Steering Box HELP!

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Tue Dec 05, 06 5:43 pm

Hi, I'm looking to convert my 73 Duster from power steering to manual but am not sure about how to get the right fitting shaft to Pitman arm combo. I believe there are a few different ones? Alternatively can you get the power steering box re-furbed as it's leeking like an old lady. Bought the car with a knackered power box, bought another, (wrong one), bought a 2nd one & had it fitted & it's puking fluid out. So now I'm £350 poorer & looking for the cars 4th steering box in 6 months! Anyone got any advice please?

Ashley · Post by **Ashley** » Tue Dec 05, 06 5:48 pm

CDR, rebuild them tel 01706814142

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Dec 07, 06 3:50 pm

Nice talking to you Wayne.
As we spoke of, and this may be of interest to anyone thinking of doing a p/steer - manual steering swap in a later A body.

Manual s/boxes use a different pitman arm and steering column, and to add to this, manual pitman arms are roughly twice the price of p/steer pitmans. Also, alot of manual pitman arms are being discontinued, so it might be something to think about for the future.

Steve
http://www.beaverbushes.co.uk

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Dec 07, 06 4:08 pm

For this car

Power Pitman aound £95/£100

Manual Pitman £79/£85

manual pitman readily available because of the demand for manual conversions

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Thu Dec 07, 06 5:17 pm

Thanks Steve & Wil. Excuse my lack of knowledge on this, but where is the variation in the Pitman arms? Is it the shape / length of the arm itself or the splines where it attaches to the box? Would the Pitman arm on the power box my car now fit onto a manual box? I guess a `try before you buy` would be helpful here!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Dec 07, 06 5:29 pm

Wayne

A power pitman won't fit a manual box

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Thu Dec 07, 06 5:55 pm

Thanks Wil. So I need a box & a Pitman arm & chances are the two are gonna come separately, which is where the problem of getting the right spline fitting comes in. OK, I'm learning. SLOWLY! Thanks again.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Dec 07, 06 7:26 pm

Wayne

73 through 76 manual box are all the same

all 72 manual boxes are the same

all 70/72 manual boxes are the same

all 69s are the same except there were 2 ratios

68 are all the same

so just remember it's not body specific but year and as long as you know what year car a manual box came from a pitman is easy.

Firm Feel are the best in the states for steering boxes, I could do one from Firm Feel for around £217.00, problem is they have a core charge of at least £100, I have a secondhand manual box here from a 73 dart but it worn out, so it's only a core

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Dec 07, 06 7:42 pm

Wayne

I found a core in the states for £70.00 if your interested, this would include freight to Firm Feel

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Fri Dec 08, 06 5:16 pm

Hi Wil, thanks for all your help on this. Again you'll have to excuse me, but what's a core? If you have any idea of total cost involved to get the thing to me in the UK I'd like to know. I might not be able to access the message board again for a couple of days now but if you don't mind ringing me my number is (07779) 409932. Cheers.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Dec 08, 06 5:55 pm

Wayne

I just tried to call but got answer machine

A core.... good question, a lot of this stuff isn't made anymore so parts are reconditioned, to recon a part you first need a part to recon, this is a core.
A core will have a charge which is the cost of purchasing the part from a salvage yard or private guy.
At least the core charge on a 73 steering box isn't that bad, 68/69/70 charger brake booster core charge now stands at more than the recon, lots more stuff going the same way too