J 10 Jeep steering gear box

[hawgwild]

I am trying to replace my steering gear box on my 78 J10. I ordered one through car quest and it came as a 3 bolt instead of a 4 bolt that my current box is. all the holes line up but am wondering if it will still operate safely. this is a reman. I found an AGR with 4 bolts for twice the money. any suggestions, guidance or advice? thanks.

[Cecil14]

Most standard Saginaw boxes (ie: most of the stuff GM used) were three bolt mounting. Jeep went with four, for whatever reason they thought important. I am currently running an S-10 steering box that only has three mounting bolts, and it works fine. The S-10 box provides much tighter ratios than the factory box, at the cost of a little turning assist probably. I don't run huge tires, so the added highway stability was great for me.

edit: box, not pump.

[Cecil14]

Another thought: do not turn in your core until you KNOW you are happy with the box you have purchased. In regards to the Carquest box, I would likely deny/return it, as it is definitely NOT a Jeep box. Remanufactured parts are getting pretty horrible anymore. It may even be worth grabbing a cheap junkyard box to turn in as a core, or just paying the core charge even. You can always rebuild your original box, barring any case damage.

[tgreese]

Yeah, I would refuse it. I'd imagine the 3-bolt cores are way more available than the 4-bolt cores, so they are hoping you will accept it. The 3-bolt gear will work, but Jeep felt the extra supporting bolt was important, so that's how they are.

Good advice about the core. Unless the core charge is a lot of money, I'd just keep the core. Worked parts counter for many years, and I've seen plenty of sad and disappointed customers that wanted their core back for whatever reason after they had turned it in. Once it crosses the counter at the parts store, after a day or two it goes to the big pile at the reman plant and it's gone.

The 3-bolt S-10/Blazer/Bravada gears are a popular upgrade. There's lots of discussion here and at the mother ship on this topic, if you search. I would use a steering brace with any of these... but that's just me.

[hawgwild]

my core charge is $75. probably high because they want the old core back. I am currently looking at the agr box but will have to see what my old box is. truck is currently at the shop. I am going to return the 3 bolt for now.

[Mikel]

I too very much prefer the feel of later steering boxes.

[Longjohn61]

Hi,i also need a steering gear box for my cherokee chief. and used ones are not available here in Sweden.
But for the s10 no problem to find a used one at all so thats my plan.
I just wonder if it's bolt on or do i need something more?
I know i am losing 1 bolt but i don't think it will be an issue.
Took a pic from the junkyard will this one fit?


/Niels Sweden

[KJ Ryu]

yes. The 3-bolt ones will fit. You just don't put the 4th bolt in. Everything else is the same, externally anyway.

[Longjohn61]

Thanks that's what i wanted to hear.

/Niels

[Pair O J10]

One other thing Pre 1980 Saginaw boxes have 5/8 and 11/16 flare fittings...After 1980 they went to 16mm and 18 mm O ring type fittings

[Longjohn61]

okey my cherokee chief is a 1980 so it can be both? is this the same for the s10 boxes? for the ones i can find here are all newer most off them from 1994 and up.

/Niels

[tgreese]

The connection type is determined by the steering gear. If you want to use a steering gear with o-ring connectors and your Jeep came with the flare-type gear, just buy hoses for say a '90 Wagoneer, and those will be the right length and shape and have the o-ring fittings.

For the pump, there is an adapter that threads into the existing flare fitting and converts it to o-ring type fittings. In the USA you can find this part at the junkyard, but in Sweden you'll likely need to buy it retail. The low pressure line (return) on the pump just clamps on, so that does not change.

Looking at RockAuto, an '80 appears to have o-rings at both ends: the steering gear end and the pump end. You'll need to take the high pressure hose loose to be sure.