So I bought a rebuilt Cardone steering box (yes, I know) for an XJ and it has 2" of slop (measured at the OD of the steering wheel), before the pitman arm starts moving. Is this typical of cheapo rebuilds? My 205K XJ still has not play in the steering wheel.
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Steering box slop
- Thread starter Mikel
- Start date
stjames151
RIP 2/1/2023
If you dont replace all the other steering parts, they'll refuse warranty...but yes, rebuilds are hit and miss. I've had decent experience with them, but have first hand knowledge of several stupid tax situations.
Lbhsbz
Toyota Fag
Yes, Most of the production line rebuilds just put seal kits in 'em and don't replace any worn hard parts, because they're not really available.
KarlVP
Not Sure
Call redhead steering. They will do you right.
DWT
Dirty White Trash
Did you check to see where the slip is coming from? If it's sector shaft backlash that's easily adjusted but if it's in the u joint or rag joint in the column then that's another story.
If you adjust the backlash, just make sure you don't overdo it - a slightly sloppy box is annoying, a stuck box can be a news-worthy bad day.
dave_dj1
Red Skull Member
Of the three I have bought over the years one of them was a POS on arrival, I made NAPA take it right back and get me another one, that one was fine.
NOODLES
Meat Head
If you steer the box either way, then check for slopwhen not centered and it is the same, adjust the box. If you steer, and the slop is not the same when turned, you got a shifty box.
Ah yes, nothing quite like bump steering corners on the highway with the steering wheel.
I always just thought that you were supposed to constantly steer left and right to go in a straight line down the road. Now I know that is not normal and I swerve in a vehicle with tight steering
mrshaft696
MudHammer
i go thru a box a year on 35s all junk......
Motorcharge
Unregistered User
13 posts and not one sloppy box pun.
V30crewcab
Well-known member
readjust it correctly and move on. by correctly, I mean tighten the end where the steering shaft goes into first, then adjust the backlash on the top. your slop will probably be in the input shaft end. There was a good writeup on the other site, but photophukit screwed that up. get yourself a factory chevy service manual and it has all the details in it.
ConwayMuddy
Dis member
2 inches of play? My shitbox suburban has almost a quarter turn worth of slop, steering is as light as a feather.
I have thought about doing an irate write up with fresh pics on how to go through a saginaw box. I see there interest?
TrikeKid
Junk Hoarder
Sounds worthwhile to me, they aren't making new boxes for this old shit so it's gonna keep being an issue.
Unless the Chinese kid putting it together dropped a ball or two when putting it back together. Or the piston and corkscrew aren’t a matched pair. Or the sector shaft and piston aren’t a matched pair. Theirs a few things that some junk rebuilds aren’t going to be adjusted out.
V30crewcab
Well-known member
thats true. I always just rebuild my own steering box.
V30crewcab
Well-known member
A new writeup would be great. I would but can't find time for anything lately.
Ted_Kaczynski
On A Journey
Cracked "frame" near mounting points?
Poopyface
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2020
- Member Number
- 1904
- Messages
- 697
I always just thought that you were supposed to constantly steer left and right to go in a straight line down the road. Now I know that is not normal and I swerve in a vehicle with tight steering
That's how I learned to drive after watching Navy Seals.
arse_sidewards
Contrary to everything
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Member Number
- 71
- Messages
- 8,382
Ted_Kaczynski
On A Journey
He said XJ, not squarebody GM
Notice the quotes...lol
I've fixed a few of XJs for friends where the bolt holes through the unibody were broke loose, one ripped the steering box all the way off.