Power steering gear box mis-match

xXDavidCXx

TJ Enthusiast
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Joined
Jun 17, 2021
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466
Location
AZ
I was going to replace my steering gearbox for excessive play and a very large dead center and ran into an issue with the hose connections.

The OEM box has double flare fittings with an o-ring, the remanufactured Byautoparts box has single flare fittings with a brass insert.

I crossed referenced the part numbers and Byautoparts states it should be a direct replacement.

I'll call these knuckleheads Monday, but in the meantime wondering if you all can help.

Do I have the wrong hoses, the wrong steering gearbox, or both?

IMG_1477.JPEG



IMG_1476.JPEG
 
Well, it turned out that the high-pressure line going into the new gearbox was miss-threaded and almost ruined my replacement hose.

So I now have the original gearbox on, but now it leaks.

On the bright side, my steering slop is gone after adjusting the gear drive preload, but now the power steering pump does not always boost at idle.

Sometimes you just can't win.
 
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Reactions: Jerry Bransford
Well, it turned out that the high-pressure line going into the new gearbox was miss-threaded and almost ruined my replacement hose.

So I now have the original gearbox on, but now it leaks.

On the bright side, my steering slop is gone after adjusting the gear drive preload, but now the power steering pump does not always boost at idle.

Sometimes you just can't win.
For whatever reason, maybe the air is all out now, but the steering box is not leaking and the pump is boosting at idle. 🤷‍♂️
 
Well that's good.

Replacement steering boxes in general are known to be hit and miss, so the fact that you had issues isn't terribly surprising. Hope the fix lasts for you.
 
Well that's good.

Replacement steering boxes in general are known to be hit and miss, so the fact that you had issues isn't terribly surprising. Hope the fix lasts for you.
Yeah, I read all those threads and said, what the hell, I'll give it a shot.

I still have to process the original purchased gear box for a return. I still want a new one, so I get to do this all over again soon.
 
Yeah, I read all those threads and said, what the hell, I'll give it a shot.

I still have to process the original purchased gear box for a return. I still want a new one, so I get to do this all over again soon.

I figure if mine ever goes ill just drop the coin on a psc box ported for hydro assist, and then it'll be one less thing in the way.

Disclaimer: I have done zero research on this and have no actual idea whether I can put a PSC hydro assist box on a jeep without hydro assist and with an oem pump.
 
A funny end to this story.

When I asked for a replacement steering box, they sent me the very same unit that I returned 🤬

After a very angry phone call another unit arrived while held on to the busted unit to make sure they didn’t send it back to me again.

In the end, I can’t really tell if the new unit is better than my original 🤷‍♂️
 
  • Wow
Reactions: 97TJNM