Steering box question

[gm29chev]

I have an 86 blazer k5 and need to redo my steering. Does anyone know where I can find a new steering box for this? If not, does anyone know where I can find a diagram of the steering box on my truck?

 

[obijuan]

theyre a couple hundred bucks at the auto parts store.

 

[BigTex]

All the auto parts stores have remanufactured units. I've always had success with OReilly's.

 

[andyblack]

All the auto parts stores have remanufactured units. I've always had success with OReilly's.

I've had mixed results with remanufactured boxes. The one I have now was about $150 after the core charge from O'Reilly and it's about 4 or 5 months old and the pitman shaft is already starting to wallow around when I turn the wheel. There's also a weird popping sound coming out of it. I think I'm going to turn it back in and get another one while it's still under warranty. I think that many times these "remanufactured" boxes just have new seals and paint and aren't actually rebuilt fully. The best thing to do in my opinion is to find a shop that has a good reputation for rebuilding them and take it to them. This would probably cost less too.

I remember reading a thread a few months back about rebuilt steering boxes and one of the members on here, 4X4 High, who is very knowledgable, said that there are a lot of bearings inside the box that have two (I think) specific diameters that are very close and each bearing must be installed in exactly the right way in order to get the box to work right. You could do a search for that thread. It had some good info.

 

[TexasSilhouette]

Rebuilding a box is not a huge job; they are actually pretty simple in operation and assembly. The only exception is if you have seriously worn hard parts but that is a rare exception. You will want a large clean work space to tear it down, clean it up and put it back together.

 

[andyblack]

Rebuilding a box is not a huge job; they are actually pretty simple in operation and assembly. The only exception is if you have seriously worn hard parts but that is a rare exception. You will want a large clean work space to tear it down, clean it up and put it back together.

Where could you find a rebuild kit?

 

[TexasSilhouette]

Where could you find a rebuild kit?

O'Reilly auto parts lists them on their website, I'd give you a link but the board won't let me. They have several that vary in price from $30-$80. Make sure you get the one you need. If your pitman shaft bearing has any slop in it I suggest a kit that comes with the bearing.

 

[bronc3buster842001]

Scott (4x4High) here rebuilds them. Might send him a PM if he dont chime in here soon.