Steering box replacement

[mounty71]

One of the threaded holes in my steering box is completely stripped out and the whole box pulls away from the frame when turning right. I have a bolt and nut as a temporary fix holding it on now (no i haven't been driving it like that). So my questions are, is it possible to retap the hole for a larger diameter bolt? And if not, and i need to replace it, could someone tell me which part to get on rockauto or fastpartsnetwork?

[corkey]

there should be nothing wrong with using a nut and bolt as long as it stays tight to the frame, i would probably use a nylock nut , (the kind with the nylon in it to lock it if it gets loose ),
and make sure if you use a washer on the box that is the same size as the tab the bolt goes thru , that way it is as strong as the tab,

[Tbars4]

...You could probably have the steering box re-threaded but I would just get one from the junkyard before I had one rethreaded...

...Just my thoughts but if you add the shipping of your core your price jumps a bit on a new or reman...I've bought remans' from autozone for my pickups before with no problem...

...Autozone...
http://www.autozone.com/R,1807920/ve...ductDetail.htm

...Rockauto shows all reman...
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

...Napa in Long Beach...
http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...ering+Gear+Box

...But it's up to you to decide which route you want to choose...

[mounty71]

I haven't had luck finding one in the JY.

First let me get this straight, is a steering pump the same as a steering gear box? What i need is the part that attaches directly to the frame with 3 bolts.

Now i'm note really understanding what the core is. There is a unit price and a core value, what's the core value? And shipping my core means i need to ship my steering box out somewhere and then it gets rebuilt? If i just want to buy a new steering box, could i get that from an autozone or napa? Or are those links above for remanufactured ones only? $300 is more than i was expecting this to be. On rockauto the most expensive item is for 160, is that the steering pump (steering gear box) i need, Motorcraft# STP25RM?

I'm a little confused and need some clarification, so please elaborate as much as possible. Thanks.

[MikeLitt3810]

the pump is on the motor. the steering box is at the end of your steering wheel. every time i sheered a bolt i tack weld the part back on. as well you can just use a larger bolt and nut. make sure the clearences are good, make sure you use the highest grade bolt and nut i suggest grade 8

http://www.rockcrawler.com/techrepor...ners/index.asp

[Tbars4]

...The steering gear box is what fastens to your frame with bolts...The steering pump reservoir is what you pour your steering fluid into...

...Best JY to find parts is pic a part on Beach Blvd...I think they have a 1/2 price sale on now...

...The core charge is for your old part...If you take yours off and say, go to autozone to pick it up, you drop yours off at the same time and no core charge...

...The one at Autozone and the cheapest at Rockauto were $139 plus core...

[mounty71]

Originally Posted by MikeLitt3810

the pump is on the motor. the steering box is at the end of your steering wheel. every time i sheered a bolt i tack weld the part back on. as well you can just use a larger bolt and nut. make sure the clearences are good, make sure you use the highest grade bolt and nut i suggest grade 8

http://www.rockcrawler.com/techrepor...ners/index.asp

I didn't think they were the same thing. So rockauto has no gear boxes then, that i can find at least. The bolt and nut i have as the temp. fix is grade 8, but the only possible way i've been able to get it to work is with 5 stacked washers between the screwhead and the frame, and it just doesn't seem to be the best way. And i plan to offroad the truck so whatever i do has to be able to withstand some abuse.

[RangerX]

Reman gearboxes are pricey! I got a junkyard one a few years ago for $45.

[Tbars4]

...Mounty71, look under "Steering Gear" at Rockauto...

[mounty71]

Originally Posted by tbars4

...The steering gear box is what fastens to your frame with bolts...The steering pump reservoir is what you pour your steering fluid into...

...Best JY to find parts is pic a part on Beach Blvd...I think they have a 1/2 price sale on now...

...The core charge is for your old part...If you take yours off and say, go to autozone to pick it up, you drop yours off at the same time and no core charge...

...The one at Autozone and the cheapest at Rockauto were $139 plus core...

So concerning rebuilt units, the core is the steering box or part that i would be buying, and the actual price is just the cost for the rebuild? So if i bought a reman'd steering box from autozone and traded in my steering box, i could avoid the core charge? And where did you see 139 on rockauto? Could you give me the P/N? I didn't see any gear boxes under the steering section.

[Tbars4]

...The core is your old part being delivered to them so they can take and rebuild it to sell to someone else...You will be buying one that has already been rebuilt and ready for sale...

...The core charge is held till delivery of a rebuidable core has been accepted...You will then get your core charge back...If you go to AZ or Napa with your old part, the paperwork only will show the charge and credit for your core charge..

[mounty71]

Originally Posted by tbars4

...Mounty71, look under "Steering Gear" at Rockauto...

Ahh, ok thank you.

[MikeLitt3810]

if you have the few extra bucks and the room for this idea.. I noticed the first gen explorers are goin around 400-1200 on craigslist. I have checked most of the citys across the us. almost bought one in near mint in houstan a month ago for 600.. it lacked the title and i didn't want to try to bull my way out of something when crossing state lines.

A parts truck is great when your in the woods. I learned this when i used to drive bowties. it save me a hundred trips to the junk yard.

[mounty71]

Ok, now i guess my only questions are:
1) Can i trade in my old gear box to Autozone or another parts store to avoid the core charge?
2) And this may be a dumb question, but is there the option of a brand new gear box, and is it even more than a reman'd one?

[mounty71]

Originally Posted by MikeLitt3810

if you have the few extra bucks and the room for this idea.. I noticed the first gen explorers are goin around 400-1200 on craigslist. I have checked most of the citys across the us. almost bought one in near mint in houstan a month ago for 600.. it lacked the title and i didn't want to try to bull my way out of something when crossing state lines.

A parts truck is great when your in the woods. I learned this when i used to drive bowties. it save me a hundred trips to the junk yard.

Haha, this would be totally out of question for me, this explorer im working on i've been trying to sell for months now, no way in hell i'd want to buy another one .

[MikeLitt3810]

Originally Posted by mounty71

Ok, now i guess my only questions are:
1) Can i trade in my old gear box to Autozone or another parts store to avoid the core charge?
2) And this may be a dumb question, but is there the option of a brand new gear box, and is it even more than a reman'd one?

ok you can trade the steering box in at time of sale and advoid the core charge.
sometimes it's more sometime's it's less. on my dakota it was cheaper to buy a new master cyl with brake booster than to buy reman master cyl without booster.

as well i would not suggest trading your core in untill the replacement is securely affixed to the truck, and in working order. Advanced auto burnt me once with an alt. i exchanged the core at purchase went home installed new, the new was bad, i went back got another one, installed it next day it was bad. returned it asked for my core so i could have it rebuilt and they no longer had my core 24 hrs later. lesson learned i keep the core for a week lol

[mounty71]

Originally Posted by MikeLitt3810

ok you can trade the steering box in at time of sale and advoid the core charge.
sometimes it's more sometime's it's less. on my dakota it was cheaper to buy a new master cyl with brake booster than to buy reman master cyl without booster.

as well i would not suggest trading your core in untill the replacement is securely affixed to the truck, and in working order. Advanced auto burnt me once with an alt. i exchanged the core at purchase went home installed new, the new was bad, i went back got another one, installed it next day it was bad. returned it asked for my core so i could have it rebuilt and they no longer had my core 24 hrs later. lesson learned i keep the core for a week lol

Sounds good, thanks mike.