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Ross Steering Box Removal Questions..

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Mario Enriquez, Feb 28, 2021.

  1. Mario Enriquez

    Mario Enriquez New Member

    Hello folks,

    Today I finally managed to take out the steering box from my CJ with the intent of ordering a kit to rebuild it.However, before I take out the pitman arm, I understood the shaft and pitman arm should be marked before removal, to help install it the proper way. Is this really necesary or one could just eyeball it? If it is advisable to mark it what do you use? (I intend to sandblast it a problably paint it).

    [​IMG]

    And does the worm gear looks normal to you? I wonder if the should go in centered in the steering box?

    [​IMG]

    Thanks for you help folks.

    Regards,
    Mario
     
    Mario Enriquez, Feb 28, 2021
    #1
  2. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Not totally necessary to mark the arm/shaft- when you put it back together set the wheel in the center of it's range & put the arm on hanging straight down.

    The shaft does indeed not look right, should be centered by the upper bearings. :(
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Feb 28, 2021
    #2
    Mario Enriquez likes this.
  3. Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    I've used a center punch to put a referece mark on the shaft and adjacent pitman arm. Don't put a deep mark on the shaft because the shaft has to slide through the seal.
    -Donny
     
    Keys5a, Feb 28, 2021
    #3
    Fireball and Mario Enriquez like this.
  4. Mario Enriquez

    Mario Enriquez New Member

    Thank you Howard.. I'm afraid to open it up and find the worm gear mess up...

    Regards,
    Mario
     
    Mario Enriquez, Feb 28, 2021
    #4
  5. Mario Enriquez

    Mario Enriquez New Member

    Thank you
     
    Mario Enriquez, Feb 28, 2021
    #5
  6. TommyMac

    TommyMac Member

    x2. I just rebuilt mine a few months ago and had to replace the sector shaft, so marking would not have helped. When I opened my box, half of the bearings were freely rolling around the case which was disturbing. Be sure to save your shims, kits only come with one thickness, your original box should have multiple thickness shims to be reused to get the proper seat for the shaft.
     
    TommyMac, Mar 1, 2021
    #6
    Mario Enriquez likes this.
  7. Mario Enriquez

    Mario Enriquez New Member

    Good night folks, today I manage to disassemble de Steering box and shocked with what I found inside...

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Now I know why the worn gear was off center... :worry:

    And here are some pic of the damage to the shaft and the worm gear after a quick clean up...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Ah.. and forgot to mention, there was not any shim whatsoever... Who ever was here before me was really an *******...:steamed:

    To said I'm disappointed is truly an understatement... Before going in I was thinking this would be a $80.00 fix (rebuild kit), but know it appears to be a lot more.

    Any advice of where to go from here? Do I order and rebuild kit with a new shaft and and a new worm gear?
     
    Mario Enriquez, Mar 1, 2021
    #7
  8. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Put a wanted ad up in the classifieds, someone will have a rebuidable unit left over from a saginaw swap.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Mar 1, 2021
    #8
    Mario Enriquez likes this.
  9. teletech

    teletech Member

    The ball on your pitman arm looks pretty worn from here. I'd suggest replacing it at the same time you replace the worm and sector.
     
    teletech, Mar 12, 2021
    #9