My 97 has some pretty serious problems driving straight. Put a lukes link on the track bar and helped but still bad. Checked again and everything is pretty tight except the sector shaft out the steering gear. Looks like the upper bearing or something is out and it is pivoting on the lower bearing or whatever is in ther by the way the pitman arm and shaft wobble when the wteering wheel is turned. I tried tightening the allen screw on the top plate but that didn't help with the loose shaft at all. Is there any other adjustment or just time for a new box?

 

I just replaced the box on mine and it steers alot better. It was leaking and I didnt feel like replacing the seals and so I just bought one. Glad I did. Took alot of play out of it. So something had to have some wear on it.

 

yeah mine is covered in oil. Started leacking last summer, probably blew the seal out from the shaft walking around

 

I just made a brass bushing on a lathe that replaces the needle bearings that support the sector shaft. It drives like a new truck, even though I still have a worn out joint that connects the pitman arm to the drag link. before, it would take about a quarter of a turn back and forth (1/8 of a turn from top either directions) to keep going straight down the highway. now it takes less than an inch and a half each direction to keep going straight.

 

can you get a rebuild kit to replace the bearings and seals in there?

 

yeah, you can get a rebuild kit for them.

http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/steeringbox.php

 

The stock steering box's really are inadequate. You can put a DSS on it to help the movement on the sector shaft but it's still has some internal issue in my opinion.

 

is there only 1 bearing in there or is ther an upper and lower bearing or bushing?

 

the upper one is a bushing. it almost never wears out. the lower needle bearing it a pile of crap, and it always goes out. I made the brass bushing to replace the lower needle bearing. it works really well. time will tell if it holds up, but it seems to be working well.

 

If I had access to a lathe that would be a cool idea. Are there any upgrades that can be done while its apart?