[Guest]

Erik,

How did the steering gear box swap go? Do you have a caprice or an ss? I have a 96 caprice wagon and want to do the swap myself? Any advice?

I originally bought the Advance Auto gear box, but I took it back after reading the post listed below (from caplt4 steering vibration heading). I now plan to use the Autozone gear box.

Let me know if you have any tips for the installation.

-Wagonman


caplt4
Senior Member
Member # 2815
posted 06-14-2002 05:34 AM
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guys, the steering box that auto zone sells it a good box, i bougth one for my caddy, an didn't had problems untill i sold the car, the one that advance sells, it's not worth s^%&t, i had to change it an go with auto zone, an if you DON'T KNOW what you are doing DON'T mess with adjusting bolt in the box, if you adjust to tigth, you will break the rod inside the box, i did it an it broke, when i was overseas, an it wasn't fun.

 

[Guest]

I haven't done it yet. It's been driving me nuts waiting, but I need the weather to cooperate at the same time I have the time to do it. I'm rebuilding the entire front end, including Navy Lifer A arms (which look great, by the way) with Del Alum bushings, GW adjustor sleeves and the rest Moog parts, as well as doing my Hotchkis springs and HAL shocks, all at the same time. I'm planning to do the box then too. I was going to order the box this weekend and plan to do the install on the Friday after the 4th, with room for spillage into the next day, if necessary. I'll post on how it works out.

On this subject, does anybody have the specs for the bolts that hold the steering gear box on the frame? I'd like to replace those at the same time. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. I will keep you posted on my steering box upgrade. Hopefully I can get it done by Monday or Tues. I also plan to do some simple upgrades like installing the buick center link and stabilizer, and moog inner and outer tie rod ends in addition to the SS gear box.

Does anyone know if the 94-96 Impala SS gear box is a direct bolt on for 94-96 Caprices?
Are any modifications needed?

Erik, regarding the bolts needed to hold the steering box on, I would check at the local dealer--they can tell you exactly which bolts are needed and probably have some in stock.

 

[Guest]

I am very very curious if this AZ box turns out to be good. My main concerns are:
Keeps the linear, 12.7:1 ratio
Tight feel, as little dead zone on center as possible

I will check my B-Body CD for specs on the bolts and edit this post if I find anything.

 

[Guest]

Kevin,

I will keep you posted. I am going to order the Auto Zone (AZ) box today. Hopefully I will get the steering box back by Monday and put it on shortly after that.

The AZ box is the 12.7:1 ratio but the real question is how tight is it and the on center feel. You get what you pay for and it is not the cheapest (Advance Auto is 135.00 plus a 35.00 core charge) and it is no the most expensive (the dealer is 600.00).

 

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Erik:
I'm rebuilding the entire front end, including Navy Lifer A arms (which look great, by the way) with Del Alum bushings, GW adjustor sleeves....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bill is making/selling A-arms????? Please let us know what you are talking about, I'm lost!

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I'm blonde. Hadn't noticed Bill's reply to an earlier thread at http://www.impalassforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=16&t=001315

 

[Guest]

Those are the ones I meant.

 

[Guest]

Just an update on this. As of today, I would NOT recommend the Autozone gearbox. The first one I installed had too much play, which could not be adjusted out. The customer service rep for Atsco (the company that does the rebuilds) was very helpful and sent me a replacement, which I installed yesterday. After installing it, my steering wheel was off center by about 45 degrees. As near as I can tell, the box was assembled with the output shaft off by a spline or two so that with the input shaft properly centered (flat on the shaft facing up), the output shaft is off center. I can recommend Atsco's customer service, but not their steering gear boxes. At a minimum, I'd say they have a quality control issue. Fortunately for me, I'm doing the work myself, so it hasn't cost me anything to do it. Unfortunately, it takes between 4 and 5 hours each time.

At this point, I'm inclined to get either a new GM box or the AGR box that Summit Racing sells. Does anybody have any input as to whether either is better?

 

[Guest]

Eric, if the box is 1/4 turn out chances are it has a damaged sector or input.
As far as I know when assembling a saginaw box you can be correct or 180 out.
I am going to try and find the Jeep Grand Cherokee box part number for you guys.
New, they are not huge money and are a 12.7 constant ratio box with about the same effort as the Imp-9C1 box.
They are a complete drop in. ( my wagon has one) I believe they are correct in 1999 for sure but other years as well. Regards, Gerry

 

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 95wagon:
Eric, if the box is 1/4 turn out chances are it has a damaged sector or input.
As far as I know when assembling a saginaw box you can be correct or 180 out.
I am going to try and find the Jeep Grand Cherokee box part number for you guys.
New, they are not huge money and are a 12.7 constant ratio box with about the same effort as the Imp-9C1 box.
They are a complete drop in. ( my wagon has one) I believe they are correct in 1999 for sure but other years as well. Regards, Gerry<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Does anyone know about the compatibility of the Z28 steering box? I've been hearing testimony that they are a direct drop-in and make a considerable difference in steering feel for our cars.

Glad I bought another car to drive daily in place of the caprice. It's just too tedious and annoying to drive the caprice as it is.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Gerry. That would be great. The Summit box is $329. The GM box is about $520 or so (if the price hasn't just gone up along with others, more if it has). If the Jeep box is equivalent and cheaper, that would be great. Whatever I do, I'll do it tomorrow, I think, because I want the box in hand by the weekend to replace for the last time (knock wood).

 

[Guest]

I will not be able to come up with a part # that quick. I am sorry but it is a matter of digging through invoices at work. I replaced one after a collision on a low mile Jeep and marveled at the low dealer cost on the invoice. I went through the box and found it to be a 12.7 constant ratio with a good effort. I put a new sector in it and it now resides in my wagon. You could go to your rebuilder and find what jeep uses the same part number as your Chev rebuilt then phone the dealer on that model.
The Late Z box will drop in but its internal stops will reduce your turning radius. I had one in the wagon and the effort was a little high for my liking. I found my wrists aching after driving for a long time in town. It was great on the highway.
I do have a same type of box in my Cutlass and in there it is nice.
So if you don't mind near hand over hand parking the high effort Z box might be ok for you.
Regards, Gerry

 

[Guest]

Thanks Gerry. I think I'm going to go with the AGR box from Summit. It's a 12:1 ratio that uses factory wheel stops and I can order it without difficulty. The description says it uses "firmer valving", so I may find that the steering effort is a bit much, but I know others have used this box and been happy with it, so I'm going to go ahead and try it out. If this link works, there's a description of it on Summit's website, here. I'd be happy to hear what you think.

 

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Erik:
[QB]Thanks Gerry. I think I'm going to go with the AGR box from Summit. It's a 12:1 ratio that uses factory wheel stops and I can order it without difficulty. The description says it uses "firmer valving", so I may find that the steering effort is a bit much, but I know others have used this box and been happy with it, so I'm going to go ahead and try it out. If this link works, there's a description of it on Summit's website, QB]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gerry,

I'm still interested in the part number for the Jeep Steering box. You did say this is a brand new steering box, right?

Hand over hand steering is not my cup of tea. As of now, I can turn the wheel lock to lock with the palm of one hand fairly easy during parking lot manuevers. Seems to have lost it's firmness since I acquired the car.

 

[Guest]

on a sidebar,
i tried to get an imp/9c1 box from a local autozone, and they couldn't get that one, only the civilian box (15:1 i think). so the only place local was napa, and they had to have it shipped from los angeles to md. they waved they shipping cost due to a misquote over the phone, and it ended up costing me 199 plus 166 for core (i'll return the old one as soon as i get the new one!). should be here any day now....


i'll keep y'all informed

brandon

 

[Guest]

Do yourself a favor and inspect it closely before you put it in. Make sure that with the flat on the input shaft pointing straight up, the indexing grooves on the output shaft are located at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00 (I think there are four of them. I know for sure about the 6:00 one though, make sure it's EXACTLY at 6:00). If they are off even a little, something is tweaked inside the box and your steering wheel will not be straight. I wish I had known to do this before I put the last one in. I don't know if there's a way you can check for excessive play before you install it, maybe someone else had an idea.

I had to call two stores to order the Autozone box. The first store, the guy behind the counter couldn't find it in the computer and told me they didn't sell it. I called the second store because I knew someone on the forum had just bought it, so he had to be wrong.

 

[Guest]

Update: I got the AGR box from Summit yesterday. GREAT turnaround time. Ordered Monday, arived Wednesday with no special shipping requests.

It looks good. It seems pretty clear that AGR takes a stock gearbox and then rebuilds it since it has all the same stampings and casting marks my stock box did. Their website says their boxes are manufactured with all new components, so I'm assuming/hoping that means only the housing is a used piece. Everything I can see looks new, anyway.

The gear box came packed unbelievably well. They wrap it in plastic and then put it in a box and inject expanding foam around it to seal it in place. Then Summit takes that box and packs it in another box, with some newspaper as padding. I don't think I could have damaged it if I dropped it off my roof.

The gear was not centered when I unpacked it, but that was easy enough to do myself, and I would recommend to anyone who is planning to install a gear box that you double check and make sure it is centered before you install it. Everything lines up nicely, so I don't think there's anything wrong with the box internally.

I'm planning to install it on Saturday, so I'll follow up then.

 

[Guest]

Final update: I put the AGR box in today. I think I have this down to a science now. The box went in no problem. It's nice and straight, without excess play and, based on a short test drive, it feels great. The steering effort is about the same as stock and is definitely less than on either of the Autozone rebuilds. I will not have any problem with the "palm on the wheel" parallel parking method. My only complaint is that I didn't buy this box first. It's pretty reasonably priced, Summit had it at my door in two days and it was carefully packed.

I have to go out of town for a bit, so I won't be able to respond to this thread for a little while. I'll be driving a couple hundred miles tomorrow, so if anything changes or if I feel this update ought to be expanded or modified, I'll post when I get back.

 

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Erik:
Final update: I put the AGR box in today. I think I have this down to a science now. The box went in no problem. It's nice and straight, without excess play and, based on a short test drive, it feels great. The steering effort is about the same as stock and is definitely less than on either of the Autozone rebuilds. I will not have any problem with the "palm on the wheel" parallel parking method. My only complaint is that I didn't buy this box first. It's pretty reasonably priced, Summit had it at my door in two days and it was carefully packed.

I have to go out of town for a bit, so I won't be able to respond to this thread for a little while. I'll be driving a couple hundred miles tomorrow, so if anything changes or if I feel this update ought to be expanded or modified, I'll post when I get back.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Good stuff, Erik. Look forward to your long test drive update. I was hoping the steering effort assist would be a little less, but oh well.