Anyone rebuild a manual steering box?

[wjaholic]

I have a manual steering box for my Duster that I want to rebuild my self. I started looking around for instructions or parts and so far I haven't found too much.  About the best that I can find is the kit from Firm Feel. I had heard that you can get a kit from the local autoparts stores but so far I havn't had any luck finding it.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[mark8denny]

I had mine apart when I first got my car at age 16 , I pulled the steering box apart and all I remember was the ballbearings fell out all over !!    

  Why do you want to rebuild it ?  They are adjustable to tighten them up , loosen the lock nut and screw inward on the adjuster with a screwdriver.  I caution you to adjust it lightly because it is hard to tell , you don't want to crank it in hard.  As far as what else I have read... some are full of grease, some have gearlube in them.  Mine is full of grease and gearlube.

  My advice to you is thick oil and an adjustment. 

[wjaholic]

I bought it at a swap meet, it is used and has been adjusted all the way in. I pulled the "cap" off to see. It is full of grease.  I want to rebuild it before I get my engine back in my car.

[mark8denny]

maybe use the firm feel kit to make a better ratio maybe they have all the seals you would need too ?  mine is adjusted inward ( a little less than the full adj nut ),  but works fine.  Good Luck !

[jet-taz]

they should be filled with grease my nos box was. i got this from a manual hope it helps.

[Ciscodog]

If it doesn't leak, you probably don't need to rebuild it, but just adjust it properly.  If you must rebuild, you probably just need the two seals ($50 from Firm Feel - robbery if you ask me) and Mancini sells the 20:1 worm gear.  I called Firm Feel and they said to fill it with gear oil.  I did.  It doesn't leak.

[wild383]

When I rebuilt mine I used the Firm Feel parts and packed it near full with quality moly grease. The Firm Feel kit was on the pricey side but I just wanted to get it done.  One less thing to worry about. Willie

[robx4406]

Holy shiznit, the worm gear at mancini's is $235.

[Capt Jack]

I rebuilt one from my old 67 cougar.  somewhat similar recirculating ball blah blah blah.   it wouldnt adjust for squat so I took it apart.  one ball bearing had sheared in half.  got a replacement ball bearing from the local mustang guy for nada.   heavy grease to hold everything in place and some patience. 

wasnt what I could call difficult as I recall.

[jamesdart]

mine needs to be rebuilt too and i just dont know what i want to do.  they are pricey to rebuild, even worse to buy a rebuilt one, then there is the flaming river piece...

[70dust]

Steer-n-gear has cheaper prices than firm feel and also specialize in mopars.They are located in columbus ohio.They also race mopars!

[Ciscodog]

Guys - they are NOT hard to rebuild at ALL!  The seals are spendy, and IF you need a bearing that's more, but I'd bet most of them don't need replacements.  I had one with a broken cage, but had an extra box for parts so it donated a bearing.  That's really all the moving parts in there.  I wouldn't pay someone to do it.

[dodgeboy]

Mine was leaking, bought a seal kit from advance auto parts for less than $15, installed it and good to go.
Roger

[Ciscodog]

DOH

[wjaholic]

Mine was leaking, bought a seal kit from advance auto parts for less than $15, installed it and good to go.
Roger

You wouldn't happen to know any part number for that kit, or what car you would have them look up. I have an advance auto parts right up the road, but I can only find power steering parts on there website.

I pulled my box apart yesterday and cleaned it and sand blasted it, it looks like I will only need 2 bearings and new seals.

[Spook50]

I need to do this as well, once I can get my hands on a box (or two so I can use one as a parts donor). I've got a brand new 20:1 gearset that I got from a dude for dirt cheap since he kept his power steering setup, so once I can get a manual box and rebuild it I can convert from power to manual. Maybe it's just because I don't have one in hand, but I'm lost as to what exactly needs to be done when rebuilding a manual box. I would assume there are torque requirements for the bolts holding it all together and a certain starting point for the adjuster screw when the box is freshly rebuilt.

That oughta help me fit the 383 in when the time comes 

[wild383]

When I rebuilt mine, I'd never been inside one before. With the Firm Feel kit and a few hand tools, I think I did a darn good job. Like Ciscodog said, it's not hard at all. Willie