Steering Gearbox

Jennifer.Diamonds · Mar 1, 2018

Haven't found much info on this subject, so I'm looking for opinions.
My engine is currently at the machine shop.. and I'm bored and looking for stuff to rebuild while the jobs are easier to get to. One being my steering gearbox. The steering is sloppy as all get out.. About 3 inches of play I would guess. So, my question:
Will buying a rebuild kit such as this one help the slop? Or should I just get a new steering box?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...alog/dodge,1998,durango,5.2l+v8,1314463,steering,steering+gear+rebuild+kit,7397

I would like to save money if possible.. But I want to fix my horrid steering. I'm also replacing all my ball joints, control arm bushings, struts, tie rods, pitman/idler arms, bumpers and anything else I find bad in the process. This truck was abused by the previous owner so bad.
Currently has about 117k miles on it.
Thanks in advance for any help here

-Jenna

Joluma09 · Mar 1, 2018

X2 on steering being sloppy

FireEater · Mar 1, 2018

I just removed all the guts from my new box so I could drill and tap it for hydro assist steering.

It’s pretty easy and the only tedious part is putting all the ball bearings back in it.

There are 24 bearings in it. 12 are slightly bigger than the other 12. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to tell the difference by the color of them. It can be kinda hard to tell, but 12 are silver and 12 are slightly black.

The ones in my new box were all the same color. So I had to use calipers to try and figure them out. They are so close in size that I ended up using a digital caliper to tell the difference.

This video is the best out there for rebuilding a box.

You most likely will not get the bearings installed properly on the first try. Watch that part of the video a few times and keep trying. It took me 2 times to get them right.

In all honesty, I would just buy a rebuilt one to save a lot of tedious work. Like I said, the only reason I tore down my new one was that I had to drill and tap the box.

I still had slop in my steering even after installing the new one with the hydraulic ram assist steering. So I had to adjust the screw at the top of the box until I got the steering tight enough to my liking. It’s just the way of Saginaw boxes. I run 37” tires on my ‘98 Durango, so that’s the reason I went this route.

Here is a video on how to adjust the slop out.

Here is a video explaining how it works when you adjust it.

Hope this helps and ask away if you have anymore questions.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

MWeed · Mar 1, 2018

It can be rebuilt, new replacement units are available. If you do any off roading, I believe AGR makes a stronger replacement box. The D uses a GM box prior to the 2000 model rack and pinion.

Jennifer.Diamonds · Mar 1, 2018

FireEater said:
Hope this helps and ask away if you have anymore questions.

Thank you for the reply!
After watching the videos, I see that I'll need to finish the rest of the rebuild on the steering systems (tie rods, pitman arms ect..) before assuming that the problem is even related to the gearbox. Because over adjusting the gearbox to try to compensate for other systems that I know for sure need replaced may prove fatal to the gearbox in the end.
All that being said though, my original question still stands for anyone who might know: Can bad seals cause slop in the steering? Or would they just lead to catastrophic failure of the box?

Jennifer.Diamonds · Mar 1, 2018

MWeed said:
It can be rebuilt, new replacement units are available. If you do any off roading, I believe AGR makes a stronger replacement box. The D uses a GM box prior to the 2000 model rack and pinion.

I understand it can be rebuilt/replaced, but my question was:
"Will buying a rebuild kit such as this one help the slop? Or should I just get a new steering box?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...build+kit,7397 "

MWeed · Mar 1, 2018

As you said, without doing the other parts so that there is no additional play in the system it won't fix the problem. Personally, I'd do the other components first and then see how much play is left in the system. Also check the flex coupling on the steering column shaft as it is a known failure point.

Jennifer.Diamonds · Mar 1, 2018

MWeed said:
As you said, without doing the other parts so that there is no additional play in the system it won't fix the problem. Personally, I'd do the other components first and then see how much play is left in the system. Also check the flex coupling on the steering column shaft as it is a known failure point.

ok, let me rephrase this, maybe I'm asking the question wrong.

"If everything else on my durango is in perfect shape, but some seals on my steering box are shot, will there be slop in the steering?"

BlackWolf · Mar 1, 2018

seals will not cause slop, only loss of fluid and eventual box destruction. slop in the box is caused by wear in the bearings and on the gears. lack of lubrication will cause wear and slop, but the seals themselves will not unless its been run low on fluid for an extended period of time.

Jennifer.Diamonds · Mar 1, 2018

BlackWolf said:
seals will not cause slop, only loss of fluid and eventual box destruction. slop in the box is caused by wear in the bearings and on the gears. lack of lubrication will cause wear and slop, but the seals themselves will not unless its been run low on fluid for an extended period of time.

Perfect! Well. I just ordered all the parts I need for a full rebuild of the suspension and steering systems up front. Hope I don't need a steering box afterward! haha

Steering Gearbox

Jennifer.Diamonds

Joluma09

FireEater

MWeed

Jennifer.Diamonds

Jennifer.Diamonds

MWeed

Jennifer.Diamonds

BlackWolf

Jennifer.Diamonds

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