

 

[sweetk30]

The boxes should bolt on OK ,the K5 used the same basic frame up until 1990...the '75 box will have SAE flared hoses and the later one will have the metric threads and O-ring fittings..

As noted the steering colum end of the box "might" be the same size,but a lot of earlier GM 4x4's had a large splined end on the steering colum,not the "D" shaped style used on later models..I'm uncertain if the box itself has the same spline size on the rag joint connection or not..

1991 was the last year of solid axle blazer/suburban/crewcab . NOT 1990 . just a correction .

 

[diesel4me]

Your right--I think I have seen maybe only two K5's newer than '89,they were pretty rare around here..

I always thought it was strange GM didn't just change the body style of ALL their trucks when they introduced the '88 trucks,and kept only the 1 tons,Suburbans and K5's as square bodies..
Those years were hell for us parts countermen,no one seemed to know the difference between a "K" and a "V" or "R" model truck...lots of "wrong parts" were sold,and even catalogs didn't have correct listings often too!..

 

[Blue85]

I always thought it was strange GM didn't just change the body style of ALL their trucks when they introduced the '88 trucks,and kept only the 1 tons,Suburbans and K5's as square bodies..

No, GM's mistake was not keeping them longer.

 

[nvrenuf]

Your right--I think I have seen maybe only two K5's newer than '89,they were pretty rare around here..

I always thought it was strange GM didn't just change the body style of ALL their trucks when they introduced the '88 trucks,and kept only the 1 tons,Suburbans and K5's as square bodies..
Those years were hell for us parts countermen,no one seemed to know the difference between a "K" and a "V" or "R" model truck...lots of "wrong parts" were sold,and even catalogs didn't have correct listings often too!..

That's a good way to use up leftover body parts, etc.

 

[1-ton]

Not sure if frame is the same. Need the lines with an o ring for the newer box, also has a small input drive. You need the 89 era factory steering extension or an XJ shaft.

The boxes changed on 88-98

What is this steering extension or XJ shaft you are talking about? I have never heard of it.

 

[diesel4me]

There's more than a few threads here on the jeep steering shaft conversion--basically most 90's "square" Jeep Cherokees had a steering shaft with u-joints instead of the crap rubber disc type GM uses,that is practically a bolt in swap...

 

[skunked]

What is this steering extension or XJ shaft you are talking about? I have never heard of it.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/jeep-xj-steering-shaft-sweet-upgrade.286086/

 

[6.2Blazer]

Your right--I think I have seen maybe only two K5's newer than '89,they were pretty rare around here..

I always thought it was strange GM didn't just change the body style of ALL their trucks when they introduced the '88 trucks,and kept only the 1 tons,Suburbans and K5's as square bodies..
Those years were hell for us parts countermen,no one seemed to know the difference between a "K" and a "V" or "R" model truck...lots of "wrong parts" were sold,and even catalogs didn't have correct listings often too!..

Tell me about it. I bought my '90 K5 in 1994 and it was really hard to get the right parts for a lot of things. They always sold you parts for the "newer" style IFS pickups and then the part stores wanted to argue with you over it. Fortunately most parts were interchangeable with the '87 and older models so wound up saying that was the year of the vehicle. Even remember having discussions with Stephen at ORD about some of the unique items on the '89-'91 K5's like the 30 spline front 10-bolts.

 

[MaxCrack]

Thanks for the info. That's a bummer. Sounds like it will be easiest, though more expensive, to get a new box. I guess the axle swap is going to wait a few more months. On the plus side I could get a ram assist while I'm at it.

 

[Bent77]

What is this steering extension or XJ shaft you are talking about? I have never heard of it.

The column extension to the box.
Thanks @skunked for the link.

Older boxes need something else due to the larger input

 

[1-ton]

Your right--I think I have seen maybe only two K5's newer than '89,they were pretty rare around here..

I always thought it was strange GM didn't just change the body style of ALL their trucks when they introduced the '88 trucks,and kept only the 1 tons,Suburbans and K5's as square bodies..
Those years were hell for us parts countermen,no one seemed to know the difference between a "K" and a "V" or "R" model truck...lots of "wrong parts" were sold,and even catalogs didn't have correct listings often too!..

I get the same problem with my 1991 V3500. I try to tell the counter guy/gal that my truck is a "V" not a F*CKING "K" truck, and what do they do...pull out a "K" part every time. Then they get mad at me like it is my fault that they pulled the wrong part.