Dry Steering Box

Against advisement I opened up my Saginaw to make sure that’s what was locking up my steering.

 

certainly not lubing much with whats there, but i doubt that is causing the locking up that you are experiencing. time to swap in a new unit!

 

I’m yrying to figure if this is just old chunky grease or rusty oil. When I spin the steering shaft it feels like the bearings are rolling over something. Not smooth like I would expect.

 

Contacted a guy in CL with a replacement. Gonna get it tonight & compare the movement. I hope my problems are not in my hubs

 

That problem could be anywhere between the steering column to the spindles..........that gear box has been dry for years and probably leaked / seeped out what was once in a fluid form........decades ago..

 

Since I found a new steering box I will be taking the old one apart. I want to see if there are needle bearing parts or anything else that could have made that steering box act like it was frozen.

 

No needle bearings...........recirculating ball bearings in the sector shaft....is what cuts down the force.......standard shaft bearings at each end........don't try and re-invent the wheel.......Life is to short!

 

The PO welded the steering to the Saginaw. I will not be doing that. I will need to fabricate a new shaft.

 

Make sure you get a "Chevy" style if you're swapping out a "Chevy" style sag. That pitman is facing the Ford direction, like mine.

 

Saginaw manual steering gears are filled with grease. Look at a TSM from the '70s - free to read and download here: Jeep® Parts Manuals online