Power Steering Box Rebuild options

Post by **Gregg** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 8:53 am

My current stock PS box has a little slop and is leaking more than I like. I haven't done anything to it other than the hose adapters to the explorer pump. However, we did add the PS Frame Reinforcement Kit.
http://www.bcbroncos.com/store/product_ ... cts_id=331
I don't want to pull the kit and drill new holes in the frame for a 4x4x2 box. That shipped sailed when we put the f**king spacers in.

I'm not going to attempt the rebuild myself but I've read some positive posts about West Texas Off Road. Here is what they quoted me:
Bearings and seals = $160 plus shipping.
If it needs more than bearings and seals we will contact you with an estimate to repair.
Upgrade to the quicksteer gearbox internals add $150.

I'm leaning to bearings, seals, and the quicksteer gearbox upgrade because I'm assuming the current gears will need replacing anyway. What do you guys think?

Post by **Justin** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:06 am

How many turns lock to lock is your current box? If it's the earlier 6 turn box, the switch to 4 turns is a nice upgrade. I made that transition when I went from manual to power steering and really liked how it changed the feel of the truck. I'm also not convinced that a 4x4x2 upgrade would make a massive difference if you're never going to build bigger than your rig currently is. If I were paying someone to professionally recondition my steering box, it'd go to West Texas Offroad. That said, you can probably get a 4x4x2 box for similar money to what you're spending and it's not hard to drill two holes. I just knocked out the spacers to move mine forward an inch, and it wasn't bad at all. I'll be plating the inside of the frame rail as well and would be happy to help you do yours.

Post by **landshark** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:31 am

Call raven power steering here in Denver and tell them what you want. They are pretty good and although your a ways away there's no shipping.

Post by **Gregg** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:03 am

Thanks for the offer Justin, but the plates and spacers are going to stay where they are. I'm pretty sure it's a 6 turn and I'd opt for the 4.

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:47 pm

If only there was a local guy that knew how to rebuild these.

Just order the ratio upgrade kit and I'll walk you through a rebuild next time I'm in town.

Post by **Kinder** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:14 pm

Viperwolf1 wrote:If only there was a local guy that knew how to rebuild these.

Just order the ratio upgrade kit and I'll walk you through a rebuild next time I'm in town.

Sounds like the making of a tech day!

Post by **Justin** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:30 pm

I'll echo Viper's thought. Jason recently tapped my PS box for hydro and they're surprisingly simple devices.

Post by **Gregg** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 10:06 am

Viperwolf1 wrote:If only there was a local guy that knew how to rebuild these.

Just order the ratio upgrade kit and I'll walk you through a rebuild next time I'm in town.

Cool. I've looked into the Bronco vendors and I can only find complete / rebuilt boxes in the $1000 plus range. I'm sure we are just talking about a worm gear, piston nut and an overhaul kit:
http://www.tomsbroncoparts.com/product/ ... bronco-new
Where do you suggest I get the worm gear and piston nut? NAPA for 76-77 EB?
Thanks Viper.

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 12:04 pm

Gregg wrote:
Viperwolf1 wrote:If only there was a local guy that knew how to rebuild these.

Just order the ratio upgrade kit and I'll walk you through a rebuild next time I'm in town.

Cool. I've looked into the Bronco vendors and I can only find complete / rebuilt boxes in the $1000 plus range. I'm sure we are just talking about a worm gear, piston nut and an overhaul kit:
http://www.tomsbroncoparts.com/product/ ... bronco-new
Where do you suggest I get the worm gear and piston nut? NAPA for 76-77 EB?
Thanks Viper.

I wish it was that easy to get the quick ratio parts. Call Tom Lee and tell him you want the parts to convert to 14.7:1 ratio. Should be part number 40302-LH. The seal and bearing kit can be found at o'reilly under part number 7848.

http://lee-powersteering.com/contact-us.htm

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:51 pm

Some guy wrote about this a while back. Not sure if he knows what he's talking about.
poke

https://www.alpineclassicbroncos.com/vi ... f=14&t=157

https://www.alpineclassicbroncos.com/vi ... f=14&t=178

Post by **akaFrankCastle** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:57 pm

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:10 pm

I guess you need a log on to access the site now.

Post by **Gregg** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:05 pm

Viperwolf1 wrote:
Gregg wrote:
Viperwolf1 wrote:If only there was a local guy that knew how to rebuild these.

Just order the ratio upgrade kit and I'll walk you through a rebuild next time I'm in town.

Cool. I've looked into the Bronco vendors and I can only find complete / rebuilt boxes in the $1000 plus range. I'm sure we are just talking about a worm gear, piston nut and an overhaul kit:
http://www.tomsbroncoparts.com/product/ ... bronco-new
Where do you suggest I get the worm gear and piston nut? NAPA for 76-77 EB?
Thanks Viper.

I wish it was that easy to get the quick ratio parts. Call Tom Lee and tell him you want the parts to convert to 14.7:1 ratio. Should be part number 40302-LH. The seal and bearing kit can be found at o'reilly under part number 7848.

http://lee-powersteering.com/contact-us.htm

Lees PS has the 14.7:1 ratio (3 1/3 turn) and the 17:1 (4 1/4) worm/piston gear. I've read reviews and maybe the 4 1/4 would be better for my highway /wheeling ratio. They've said the 3 turn can be tricky on curves at high speeds but the 4 turn is the best for both worlds. What do you guys think that have one or the other?

BTW- O O O O'reilly's doesn't have a 7848 kit but has the 7858:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... ebuild+kit

Post by **Justin** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:08 pm

I'm really happy with a 4:1. I suspect 3.3:1 would result in nervous handling. That's faster than the ratio in the go-fast little cars I've owned.

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:53 pm

It's just your Bronco so 17:1 would be fine.

Post by **Gregg** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:32 am

I made sure last night that I have a 6 turn before I got the 4. I jacked it up and from lock to lock it went 5 1/4 turns.

I just ordered the 17:1 gear (part number 40308) and the rebuild kit (http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/powe ... +gear+7858)
i'll post-up when they get here.
Im looking forward to this!

Post by **Justin** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 1:47 pm

Link fail. Curious to see what you found.

Post by **sbolt19** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 3:29 pm

I had my box rebuilt a few years ago by West Texas Offroad. They did a great job and the entire time from drop off to drop off was a week. They rebuilt my box & changed the turn to the 4 turn and all total I was out a little less than $400, including shipping. The 4x4 shops here in the Springs are a joke at rebuilding them and the prices they wanted, so I asked over on CB.com and the general consensus was these guys. Quick turn around and they will answer any question you have.

http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/index.html

Post by **Gregg** » Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:22 pm

I have the parts and I'm waiting for some time. I'm thinking the first week of April or any long weekend between now until then.

Post by **TOOLMAN** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 7:11 am

I might have to look into this as I've got a small leak at the sector shaft. Also, I'd like to go to a quicker ratio. I agree with a possible tech day!

Post by **Moab Mike** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:55 am

Gregg wrote:I have the parts and I'm waiting for some time. I'm thinking the first week of April or any long weekend between now until then.

Make sure I'm in town when you do this.

Post by **Justin** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:25 pm

That'd be a cool tech day between the guys that want to re-work stock boxes and those that might build a 4x4x2 box-it's the same process. Let me get through the Lars Bars tech day and we can look at setting something up for April.

Post by **TOOLMAN** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:59 pm

Justin wrote:That'd be a cool tech day between the guys that want to re-work stock boxes and those that might build a 4x4x2 box-it's the same process. Let me get through the Lars Bars tech day and we can look at setting something up for April.

Giddy up!

Post by **Gunnibronco** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:20 pm

I know this is the wrong place, but I've got a stock Bronco PS box that just needs the input seal replaced. Its probably a 6 turn box, bought from Toms with a p/s conversion kit 15? years ago. I was going to wait till my project is done to post all my stuff for sale, but if someone is interested. $250.

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 8:35 pm

Gunnibronco wrote:I know this is the wrong place, but I've got a stock Bronco PS box that just needs the input seal replaced. Its probably a 6 turn box, bought from Toms with a p/s conversion kit 15? years ago. I was going to wait till my project is done to post all my stuff for sale, but if someone is interested. $250.

That will go quickly.

Post by **trei75bronco** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:15 am

I've done a few rebuilds on these. They are a little complicated but not terribly hard. You should be fine

www.ColoradoClassicBroncos.com