The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk steering box and more

Hey guys, new here but not to old chevy trucks. The site is great and full uf info. I'm starting to rebuild and replace frontend parts (disk set-up 5 lug)on my orig. drop axel and noticed a lot of fluid coming from the orig. steering box. should I rebuild or replace?
Still have stovebolt and orig. floor 3 speed but will be removing tranny and torque tube for
newer replacements. :rolleyes: also have alot of ?s about that... what 4/5 speed and what rear w/5 on 4 3/4 bolt with leaf spring pearches to match my new disk set-up and on and on. I try to read all of your questions and answers but it's alot more to find out what people like yourselfs have done and proven it's will work is the best part. Thanx in advance for your advice ,answers,and suggestions. Mike

what year truck?

It's a 48' . I remembered that after I posted the thread, an posted another one called more info. Thanx, Mike

The leaking steering gear is probably from the sector shaft seal, which is probably original. The old ones were just a packing type of seal. If you replace it with a modern lip type seal it will probably take care of your leaking problem. But then of course, you might have to disassemble the steering gear to replace the seal, so you might as well overhaul the whole thing while you are into it. There isn't much to them. Some bushings, a couple thrust bearings, and the seal. I'm going through this right now with a '41 steering gear to put in my '37. You might get lucky though and be able to remove the seal without taking the entire steering gear apart.

That seal is, or at least was recently, available from GM. Part #07801626 Group 6.855
The reproduction seals (non GM) are junk.

Thanx guys, I guess ill take it apart but I was hopeing for another updated replacement.

Mike,

Various vendors sell a kit like this:

http://www.brotherstrucks.com/tech/...7-1959%20POWER%20STEERING%20INSTALLATION

I intend to do this to one of my trucks.

Bill

Hey Bill, This is a old thread but did you buy a kit like this? and if so what part of your old steering do you keep and what parts do you get rid of? Thanx. BTW Car show in Roanoke March 3,4,5 with swap meet in parking lot on 4th and 5th. (MDA) show. may we can hook up! Thanx again, Mike

The rebuild kits come with bushings, bearings, gaskets, shims, sector adjusting screw, and sector shaft seal. The bushing installation is the most difficult part of this rebuild. It takes a bit of work to install them and then they need to be reamed to fit the sector shaft. If your current bushings are in good shape just leave them alone. Do a search on this subject it has been recently discussed at length.

Jim

hey mike!!!... good to see ya...i've been watching your posts... glad to see you've been busy on that '48... i plan to replace the entire box in my '35 with a power unit... i just picked up a toyota box last night from down in Naruna... i'm hoping i can make it work like i want it too... i'm going to build my own adapter setup from scratch... i did find a ready made adapter plate to adapt 2 different toyota boxes to small block engines but i haven't yet decided which pump i want to use... i need to find out the pressures for the toyota stuff as opposed to the chevy saginaw boxes... i bought my front disc brake adapters from ECI but i haven't picked out my rotors and calipers yet... i'm switching my rearend to a mid 90's S10/2wd/3:42... i think that will do fine for my saginaw 4-speed/350 sbc 3 tripower...i'm looking forward to the Roanoke thing... hollar at me whenener you want to... bill

mikes... those adapter i found mount the steering "PUMPS" to the sbc not the "box" as i posted... ugh... i need coffee... bill

Hey Bill , your look-n-good today! Hey I bought a 1989 S-10 rearend for my '48 but it was toooo narrow. check your measurements good. I went with a 1980 model cutlass grocery getter, with only 78,000 miles, and it fit great , only 1" more narrow than the original and the 8" rallys with 70s tires really fill the fenders. I'll be calling ya! Mike

hey Mike!!... that sounds good!!!... is the rearend ratio suitable for your engine/trans setup??... i'm hoping my rearend will work for me... i was down below Martinsville when i found mine and i had to make a quickie decision on the deal with no measurements on hand... oh well... we shall see!!... because of the weather we've been having i haven't been able to get out and do much on mine lately other than spend money... ain't it kinda funny how so many things always go back to money...
bill