86 FJ60 Steering Gear Options?

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Elbert

Elbert

10 Year 15 Year
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Guys...

I have a 5.7 V8 and I've had power steering problems almost from day one. Recently swapped out to a high pressure PSC pump and and a remote reservoir. Previously had some rebuilt brand ps pump. Both setup have cooler and-6an hose. At present i have a rebuilt steering gear from WTO.

At engine idle we see no circulation in the reservoir of ps fluid and not sure if that's normal with no steering input.

Symptoms are steering is hard to turn, no noise from the pump, no whine, no foam or milky fluid. Replaced the ps cooler and all hoses from former setup. So I'm thinking the only thing left is the gear.

No leaks, no p/s pump whine or noise, no apparent fluid contamination or air that we can tell right now. Cooler is sitting on the lower part of the front of the radiator, ps reservoir is the high point of the system.

What are your options on different steering gears...are there any direct swap outs from another model truck. I just can't seem to think its not in the steering gear. Any feedback...Anyone with similar issue and proven solutions? I know I can send the gear off and get it rebuilt again....but not tracking the repetitive issue here. No kinked lines, the ps pump is preconfigured for -6 hose, its made with those fittings. Symptoms almost identical to former setup...(hard to steer), only thing old in the entire system now is the same steering gear (we replaced all other steering components...pump/reservoir,hose cooler,fittings)....which would leave one to assume the gear is defective. The only other thing that is still the same are the two fittings that adapt the steering gear to use AN hose, and I don't really see a why they could be the problem...

pump looks like this... http://www.pscmotorsports.com/motor...mance-p-series-pump-with-remote-can-6-an.html

I just don't see it being the pump, the reservoir or the cooler. I assume the FJ60 gear has no issue with the use of the GM ps pump, as I don't recall reading anything about that. I'm chasing my @$$ on this one..

Edit:...I'm stabbing in the dark...but all things seem to point to the steering gear or the connections at the gear. I'm using two -6 an hose adapters that screw into the gear and allow for the use of -6 hose. Given that...I'm wondering if the fittings themselves may be restricting flow of fluid...maybe they bottom out or they are not properly designed. I've forgotten the source for the fittings. But it seems to be we have a problem again with hard steering for no apparent reason. The gear may be faulty ...and we will go back to make sure the p/s hoses are connected properly in regard to high pressure side hose on the right fitting at the gear.
 
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Could the connections on the gear box be reversed? When I did my swap, I connected them backwards and had really hard steering effort.
 
I think the hoses are right.... the truck is not here at my home...but over at my friends place. Off the top of my head I don't recall the orientation of the ps hoses... I know you have one fitting on the gear that is closer to the fender well and then one that's closer to the engine... and obviously one is the high pressure side and the other is not.

Post up what hose goes to what connection and we will double check for "stupid human tricks"...
 
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What hose configuration are others using at the pressure side at the steering gear connection? I'm leaning towards an issue with the steering gear or the adapter fittings at the steering gear. For those with a GM V8 swap...what did you do on the pressure side hose fitting at the steering gear?
 
ntsqd said:
The only box that I can think of that comes close to fitting like stock is the Saginaw PS box used on I-H Scout II's ('73-up).
Click to expand...

thanks...
 
I'll search , but can someone post up the size of the inverted flare fittings that mate to the power steering gear at the gear itself. As I recall there was a small difference between the two...17mm vs 16mm or something like that?


Also if anyone has any reason to think if the diameter of the ps cooler hose from 3/8 to 1/2 inch would make any difference in flow...all of which is on the low pressure side.
 
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Pressure side is the one closest to the fender
Elbert said:
I think the hoses are right.... the truck is not here at my home...but over at my friends place. Off the top of my head I don't recall the orientation of the ps hoses... I know you have one fitting on the gear that is closer to the fender well and then one that's closer to the engine... and obviously one is the high pressure side and the other is not.

Post up what hose goes to what connection and we will double check for "stupid human tricks"...
Click to expand...

Pressure side is the one closest to the fender
 
Have you check the pressure output of the pump? The gear box itself is pretty simple and if it's rebuilt and the piston seal is good, your should be good to go.

If you have a bud with a similar box, maybe swap his on to your system as a test to see if your box is doing what it should.

I also think an 80 series box has the same mounting pattern as late 60/62 but has a larger power piston so you might get a bit more boost from that. I've not tried it but I've had the boxes side by side and it looks right.
 
Your PS should be flowing fluid like crazy even at idle. Is a line kinked? It is indeed easy to reverse the lines and if so you won't have power assist. I would make sure that is not the case.

If you have a bad power piston within the gear you will feel a lot pulsing as pressure builds and blows passed the piston seal. Once the seal is toast you will lose all power assist.

If you don't see any signs of fluid flowing in the res I'd say you have a blocked line or bad bump because (it's been a while) but I'm pretty sure fluid even flows if the gear is hook up backwards (you just don't have assist).

Frank
 
I had the same problem and swapped out to reman steering box from trail-gear and it turns great now even stopped
 
this might be dumb but I would take the high pressure hose off the box and have someone hold it in a bucket or better yet the reservoir and start the truck for a min to see if the pump is in fact pumping. Its a simple free test but might be a bit messy.
 
rcmccars said:
this might be dumb but I would take the high pressure hose off the box and have someone hold it in a bucket or better yet the reservoir and start the truck for a min to see if the pump is in fact pumping. Its a simple free test but might be a bit messy.
Click to expand...


In a min you will run out of fluid for sure .. even with the big PSC reservoir .. with a couple of turns of the starter you would be able to tell if the pump it's moving fluid .. ( hard to tell pressure this way )
 
jcj_78FJ40 said:
It's a pretty common 40 swap to run a Saginaw pump w/ a 60's box.

Is your cooler mounted so that it is lower than your reservoir?
Click to expand...

Yes.. The new ps cooler is mounted to the lower portion of the radiator support drivers side in front of the drivers side lower part of the radiator/condenser. The remote ps reservoir is the high point in the system and it sits above the pump.
 
rcmccars said:
this might be dumb but I would take the high pressure hose off the box and have someone hold it in a bucket or better yet the reservoir and start the truck for a min to see if the pump is in fact pumping. Its a simple free test but might be a bit messy.
Click to expand...

bypassed the cooler and then performed similar test. Dont' have a way in which to test pressure.
 
kling-on said:
I had the same problem and swapped out to reman steering box from trail-gear and it turns great now even stopped
Click to expand...

I'm thinking about going that route..... Truck is at my buddy's shop, and it has improved a little, so I'm "goona" drive for a little bit and see..then I'll probably go the path you suggested. I was looking on their web site this morning.
 
Cruiserdrew said:
Have you check the pressure output of the pump? The gear box itself is pretty simple and if it's rebuilt and the piston seal is good, your should be good to go.

If you have a bud with a similar box, maybe swap his on to your system as a test to see if your box is doing what it should.

I also think an 80 series box has the same mounting pattern as late 60/62 but has a larger power piston so you might get a bit more boost from that. I've not tried it but I've had the boxes side by side and it looks right.
Click to expand...


I don't have a way in which to check the pressure on the ps pump
 
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