Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

Old 09-14-2015, 08:15 PM
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Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

Trying again- Does anyone know of a power steering gear rebuild (I don't think there are any new ones for a reasonable price) that is the correct, 12.7:1 ratio for the various performance suspension option cars out there?

You could see here what I got from an Autozone Duralast PN 6561 ("with sport steering) box here compared to the stock '87 TA box:

I've since checked a bunch of others including the Cardone 27-6550 (what summit and others carry). Well, actually, I've checked 3 of those so far, the first that I put in the car and didn't work was a 15.5:1, the second one that I got shipped in was 15.5 and had a messed up input shaft, the third one was 14.something (truck box) and rebuilt with the center preload about 15* to the left of where it should be.

On a whim I had a 27-6530 (which is supposed to be a standard ratio box) delivered also and that one showed up, GET THIS as a 12.something:1 box (approximating by clamping some vise grips to the input and output, brought it home to measure exactly), but that one has the old school muscle car/truck stops in it (90* travel instead of 62.5, this one would actually be a KILLER solution for someone building a drift car).

Before someone says that I need to go with AGR, CPP, Detroit Speed... well do a web search, I've run across other's checking their AGR box and getting 14:1 boxes that were supposed to be 12:1, and CPP and Detroit Speed quoted me "we can custom build you something..." for 10x the cost of other's boxes.
Old 09-15-2015, 09:14 AM
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Re: Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

Rebuild it yourself, not that hard and you'll do a better job
Old 09-15-2015, 03:29 PM
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Re: Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

Yea, I actually ordered a rebuild kit in at about 8am this morning... will pick it up on the way home and tackle that mess if the one that they ordered in isn't right.

This is one that they ordered in yesterday that I found interesting, close ratio but fullsize truck/old school muscle car travel/stops sold as a base model 3rd gen f-body pn:
Old 09-17-2015, 05:15 AM
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Re: Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

Well, I've decided that NO ONE does a correct steering gear rebuild... so guess what I'm doing...
Old 09-17-2015, 10:31 AM
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Re: Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

Good idea! It's not as hard as people think. I used the sticky on this page as well as a write up on pirate 4x4. Jeep boxes aret He same deal. You do need a good inch/lb dial indicator torque wrench to do it correctly.
Old 09-17-2015, 11:53 AM
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Re: Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

I opt to take a quick ratio to Benchwork Steering Systems in Scottsdale instead of rolling the dice on a parts-store box. I daily drive my 87 with the original box that's been built by them, and have taken others there for other people.
Old 09-18-2015, 12:01 PM
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Re: Anyone Find a Good Source for a Close Ratio Steering Box?

After some thorough research, I ended up going with Red Head Steering Gears in Washington. Under $400 iirc and their rebuild process is great. I wouldnt shy away from Turn One either, running their pump in my 4th gen track car and it seems like a quality piece. The people I dealt with were very knowledgeable.
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