How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Mine works great but has a pretty good size dead zone in the center. In other words, a lot of float at center. I have not had the car aligned yet but it doesn't pull either way so i'm not confident that toe-in or something else will solve it.

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Bump

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Have you tried tightening the adjustment screw on the top of the gearbox?

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Be careful adjusting that screw. Make adjustment properly throughout the range of operation, not just on center. When doing so you may still have slop in the center.

Beginning of this video has a good example why that is the case.

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Thanks I'll take a look. I also saw Clowney's video on the rag joint. I'll check that but the steering is tight off-center (in a turn) so it may not be that.

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

I'd only crack it open if it leaked or there was a noticeable issue with the steering effort

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Effort is fine. It's just sloppy on center and transition (back and forth)

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

I went with an astro van center link getting rid of the rag joint, it drastically improved my steering feel.

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Did the rag joint and had the car aligned, definite improvement but I think I need to do the box. Still way to floaty on center.

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

removed the rag joint, or replaced it? The rag joint (even new) will give you on-center dead zone. Removing the rag joint and replacing it with something solid (Grand Cherokee steering shaft or modified astro van) will eliminate that.

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

The rag joint is pretty stout. The steering floats even with the lightest feather of steering input

Re: How do I know if I need to rebuild/replace my steering gearbox?
 

Grab the wheel and rock it back and forth (have someone do it if you really want a good look), then stick your head under the hood/car and look at what is moving and what isn't. Follow the steering shaft, through the joint, into the box and then to the steering linkage and at some point (maybe multiple points) you'll find someplace where it moves before that point and not after.

That's what loose, and that's what needs to be fixed/replaced.