Ok, Ill try and keep this long story short.

Pulled my Autozone box off about 3 months ago because something let loose inside. It worked good for about a yr.

Took it to a local reputible shop 30yrs in bus... Asked them to rebuild it, whatever it cost make it right and maybe shorten the turns up a bit if he could. Got it back, leaked sitting on the bench. Took it back, got it back again, put it on, installed pitman arm wiggled it and it moved like crazy, took it back...very frustrated at this point Got it back again, put it on and actually got to drive it!! it was very tough to turn, wandered all over messed up, pulled box again.. Took it back, ****** now... Got it back on again after they found a guy adjusted the preload wrong on the worm gear. Took it for a drive and it was still real bad, not sdafe to drive. Called the guy and asked him *** is up and he basically told me to **** off and go to Auto Zone and exchange it.

IN the meantime, I rebuilt the whole front end, tie rod ends, king pins the works,

Get the auto zone one on there, much better but not like the original or any of the other first gens I drove, just seems real hard to turn, wanders and draggy. So I put a new ps pump on and no difference, So I drive it for awhile hoping it would be better. No go

So I put another Auto zone one on, and well Its good best one so far, but still not like a normal one. I mean I have 3 old first gens that I am comparing it to and they all are 10x better. MY blown out one on my dump truck goes straighter down the road..

So, can anyone give me a few tips or ideas to check, I am spent on this. My truck has literly been dwn for 3 months. To busy working on other stuff!! Oh and I took the steering stabilizers off and tried without those, put one one tried that. All kinds of combinations. Im about ready to Order up an AGR box and put cross over on it and call it done. My AGR box has worked perfect on My wheeling truck for 5 yrs.... Thanks guys

 

Wanders and draggy means the preload is too tight. It's a lousy rebuild.

 

The problem with autozone is they only fix whats broken. In this case it sounds like they got a worn out box and tried to get away with just taking the slack out with the adjustment screw on the back.

 

I am going to go with a AGR box once mine goes to crap again. I had the same problem and ended up buying a box from a member here that was better (but still not tight) than the two i got from my local supply houses. There is also a bearing preload that you can set and sometimes makes the boxes better. This explains it.

 

This old thread has both the Mopar part number (yes, the steering gear is still available) and contact info. for Redhead Steering in Seattle, a rebuilder who has been highly recommended elsewhere on this forum:

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...=steering+gear

 

HEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok swapped in another box. Older box off a 91 half ton. same box just trying some things out. It is a litle better not much,
Something tells me to replace the Vacume pump. What is the vacume pumps main purpose, buld vacume to support brake booster and cruise control. Does it have any effect on Pwr steering. I am lost here and really just descusted over the matter. Any help would be appreciated.

 

vacuum pump has nothing to do with steering, except that the ps pump is mounted inline with it...Could be a bad used box also. How is the rag joint and universal?..Mark

 

What are your toe and caster settings?

 

Well, toe is like 1/4 and caster?? I have no shims, just 2" drop hangers in the front. But all that has never changed. This thing used to go beautiful down the road. Then something in the steering box let go. So then I started on my Gearbox adventures. Which then led me to rebuilding the whole front end, new ps pump. different vacum pump and multiple gearboxes.

Wonderong if I should just drop the coin and buy a AGR box which has been on my wheelin truck for years without any issues. Then while im at it cross over.. It just never ends.. Would like to swap boxes but the one on my wheeling truck is a reverse roataion.

 

I know you're probably already done it, but have you verified your power steering pump is working?

If not:
1. Get the front end up on jackstands.
2. Disconnect the RETURN hose from the PS pump.
3. Put a small piece of duct tape over the (now open) inlet pipe on the PS pump to prevent leakage.
4. Drop the open end of the return hose into a small container.
5. Start the truck and have your helper slowly turning the steering wheel from lock to lock.
6. Observe the PS fluid squirting into the container whenever the steering wheel is moving.

This will at least verify your PS pump is building pressure and the fluid is in fact moving through the steering gearbox.

 

Well, I called AGR and they hooked me up. Have a nice new box coming with a Heavy duty pump also.
Heck I couldn't even sell the truck the way it is. I'll report back the end of next week to let you guys know the results. Im hoping for the best.

 

DNR, you have my condolences,these are the things that make us start to hating our trks.,but our trks., arn't who we really want to hit or HURT!!!( heavy breathing) lol.But when you solve your problem, just think of all the other (heavy breathing) people you will be helping out. i get the same fustration's over wiring problems.

 

Putting money into the old trucks stinks no doubt. But driving the trouble free old truck over time brings the money back into your wallet, trust me.

 

What was your end result on fixing this issue?