So my gf just bought the car listed under my name here. It needs among many other things, a new steering gear box. We're thinking of doing this ourselves, how difficult is this for novice mechanics? I've done my own maintenance stuff before and the steering gear box is right there.

I think my biggest concern is on a 14 year old car, nothing will want to come out terribly easily and I don't have air tools.

Thoughts/comments/suggestions? TY!

 

Get some PB Blaster and hit all the bolts with it. Use line wrenches on the fluid lines. It's really not hard at all. When I replaced mine, I had a pitman arm attached to the new box before I put it in, that way you don't need a puller.

 

Again pardon ignorance: line wrenches?

PB Blaster would be a must. I think the replacement has a pitman arm attached already as well

 

I suggest the six point ones.

And PB Blaster is your best friend on these older cars.

 

you will also need a pitman arm puller

I have a ws6 box cheep if you need it!

 

Why would he need a pitman arm puller if his replacement box already has a pitman arm on it

 

Here are the steering boxes I'm looking at:
1992 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28 5.7L 350 cubic inch V8 MFI (8) Steering Gear

A-1 Cardone $119 w/$25 core

 

I would get this one instead

ACDELCO Part # 360516561
GEAR,STRG(REMAN) 2 TO 2 1/2 TURNS LOCK TO LOCK; w/RIDE & HANDLING SUSP(FE2) or FIRM RIDE & HANDLING SUSP(F41); POWER GEAR {#88991244}

I changed my box to a quick ratio and absolutely love it.
I just went to the junkyard and found a car that had it, $25, not a bad deal.

Check this thread for how to identify the boxes
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...es-anyone.html
I would look foe a XH or WS box.

 

Well to see which one was the right one, I called Rockauto. Got through quickly and the guy gave me the direct number to A1 Cardone. Talked to a tech within a minute or so, he looked it up and confirmed the 276550 is the faster steering ratio, 2.5 turns lock to lock. So a $120 reman box, yay!

A1 Cardone direct number: 888-280-8324

 

2.5 turns lock to lock is the Z28 box w/ 15" wheels. The 16" wheel F Body box has larger internal stops resulting in 2.25 turns lock to lock. The steering ratio is the same for both boxes. 16" or larger wheels might rub on the wheel wells with the 2.5 turn box. The Cardone catalog only lists 2 800 series gearboxes for the third gen f body, when in fact there were three.

 

3 there were six different steering box's used on 3rd gen F-bodies

Look at my link in my earlier post, and scroll down to the bottom.