Steering Box Rebuild (3 Viewers)

[Cruiserdrew]

I just had an 80 series box shipped to me from the East Coast. $73 to ship. Assuming similar charges to ship to Texas and then back, I think it's worth the gamble to do it myself. Maybe a mudship via Cruise Moab!

The 80 series box has a larger power piston but the same sized sector shaft, which is possibly why twisted 80 series sector shaft splines are common, and 60 series ones are not.

If you look at Toyota pricing for steering boxes, it is truely insane-$2500 for a new working box. A used working box is a nice spare to have!

 

[hank14]

Yeah, but a rebuilt one from SOR is only $950.00!

 

[lowtideride]

The 80 series box has a larger power piston but the same sized sector shaft, which is possibly why twisted 80 series sector shaft splines are common, and 60 series ones are not.

You are prob right, but I bet its more that no one ever runs Hydro Assist and the problem of them weighing about a 1000lbs more.

That being said I run a 80series box in my 60 with Hydro. Best mod hands down I ever did for a trail rig.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

Got the box back today. Clean and RTG. It cost me:

$23.00 to ship to them UPS
$140.00 rebuild fee
$13.50+/- tax
$27.00/- ship back

Just over $200.00 total. Should be good for a long while.

did you get a new pitman arm from them?

 

[vipergrhd]

I just got two boxes rebuilt by West Texas and am very happy with the one I installed and am using now. They clean all the parts before rebuilding it and then painted them.

hey kevin are those gear boxes power steering,just checking.let me know if your willing to part away w/one of your gear boxes,i think i'll need one.my cruiser is a DD so i need something right away if i need replacement.john

 

[NocalFJ60]

hey kevin are those gear boxes power steering,just checking.let me know if your willing to part away w/one of your gear boxes,i think i'll need one.my cruiser is a DD so i need something right away if i need replacement.john

Yours is a 87.. right? The bolt pattern is different on the later model FJ60's. Check and see if your bolt pattern is offset side to side between the top and bottom two holes. If you look at my pictures above and yours it should make sense. Maybe you can find a used leaking one to send to them to get rebuilt so you aren't down for a week.

You can see it in hank14's pictures above. See how one hole sticks out more on the bottom holes in the first picture.

 

[hank14]

did you get a new pitman arm from them?

Actually, that's the original one off of my 87 FJ60 (at least I don't have any recordsd showing it's ever been replaced).

The used box I swapped in had a Pitmman arm on it, so I just left mine on when I sent it to them.

 

[JLH911]

My Pitman arm also has those blue marking on them as well as on the gear box itself. I'm assuming they were there from the factory as a way to set up initial alignment?

Got the box back today. Clean and RTG. It cost me:

$23.00 to ship to them UPS
$140.00 rebuild fee
$13.50+/- tax
$27.00/- ship back

Just over $200.00 total. Should be good for a long while.

 

[Zack1978]

I should have asked this in the other thread, but......is it worth the expense to send WTOR the Toyota rebuilt kit? Is the kit they use good enough?


Thanks,
Zack

 

[jraj]

What is the timeframe from start to finish to get the box back?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I should have asked this in the other thread, but......is it worth the expense to send WTOR the Toyota rebuilt kit? Is the kit they use good enough?


Thanks,
Zack

If you have the time, then yes, it is worth sending the box out to rebuild it if you're not confident in doing it yourself.

That said, mace put up a great thread some time ago, documenting how to rebuild, and port, a stock 60 series PS box. I recommend looking that up. You can rebuild without porting, and you'll get a brand new box for less than what it'll cost to send out and have rebuilt.

 

[Mace]

There are no really special tools to rebuild a steering box.

But, if you feel better about having someone else rebuild it for you, WTOR is a great resource,.

 

[rchalmers3]

To those of you who are resealing your steering gears:

I have spent the morning sifting through the various threads about "rebuilding" steering gears, in preparation for tackling my own leaking unit on our family wagon.

In none of the threads I have uncovered thus far, nobody mentions the replacement of the bearings behind the seals that support the shafts inside the housing. Is this because the replacement of the bearings is understood, or are you guys replacing the seals and soft parts with the hope the wear of the bearings is not a factor in the leakage?

I ask because in my experience with other types of gears, you can replace the seals all day long and still have a leak if the shafts are not properly supported, or if the seal surface is not free of defects.

Because that suggested rebuilder in Texas is putting out "rebuilt" assemblies for only $150, I expect that they are not providing much more than labor and soft parts. Which is how all the DIY threads read also. But I didn't want to assume so I am checking in.

If you guys are replacing the bearings, are there any SST tools to be made or purchased? I had real troubles with the variety of bushings and bearings in other types of gears, and found it easier to sell my clients rebuilt units from mass producers rather than to tackle them myself.

Thanks,

Rick