Off-topic: 1986 Jeep CJ7 steering gearbox

[ReneH]

This is what I have:




Looks like a Saginaw, if I'm not wrong...

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, that's a Saginaw.

[85lebaront2]

Rene', I have a 1995 Lincoln Continental, it has a control valve on the rack that is operated by the vehicle dynamics computer located in the trunk. The valve adjusts the pressure on the rack.

[ReneH]

Ok, so the version with a hydraulic valve and a pressure regulator should work.

I only have to let make me some new hoses...

[ReneH]

Now, after driving some miles, it seem the play gets more...or maybe it was there from the beginning and I haven't noticed it really.

I already have tried to contact Cardone by phone, with no success, so I've written an email, yesterday within theit opening hours. Currently also no reply.

I've done two videos:
With engine off

With engine on

I don't really know, what this can caused by.
The steering box is a new one, it's not rebuild...so maybe I do have to set the preload after installing it???

I've checked and adopted the tie rods and the steering damper. Everything ok on this side. I've replaced the bearings and the coupler on the steering column...so everything is new and checked, but the result is horrible...

[ReneH]

Cardone said it's a case of warranty...so I've ordered a new gearbox from rockauto.com and they will send me the money back, when I've returned the defective gearbox...

[salans7]

I can't trust Cardone worth anything. I've been through three rack and pinions from them on my Ranger, and they have all had problems.

-First one had mismatched inner tie-rods, and I couldn't find a replacement for the one that went bad, so that entire rack had to be replaced after a few years.

-Second one ended up puking fluid into both tie-rod boots and had to be replaced after a few months.

-The third one in my truck now works, but I immediately noticed that the steering is tighter in one direction than the other. I've gotten used to it now, and since replacing these on a 4x4 Ranger is not fun, I'm just leaving it be.

I highly doubt their "new" gears are any better than their remanufactured stuff.

[ReneH]

I've found the problem...I can move the output shaft...it's loose...

Video

I hope this is seeable...

[85lebaront2]

Ok, I see the verticle play, I can't really say whether there is side play from the video. Verticle play adjusment. First put the steering straight ahead (Pitman arm parallel to the box cylinder). Loosen the nut on top and using a screwdriver turn the screw in until you fell some resistance. Hold the svrew in that position and tighten the nut. Drive it carefully and see if the steering will still (if it did before) return to center when you release the wheel.

If it does not center, and the truck has been that way, you may not have enough caster angle in the steering. On the Ford 4WD axles I have worked on, the camber and caster are adjusted with eccentric bushings at the upper ball jolnt.

[ReneH]

Hi Bill. Thanks for this detailed information.
Cardone said, if there is play, it's a thing of their warranty and I should not turn the preload screw...I will see, how the new gearbox, that I'll get in exchange, will behave...

[ReneH]

I've installed the replacement-gearbox today. It fells much better after the first test-drive. I have to let set the track again, cause it seems that the strait-ahead-run isn't very good. I've flushed the system to get out all air and tried to center the gearbox as good as possible with the original steering shaft.

Let's see how it behaves the next weeks.

[Gary Lewis]

Glad the new one is better.  Hope it is GREAT.  

[ReneH]

Maybe I've to correct my last comment about the better steering...as I'm driven today for a bit longer trip, it's the same bad feeling as with the other gearbox.

If you steer in one direction, it feels as the car needs some seconds to do this, so you have to correct the direction again. It's very hard to follow the road without steering all the time...

I'm a bit perplexed by now...also if Bill left nothing good on the most gearboxes...I can't imagine, that I've got two bad boxes...

I will be not amused, if I have had to buy another box from blue-top or red-hat, cause rockauto.com wants my old cardone box back. I have to pay 150 euro for shipping back one box. The box itself costs about 300 euro...
I don't think they will give me the money for the replacement unit back, but if they would,  I have had invested 600 euro and got back 300 euro and have to invest again into a gearbox from blue-top, for example...

Maybe the problem can also be caused by my steering shaft? I already have replaced the coupler and the lower bearing...

I don't have an idea how to identify the part that causes the problem, for sure...

[Nothing Special]

ReneH wrote

....  I don't have an idea how to identify the part that causes the problem, for sure...

Can you have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch for any movement?  You need to look everywhere along the entire steering system to see if there are any parts that don't move together.

[ReneH]

Yes, after my holidays, I'll check the steering shaft for play. Since I've installed the new box rockauto.com sent me as replacement, the steering feels much stiffer. Only the first 10 to 15 degrees of turning the steering wheel is sloppy. So maybe it's the coupler. It's the same construction as used in my bronco...if the coupler is the problem, I'll also change the shaft in my bronco to borgeson.

[ReneH]

Ok...today I've found the problem. It's definitely the gearbox. The replacement NEW box from cardone...

As you can see in the following video, I've grabbed the steering shaft and turned it.
The steering wheel turns, but the lever doesn't move. If I try to hold the input shaft to see, if the coupler is the problem, I can't move the shaft...so, this is not the problem...

Video

Maybe my only way is to buy a box from blue top...this is what I hoped not to have to do, cause of the costs, when not sending back a defective device...

I will send cardone also this video...I'm exited, what they will answer...

[Gary Lewis]

That is a bummer!  And, as I said in my comment to your video, it is exactly while I will not even install a Cardone, aka Car Done, gear box, much less buy one.

If they won't send you yet another box, and I doubt they will, let's see if anyone in the forum has a core they will give you to send to Blue Top.  I think I've sent my last one in but will look.

[85lebaront2]

Gary, now you know why I rebuilt my own (actually, one from an inverted flown 1996 F150). I gave the old one to best friend so he had a core for his 1995 F350.

[ReneH]

Hi Gary,

yes, it is! I will write to Cardone and RockAuto in copy to get my money back!
I have paid 150 USD for sending back the last defective device. I will build up some pressure
by telling them to post all facts in the common social media. I hope they will react about this!

[85lebaront2]

Gary, if you do not have a core, I'm sure I can get one from Pete's, heck, maybe even a nice snug one.