Steering gear removal

[cinimod2]

My power steering gear box has a lot of play in it especially on the highway around 60mph. Ive been looking around and decided im just going to go with a rebuilt box and lower the pressure on the pump rather than spend $300 on one from FirmFeel. I was reading in my service manual that id have to jack up my engine in order to remove my old steering Gear. Is this right? Is it hard to remove the steering gear if my engine is still in the car? Its a 75 dart sport if that helps at all.
Thanks Dom

 

[Divenut]

Hi Dom,

Check the mounting bolts to make sure the box is tightly mounted first. Seems some folks have them loosen up. If you do need a new box.. Do you have headers? If so, you'll probably need to loosen/remove them. Not sure about the PS gearbox, but I was able to remove my steering gearbox by loosening the headers and getting on the bolts with "wobble" extesnsions (see pic). I probably could have gotten the box off w/o much trouble if I had stock manifiolds. You'll need a puller and pickle fork to get your pitman arm (gear puller) and centerlink (fork) seperated. You'll also need to loosen your steering column to seperate thecoupler from the box (good time to rebuild the coupler too.) It was my 1st time doing this and it really wasn't to horrible once I got the headers loose.

If you get stuck, just do what I did, i.e. reach out to FABO for direction/pointers. I couldn't have done it w/o them.

 

[cinimod2]

Thanks I'll try it out this weekend, I'm getting my license next Friday and my parents say this needs to be fixed before they let me out driving.
Thanks again, Dom

 

[Divenut]

Thanks I'll try it out this weekend, I'm getting my license next Friday and my parents say this needs to be fixed before they let me out driving.
Thanks again, Dom

My pleasure Dom. Take your time and you'll knock it out:thumleft:. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

Pat

 

[cinimod2]

Alright well I took the night off from hanging out with my friends so i could get this done by next friday (25th), on the weekends i work so there is very little time between school, work, and this. But Ive loosened the headers and got all three bolts out and saved my self some $ and didnt have to buy the wobble extensions although it wouldve made it a heck of a lot easier, lol, so as of right now the box is loose but what ever the S bend peice that goes from the box to the center link is stuck on the box, ive got the nut off i just need to break it free from the splines, will i need a puller for this? or can i just mangle the box out with it still on?

Dom

 

[Valiantsignet20]

You'll need a tie rod/ball joint removal tool. Call around the part stores for loaners. You will have to pay for it but you'll get the money back when returned. Don't beat or mangle it out.

 

[RedFish]

There is a special tool for removing the pitman arm. Pickle forks are used there but you're really not supposed to use it. It can screw up the gear box. I guess if your replacing the gear box it doesn't matter.

 

[AussiePlymouths]

And good luck for your license mate

 

[Divenut]

Alright well I took the night off from hanging out with my friends so i could get this done by next friday (25th), on the weekends i work so there is very little time between school, work, and this. But Ive loosened the headers and got all three bolts out and saved my self some $ and didnt have to buy the wobble extensions although it wouldve made it a heck of a lot easier, lol, so as of right now the box is loose but what ever the S bend peice that goes from the box to the center link is stuck on the box, ive got the nut off i just need to break it free from the splines, will i need a puller for this? or can i just mangle the box out with it still on?

Dom

Get yourself a puller....You'll use it more than you think down the road. Mine is pictured in the top right of the pic

Pat

 

[OwdKasd]

Advance auto should have a Pitman Arm puller to loan you Or Maybe Autozone. As stated above, a few Calls to your local Parts houses should find you one. It'll likely look nothing like the one in the picture above so don't be alarmed. Here's a link to a KD Puller plenty good for years of use.

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-2...oglebase_18u&gclid=CMv5q8jEjLACFQiynQodyxCkoQ

Good luck with this and the test.

 

[Divenut]

Advance auto should have a Pitman Arm puller to loan you Or Maybe Autozone. As stated above, a few Calls to your local Parts houses should find you one. It'll likely look nothing like the one in the picture above so don't be alarmed. Here's a link to a KD Puller plenty good for years of use.

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-2...oglebase_18u&gclid=CMv5q8jEjLACFQiynQodyxCkoQ

Good luck with this and the test.

As OwdKasd noted, pop teh few $'s for a good one. Some of the cheapo's are known to snap on you. On a side note, the Craftsman piece I use works great for a variety of applications, adjustable, and solid as heck, got mine 20 years ago and love it.

You'll be cruising in no time Dom.

Pat

 

[cinimod2]

Thanks to all, while I was working today I had my dad pick me up the steering gear box, a pitman arm puller as a loaner, and some fluids to get this done. As of right now the old box is loose but my Hooker headers are in the way, when I got home I tried to get the box out but after 20 min of trying i thought Id take a break before I got real angry.

 

[Divenut]

Thanks to all, while I was working today I had my dad pick me up the steering gear box, a pitman arm puller as a loaner, and some fluids to get this done. As of right now the old box is loose but my Hooker headers are in the way, when I got home I tried to get the box out but after 20 min of trying i thought Id take a break before I got real angry.

Glad to hear you're making good progress Dom. Them headers make it tight man . I unbolted the header (hooker comps) and gained the room needed to pull out the gearbox.

Pat

 

[cinimod2]

I've got my headers unbolted but one of the tubes is run under the center link and the othe three are run above so in order to get the headers out I have to take the center link out, are the headers supposed to be run like that? When I got the car they were already on there just wondering if thats right

 

[Divenut]

I've got my headers unbolted but one of the tubes is run under the center link and the othe three are run above so in order to get the headers out I have to take the center link out, are the headers supposed to be run like that? When I got the car they were already on there just wondering if thats right

Yep. That's how them old Hookers go. But removing the center link is pretty straight forward. Just went through this same drill with my Duster. It'll make you appreciate that first drive that much more.

Pat

 

[cinimod2]

Alright well we have the starter off, header unbolted and center link disconnected, and the gear box is still not comming out any suggestions as how to remove it because we're stumped

 

[cinimod2]

Alright we got it out this morning after we took the bolts off the engine mount and jacked up the engine, then the new box slid right in, now it's time put her all back together and test it out. Is there anything special I have to do with the pump when I put the fluid in so I don't get air in the system?
Thanks for all the help, Dom
Here's some pics