My '86 Firebird wanders horribly when you try to keep a straight line at highway speeds, the slack appears to be in the steering box. I have recently re-done a lot of the suspension, including replacing the center link and idler arm. Everything else is tight. It has had a recent alignment when I got it safety checked.

My question is this: As far as rebuilding these boxes, what can I expect the shop to actually replace or repair? Is it worth it?

There seems to be some movement in the bearing at the bottom of the box on the pitman arm, but very little. The slack is inside the box, and tightening the adjustment shaft on top makes no difference, it only adds friction to the steering movement.

The box has an aluminum cap that is bolted down at the corners and the adjustment is centered in the middle.

There also appears to be some problem with the steering stops within the box, I can turn to the left and the wheels rub against the body before I hit the limit on turning the wheel.

If anyone has some experience in these please throw your two bits in.

 

If it were mine, I would opt to replace the thing. How many miles on the car? 100,000 or more. Just find a good shop to replace it and redo your alignment just for preventative maintainence. Or do it your self, it really is not to bad if you don't mind getting a little dirt under your finger nails.

 

Your better off buying one already rebuilt or better yet going with an aftermarket performance box.

 

It may not be the box at all. We've had to replace a couple of lower steering shafts. Both cars had a dead spot in the wheel, as well as a sort of binding, that would actually make a dull pop when it came un-bound. Had it happen in a '91 and an '82. Chased boxes, linkages and all sorts of things around for a LOOOOONG time until I figured it out.

 

Good suggestion, but I have just recently checked the shaft and joints. It's all okay. I had someone move the steering wheel while I felt around the box, linkage etc. The slack is definitely in the box.

I spotted an '84 at the wrecker yesterday with a decent box in it so I may get dirty and pull that. I can't find any businesses that actually rebuild these boxes so it looks like replacement is the only alternative. Probably pretty cheap too.

I don't understand why the steering box is so worn out, only 70 000 km on the car and the front end was shagged. I know it was driven on poor roads but I thought the steering box would last longer than this. I can only think it's been injured from hitting a curb or a vehicle hitting one of the front wheels from the side.

 

That's what we thought too...... Hope you have better luck, but our play was in the upper joint, and wasn't apparent until it was off the car. And it was BAD. Fooled a lot of very smart tech's.....

 

Yep, and the lower joint too. The rubber turns into silly putty. . .

RBob.