I received this steering box along with other parts I purchased. It was on his TJ, but he didn't know anything else about it. Anyone know based on the sort of "S" stamp on it, what brand it is? I'm assuming it's an upgrade from the factory TJ box?
Identify steering box?
- Thread starter daveydave
- Start date
It's definitely a Saginaw, but the first number comes up as mopar valve stems. It looks like early Cherokees, Gladiators, and J-series had them. Sounds like they're good steering boxes though, so definitely worth putting on there. XJs and TJs have the same steering boxes though.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/saginaw-steering-boxes
Same case, maybe. But the ratios are different. My recollection is that the XJ box needs more turns of the steering wheel for lock to lock than the TJ box.
Regardless of ratios the 97-02 Saginaw boxes are a much more desirable box than the " Mercedes " made in India box.
People will use kits to convert a 03-06 TJ to an earlier box. NO body put the Glass jaw Mercedes box in an earlier TJ for good reason.
It was one of the great Mercedes cost cutting measures that plagued the 03-06 TJ's like improved OPDA's , 05-06 PCM protocols , NSG-370 6 spd. manual .
People will use kits to convert a 03-06 TJ to an earlier box. NO body put the Glass jaw Mercedes box in an earlier TJ for good reason.
It was one of the great Mercedes cost cutting measures that plagued the 03-06 TJ's like improved OPDA's , 05-06 PCM protocols , NSG-370 6 spd. manual .
None of it matters much anymore when we can't buy a new Saginaw steering gear. The rebuilt ones still suffer from worn internals.
i have a buddy that was a design engineer for Jeep back in those days. He was telling me the other day about how NOBODY wanted to use the NSG370 and it was forced down their throats by corporate.
I know we all pretty much have a feeling that was the case but it was interesting to hear it from somebody that was on the inside at the time.
PSC has a new Saginaw style steering gear for the TJ. Pricey though. I think it still requires some mounting mods to replace a Mercedes box, but I’m not sure.
That’s what I run in my rig.
Mine has the later ZF bolt pattern. But I do not know how the PSC internals compare to Saginaw, only that the housing is modeled after Saginaw.
It does not require any mods to the frame if you order the SG400R.
The folks at Saginaw who used to build the internals left and started their own company making the same parts for PSC.
mrblaine I am looking into replacing my 98 tj steering box. I have seen you pop up I would like to install a PSC box. Which do you recommend? In other post you stated using earlier hoses and lower shafts. Will it be a bolt on in my year?
Similar threads
