Steering Gearbox, big difference

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william myers

New member
Sep 30, 1998
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Replaced the steering gearbox with the NAPA one that Jim Bounds
suggested ($178). Major noticeable improvement even on 2-lane road.
Very small corrections with the steering wheel for irregular pavement
dips, bumps, ruts. BTW the NAPA had to be special ordered and the box
had a mailing label from Carodne so no wonder the P/N so similar.

It was not a real big job to change but had to buy a 1-5/16 socket to
get the pitman arm nut off.

Next step is 6-wheel alignment. Measured the rear wheel toe with tape
measure and both were out of spec.
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Bill,
I'm on the same path. Just special ordered the steering box last week from
NAPA and the cost was the same (w/a $160 core charge added as well!). Should
be here sometime this week.
Any other tid bits of info you could pass along on the
removal/installation such as the 1-5/16" socket would be appreciated! Items
like... How long did it take you to do the swap? Whadya use to plug the
lines? Any problems with bleeding the lines, fluid loss or foaming? Did you
need a puller for the Pitman Arm? Did you adjust the box afterwards or was
it OK once you tested drove it? My steering column U-joint boot is split so
I'll replace that at the same time.
Sure hope all this helps my wander problem. I've done alot already. BTW...
Test drove my Uncles '73 PD this weekend (w/60K on it). I could drive his
with just a finger and thumb and no pressure and NO WANDER even in strong
cross winds!!! Mine takes a full hand or two (with no pressure) just to be
sure I don't wander into the next lane. I think the alignment would be my
next step as well only wish someone around Omaha could do it. I want to
finally enjoy driving my coach!!!
Thanks a bunch in advance! Really appreciate everyone's input on the
GMCnet.

Nate '75GB Omaha

>>

Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 10:28:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: William Myers
Subject: GMC: Steering Gearbox, big difference

Replaced the steering gearbox with the NAPA one that Jim Bounds
suggested ($178). Major noticeable improvement even on 2-lane road.
Very small corrections with the steering wheel for irregular pavement
dips, bumps, ruts. BTW the NAPA had to be special ordered and the box
had a mailing label from Carodne so no wonder the P/N so similar.

It was not a real big job to change but had to buy a 1-5/16 socket to
get the pitman arm nut off.

Next step is 6-wheel alignment. Measured the rear wheel toe with tape
measure and both were out of spec.

>>
 
My 1978 Royale wanders. How about giving the part number?

Bill

> Bill,
> I'm on the same path. Just special ordered the
> steering box last week from
> NAPA and the cost was the same (w/a $160 core charge
> added as well!). Should
> be here sometime this week.
> Any other tid bits of info you could pass along on
> the
> removal/installation such as the 1-5/16" socket
> would be appreciated! Items
> like... How long did it take you to do the swap?
> Whadya use to plug the
> lines? Any problems with bleeding the lines, fluid
> loss or foaming? Did you
> need a puller for the Pitman Arm? Did you adjust the
> box afterwards or was
> it OK once you tested drove it? My steering column
> U-joint boot is split so
> I'll replace that at the same time.
> Sure hope all this helps my wander problem. I've
> done alot already. BTW...
> Test drove my Uncles '73 PD this weekend (w/60K on
> it). I could drive his
> with just a finger and thumb and no pressure and NO
> WANDER even in strong
> cross winds!!! Mine takes a full hand or two (with
> no pressure) just to be
> sure I don't wander into the next lane. I think the
> alignment would be my
> next step as well only wish someone around Omaha
> could do it. I want to
> finally enjoy driving my coach!!!
> Thanks a bunch in advance! Really appreciate
> everyone's input on the
> GMCnet.
>
> Nate '75GB Omaha
>
> >>>
>
> Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 10:28:55 -0700 (PDT)
> From: William Myers
> Subject: GMC: Steering Gearbox, big difference
>
> Replaced the steering gearbox with the NAPA one that
> Jim Bounds
> suggested ($178). Major noticeable improvement even
> on 2-lane road.
> Very small corrections with the steering wheel for
> irregular pavement
> dips, bumps, ruts. BTW the NAPA had to be special
> ordered and the box
> had a mailing label from Carodne so no wonder the
> P/N so similar.
>
> It was not a real big job to change but had to buy a
> 1-5/16 socket to
> get the pitman arm nut off.
>
> Next step is 6-wheel alignment. Measured the rear
> wheel toe with tape
> measure and both were out of spec.
>
> >>>
>
>

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At the Fall 1998 GMC International convention, there was a seminar,
"Suspension & Highway Stability" hosted by Chuck Stoddard. If my memory
serves me correctly,he went into great lenghts about the correct way to do
the 6-wheel alignment. I would think that if any good truck alignment
mechanic that had the specs and the check list could make everything come
out right. Without the list they miss something important and we are not
happy with the results and we go spend more money elsewhere unnecessarly.
If you are a member of GMC International, Chuck's name, etc is in the
membership book.

wayne newland, 75 Palm Beach, Columbia, Md

> Replaced the steering gearbox with the NAPA one that Jim Bounds
> suggested ($178). Major noticeable improvement even on 2-lane road.
> Very small corrections with the steering wheel for irregular pavement
> dips, bumps, ruts. BTW the NAPA had to be special ordered and the box
> had a mailing label from Carodne so no wonder the P/N so similar.
>
> It was not a real big job to change but had to buy a 1-5/16 socket to
> get the pitman arm nut off.
>
> Next step is 6-wheel alignment. Measured the rear wheel toe with tape
> measure and both were out of spec.
> _________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
 
>> clipped
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 18:05:20 -0500
From: "Nate Chase"
Subject: RE: GMC: Steering Gearbox, big difference

Bill,
I'm on the same path. Just special ordered the steering box last week
from NAPA and the cost was the same (w/a $160 core charge added as
well!). Should
be here sometime this week.
Any other tid bits of info you could pass along on I......
>>

Hi Nate, sorry for the delay but I am just able to read mail from a
business trip to Montreal this week. Hard to get an outside line at
the hotel..

>How long did it take you to do the swap?
It took me about 2 weekends since I removed it before ordering the
replacement. Guess about 4 hrs total, but spread our due to hot
weather.

>Whadya use to plug the lines?
I used some alum foil to keep line ends clean.

>Any problems with bleeding the lines, fluid loss or foaming?
No problem, but had to start the motor briefly and the with the return
disconnected. Line blew out. It is recommended to replace the filter
but nothing availably locally. Probably need to order from Caspro.

>Did you need a puller for the Pitman Arm?
Yes.

>Did you adjust the box afterwards or was it OK once you tested drove
it?
No way I was going to touch the gearbox adjustments after reading the
procedure for overcenter adjustment. Tried that on a car once and the
steering tended to bind depending on temperature.

>My steering column U-joint boot is split so I'll replace that at the
same time.
I had to replace the CV and guess anything else that is loose in the
column would be fair game.

Also, had to rig a hose and funnel to get fluid into the pump since it
is behind a bracket.

Good luck,
Bill
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