Can you jump a gear in your steering box?

stonedchihuahua · #1 (**permalink**) 12-15-2002, 02:27 AM

Yeah I'm just curoius if it is possible cuz when I first got my car I took it in to get an alignment and the guy knew I hit the curb (stupid truck didn't move over so I avoided him and the thick wet snow pulled straight into the curb at 30km/h) anyways... he said that I "jumped a gear in my steering box and it is no good because he can't fix it and there is too much slop and it can happen again" thing is the car passed safety like 2 weeks before this incodent and the only thing they said was the struts were starting to go (they have gone now) and that the washerfluid didn't work (leaky hose) other than that it was fine... I have been told jumping a gear in the steering box is impossible buy previous mechanics and guys who just know cars (like 5 in total) anyways I was wondering.. has anyone seen this actually happen?

stonedchihuahua · #2 (**permalink**) 12-15-2002, 02:32 AM

oh btw he wanted 800 bucks for a used steering box and then another 150 for service.. (on a common 3rd gen camaro) I did not pay it... I said I didn't have money... he then threatend to get it in the books that my car is not road worthy... so I told him I would come back in a month or two..he said okay... It's been over a year I haven't gone back...

steering still works perfect... other than it is a little screwed cut the steering is tight when it is aligned properly and the dork aligned it with the wheel crooked so it is tighter steering one way than another...

[ December 15, 2002: Message edited by: stonedchihuahua ]</p>

**TurboS10** · #3 (**permalink**) 12-15-2002, 05:43 AM

I dont see this happening unless it is so loose it will hardly steer. If it is worn out, 800 is way too high for even a new rebuilt one.

Chris

xtreme off-road · #4 (**permalink**) 12-15-2002, 06:14 AM

I have rebuilt a couple of steering boxes and I can't see how it could jump a tooth. The teeth in the box are about the same size as the ones in a diff.

There is an ajustment screw on top of the box that will adjust for the slack in the box. The teeth on the pitman shaft are tapered and adjusting the bolt will set the mesh with the input shaft. Only make small adjustments and check how it feels from lock to lock.

If i remembre correctly, the adjuster is a left hand thread.

stonedchihuahua · #5 (**permalink**) 12-15-2002, 10:44 AM

Cool... when I get the thing aligned properly I think I am gunna have to adjust it...

KULTULZ · #6 (**permalink**) 12-15-2002, 01:06 PM

The worst you could have done is bend the sector shaft in the box. You can determine this by feel (hard spot in steering) or having someone turn the wheel while you look at the sectorshaft/steering arm.

A quality AC/DELCO rebuilt box should only be about $300.00 retail and is not all that hard to put in. You can rent a pitman arm puller locally I am sure.

stonedchihuahua · #7 (**permalink**) 12-15-2002, 02:42 PM

yeah the steering still works great though...

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