Saginaw Steering Box Restoration/Rebuild
2021 ж. 24 Мау.
1 765 978 Рет қаралды
Another Jeep restoration video. This thing was super rusty and leaking a bit, so I thought it would be fun to restore it. It wasn't in super bad condition, but it was covered in oil and grime so I figured I'd make it look a little nicer and replace all the seals so it wouldn't leak anymore.
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I'm a retired ASE Master Technician and I have rebuilt many a Saginaw steering gearbox. It can be found in GM and Chrysler cars and trucks of the heyday of Detroit car manufacturing. It is the best design of that era, but was made obsolete by the rack and pinion. The Ford gearbox is a copy of the Saginaw: It is absolutely identical in design. At 26:48 you show on screen, "properly adjust this nut per maintenance manual". It is a critical adjustment and I'll tell you why. First the adjustment. You need an inch pound torque wrench for this adjustment. Measuring the effort it takes to turn the stub shaft, turn the adjustment screw clockwise while moving the rack back and forth over center until you can feel it begin to bind as it goes over center. This is because as the adjustment screw goes further in, the tapered Pittman gears push the piston assembly into the other side of the cylinder. The specification is for there to be an additional 12 inch pounds (if I recall correctly) to move the stub shaft over that center. Lock it down. This adjustment comes into play when the front end alignment is made. So why the "bind" in the center of the gearbox's travel? It is so the front end alignment can be set with 1/4 to 1/2 degree LESS caster on the LEFT side of the car to compensate for road crown. A modern alignment mechanic that works with modern cars that have rack and pinion steering gears might say, _"But that will make the car pull to the left into oncoming traffic!"_ That would be true with a rack and pinion car. But an experienced mechanic who had a properly adjusted Saginaw steering gearbox would know how to set the toe-in to avoid that pull. He would set the toe-in so that as the car was traveling in a straight line, the steering wheel would be 1/2 degree to the right so that any pull coming from the caster angle would be running up against the bind in the gearbox. That little bit of resistance inside a Saginaw gearbox was DESIGNED to make it possible to have a car that pulls a little bit to the left to compensate for the commonly heavily crowned roads of the 1950's and yet one that won't go over center, as long as the mechanic fully understands the equipment, knows what he's doing and properly adjusts the alignment. I absolutely LOVE the way an old Buick Electra 225 handles on crowned roads when the front end is properly adjusted, and that's because of its Saginaw steering gearbox.
Great reply, the B bodies of that era all rode like Cadillacs. Loved them.
Here's another little tid-bit for you guys who might be interested. At 14:54 you see him pop the stub shaft out of the spool valve. If you look closely you'll see it has a pin holding the torsion bar inside. It is the thickness of this torsion bar that determines how much effort, and therefore how much "road-feel" the gearbox will have: The thinner the bar, the easier it is to steer and the less you'll feel from the road. You can't see the bar, it's inside the stub shaft. Some performance cars and trucks it's about 1/4" thick, on a '68 Cadillac Brougham, 1/8" and you can park the car steering with your little finger.
Hoy cobien
probably one of the most insightful youtube comments i've seen in a while, even though its a year old haha
I am thoroughly impressed by your knowledge sir. I have a 64 Imperial LeBaron. (made by Chrysler) Does it have the this same Saginaw box? I just had the box on my car replaced. I didn't ask the shop the specs. I was going to have the original one rebuilt but they recommeded a new one rather than have to deal with the possibility of problems with a rebuild. Thoughts?
Started GM dealership 1979. Needless to say we were the rebuilders of everything. I had the tools needed to do this job. A spanner wrench and a center shaft stub. You are supposed to remove large plug first, and then 1 inch nut or plug. The shaft would allow removal of spool valve while keeping all the balls in place.. Yes there is 22 balls. 11 shiny and 11 dull. Using the shaft allows you to stack the piston with balls then install in housing. Your way worked, but one ball out of place and you get to start all over again... Nice video...We rebuilt the 800 and 600 series gear boxes. The 600 series was the smaller ones with round top cover, you know the one that always leaked. Don retired.
I actually like That You Don't Use Music In Your Video's
Natural sounds is better than music 👍🏼
@@mgmesh8533 do. Çfdddfffffff me. ..... . BH vv vvvvcvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv😅
It’s relaxing
Irony - I am watching you from Saginaw, MI & I live 1 mile from the plant that steering box was made.
3:29 I've only ever seen diagrams of the insides of a recirculating ball steering box and never imagined that the recirculating ball mechanism would be a U shaped tube split into 2 halves of bent metal. Great work. 🔨🔧🔩 Thanks so much for sharing. 😎👌🏼
fords are a split tube,. that can open up,like mine did.. non power.. probably why..
Would love to see all the Jeep vids in a playlist. Super amazing to see someone taking the time to restore the parts than just get new. Gives me inspiration for my project XJ. Think I'm gonna try and refresh the axles myself, using your video as kinda of a guide of sorts. Keep up the great work.
While that's a decent idea, get the factory service manual for your rig and follow that, it'll show tolerances, torque specs, and more, stuff that is vital to get right
What Is a jeep video?? Greetings from Italy
@@wop60 the vehicle this component is from is a jeep, and this person has made several other videos about his jeep. Hello from not italy.
@@levivaughan3434 thanks for explaining from not Italy
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Just a dude restoring an old steering box, and here I am ABSOLUTELY RIVETED. Good job, the jeep's coming along great.
p09 u pollo p lo 0p si pelo 8lp ok lpiñ ok ñ por 0ñ ñoñoñño la lp ñp lugar 88ú pollo ph lo pl lloviznando junio9 kilo ñ
Seeing your videos gave the encouragement I needed to try fixing stuff on my car myself. Its saved me a ton of money and is so incredibly gratifying. It always leaves me feeling proud of myself and what I can accomplish. I'm looking forward to future videos!
У нас в России много XJ, я сам полностью отреставрировал джип 94 года! Наслаждаюсь им! Видео 👍
We made that gear housing at Saginaw Malleable iron foundry.
My Grandfather worked at Malleable iron & my Dad worked 38 yrs. at Saginaw Steering Gear (on Holland) plant #3... I knew I'd see someone from Saginaw, Mi. on here...
From Saginaw MI as well, saw Saginaw in the title so I clicked to see if anyone else was from here.
I love watching a craftsman at his best. Outstanding work!
The cherry on top was putting the original label back on. That really made me smile.
Thank you for showing the whole process of getting the arms off of the box too. Most complete video out there
As an aspiring mechanic I find this super interesting, satisfying, fun and educational. Absolutely great video! Leaving a like!
My Daddy once said that everything that hits the floor has to be picked up eventually!! LOL!! Love your video!! Please keep them coming....
Your comment made me remember once while repairing a watch I dropped a c-clip the size of a pin head on the same color carpet. I didn't think I would ever find it but I did & right away.
Watching you work is so effing relaxing I wish I had the challenge and patience for the amazing work you do God bless
Damn i love the simplicity of a steering box!! Damn fine job!
Maybe I'm biased, but it seems more complicated than rack and pinion. A whole lotta extra parts that can be tossed with one of those things.
I worked at SSG for 30 years,made many dies for the pitment shaft.
قنننح
The only reason I'm here is because I currently work as an engineer at Nexteer Automotive in Saginaw, which was formerly Delphi, which was formerly SSG. (and I think a subsidiary of GM along the way somewhere in there). It's cool seeing something like this pop up in my feed.
My Dad put in 38 yrs. at SSG plant #3 (G. Case)...
ОГРОМНЫЙ ЛАЙК за порошковое покрытие корпуса!!! A HUGE LIKE for the powder coating of the case!!!
Nice job, I never had the patience to do it or would of as I tangled with everything else so hats off to you
Looks pretty complicated. I'd leave it to somebody in the know.
Na, the bolt had to be removed from the clamping part for the gearing! But you should have known as a mechanic that a groove is milled to prevent the shaft can slip out! Well disguised in the next picture! Many greetings from East Frisia in Germany!
Super nice work there. Holy Smokes, that is a lot of seals! A very intriguing design.
nice job bucko, i’ve done 3 of these on my jeeps and they can be a little challenging, you have to be pretty organized. You did a great job. i’ve only had to replace the bearings once, they are robust and don’t see the kind of pressure and abuse other bearings get.
The cast housing usually eggs out before the bearings give up
Nice set of tools also. I have several of the old Craftsman quick release ratchets and I love them. Mine are stamped Patent 1971. They are getting rare. I managed to find 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 inch drives in good shape.
I bought the first one, 1/2" drive, brand new in1973. 50 years, wow.
I love powder coating. It has to be one of the better tools available to restoration. And there are so many colors to choose from.
It couldn't be that old if it had a barcode label, but I'm amazed the label is so clean and intact!
Correct. He's working on a Jeep Cherokee (XJ). Not sure the exact year, but based on the interior and more specifically the steering wheel, it looks like a 99-01.
I would recommend demagnetizing the recirculating balls, ball screw, and retaining cage. Other wise they will attract all the debris in the system and cause premature wear.
@Outersketcher you can buy a demagnatizer fairly cheap. I know watchmakers use them for their tools because having such tiny parts attracted to them adds an unnecessary level of frustration
LOL... Nope.
never saw this kind of rebuild done.enjoyed watching.thank you
impresionante trabajo, realmente impresionante! en verdad, nunca me canso de mirarlo! maestro, recibe un gran saludo desde República Dominicana!
Огромная, качественная работа! Спасибо за контент!
Nice rugged Ridge heavy duty steering, I have the same one on my 98 xj, awesome video, super jealous on the rebuild steering box, came out better then factory....⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great ! I was wondering how to put back those bearings 😃
Love the videos! If you could, what are the specs on your blasting setup, seems so efficient! Thanks
Dang! Quite a project for sure. I've never opened a steering box. I'm thinking very few shops anywhere would be aa meticulous as you. 👍👍
That's only cuz they aren't on camera with hundreds of thousands of people watching 😛
Most shops won't even rebuild a gearbox. Unfortunately, due to the time it takes to remove, rebuild, and reinstall, it's more cost-effective for them to just replace it with a remanufactured box. The only real value in this is if you're doing the work yourself so then you're saving on the labor cost.
As I am watching I am thinking while you where tearing it down thinking I wonder if that Box can be powder coated and sure enough you powder coated it, very cool, and I did not know the front caps on these boxes where aluminum and could be polished, very nice!! I still won't RR my own I just hand in a core and get already done, but you knew what you where doing,
Very detailed in restoring the engine, very useful for mechanics, greetings from Indonesia 🙏
Complicated but you did an outstanding job. 👍🏻
Great video you made it look easy and all while trying to film again great job. Im actually partial to your jeep series of videos as me and my dad both like jeeps specifically the Cherokee line he had a 90 pioneer that he bought in 92 and drove it until 99 he passed away in 2014 before i could get mine I've got a 95 sport with 230k still starts and runs like it has 50k and I've some work to deal with on mine mostly cosmetic though
Okay
Quality craftsmanship right here folks!
The fact that he took the time to shine the internals of his steering box amazes me
I mean, he is cleaning the internals. Sludge, dirt, old oil. The shine is just the after effect of all of that
@@thisguy4543 well, I've cleaned old parts a lot, but never managed to shine them just by cleaning.
This is the best reconditioned st.box video I've seen. Dam nice work Sir.
Nice torque wrench “ impact impact ---click”, you gotta love it!!!!!!!😉😆
A rare look behind the camera there too :)
Beautiful resto! One of my favs.👍
By far the most quality and conscientious steering box rebuild ever. Wont find that good of a job in a rebuilt steering box from your local auto parts store.
Last time I did one of these I was only knee high to the mechanic that showed me how it was done. Say did you have worn down teeth and rack in the center position? You can stop them from leaking, but getting the lash set on them for stop to stop and center position was never possible for me if the teeth and rack was worn. I usually went for tight on the stops and lived with what ever I had in the center. Severely worn teeth and getting it just right is next to impossible to adjust. Being your own mechanic has a lot of pluses, the best of which it keeps you off the streets and out of the bars.
There is a procedure for setting lash. People fuck it up all the time because they all think the over center is the first and only adjustment. When it is actually the second and last adjustment.
Great video. watched it before I started rebuilding the steering box in my 79 CJ7. I ordered the Duralast 8522 rebuild kit for it ans apparently its the wrong one for my Jeep. I have a different size input shaft bearing and seals needed than what came in the kit. Apparently there was 2 diffent size shafts for my year Jeep.
I remember when I had a jeep and had to change the HP line. We eventually cut it off and used a ratchet to get it off as it was super tight.
For stubborn rust on on parts I use a hot air gun used for stripping paint. That work really well and saves you the need to ruin a part👍
10:50 When I watched your video, I had exactly the same idea, to polish that aluminum lid 🙂
You did an amazing job!
Good Lord, what a complicated setup. I've never seen anything like it. No wonder you needed a workshop manual !!! Well done.
Wait till you see the insides of a transmission.
What an interesting video, I have to say, I was a little surprised to see it fitted to a fairly modern vehicle, I thought rack and pinion had made these obsolete back in the 60-70's
Nah, these actually work really well and tbh, are better than rack and pinion in some applications.
Saginaw boxes were still used on GM full size trucks well into the early 2000s and Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators still use link steering to this day due to the fact they have solid front axle (which makes rack and pinion prohibitive).
Моё первое впечатление от разборки этого узла: - Автомобиль участвовал в первой и второй мировых войнах, проехал 2 000 000 километров, пережил несколько прямых попаданий осколочным снарядом. Затонул в болоте, откуда его достали по частям. Автомобиль в процессе реставрации. My first impression of the disassembly of this node: - The car participated in the first and Second World wars, traveled 2,000,000 kilometers, survived several direct hits by a fragmentation shell. It sank in a swamp, from where it was taken out in parts. The car is in the process of restoration.
Good job. I noticed at the end of the clip that the car needs a steering wheel. There is a deflection in the wheels
That was amazing. Wow.
Reminds me of my 95 XJ when my son rebuilt the front end.
Torch isnt always the answer guys, especially when a new pitman arm is cheap, putting a ton of heat stress on the shaft could possibly ruin the whole gear. Nice work!
Hey, thanks! 😉😘
that was extremely impressive good job im getting ready to replace a gear box with a remanufactered one 🤞never done it before worried i wont have box alignment correct
You won't. Gotta take it to someone to get it aligned. No big deal it's part of the job
Tip re: Saginaw recirculating ball steering units- if it is leaking, this is considered normal and you still have fluid. It's when it _stops_ leaking that you have problems.
I love you jeep videos I have a 98 XJ that needs a lot of the the stuff you've showed thank you!!!
depois desta limpeza este caixa de direção hidráulica vai ficar nova Tá de parabéns 👍👍👍👍
what did u drop the bolts in after heating them/.?? also what did u brush on the end cap?
I always paint with a bright colour ! It’s easy to see any oil Leaks.
Ghay.
I usually have to heat the Teflon rings up in hot water to get them to stretch over the spool valve whenever I rebuild a power steering rack. I have an issue with the steering going heavy which I have traced down to an air leak for the return line fitting on the power steering rack so I want to replace the O ring on the fitting before deciding to go to plan B. If it remains loose I'll just cut the GM TBI fitting Off,flare it & join it into a 18 × 1.5mm TBi to AN6 (JiC) male to a straight barbed 3/8" tail fitting which has an AN6 (JiC) fitting on it then join it using a piece of 3/8" transmission cooler hose & hose clamps,the flare Is to keep the hose from slipping off. That's to save me from having to spend $138 AUD on a new return pipe or a few hundred $$$'s on a GM TBI pipe flaring kit just to do one TBI style flare. I can convert it over to the old GM style 45° flare but by the time I buy the fittings I may as well buy a new pipe, it's cheaper for me to do it the way I plan to do it !
I cannot believe that pitman arm was stuck on that bad!! thats crazy
Go to walmart. Get a 79 cent clear "ketchup" bottle. Put your power steering fluid in that. Now you have a more manageable way to lubricate the parts as you are reassembling them.
As far as the needle bearing you did not replace in the pitman bore, the oem part is a Schaeffler SLH12501. This happens to be the same bearing used currently in the pitman bore of the GM van’s steering box. Side note: The pitmans in the vans are the same shape but will likely have a different number of blocks on the splines. Meaning you probably won’t want to swap in a pitman from a van gear because your arm won’t go on it, unless you have some imagination and access to a van pitman arm maybe.
Ya thats like a $30 bearing haha crazy not to just replace it
During WWII, Saginaw Steering Gear manufactured nearly 300,000 .30 Caliber Carbines for the U. S. Military. One of these guns in good condition today can sell for $2,000 to $4,000.
Your “don’t @ me” subtitle had me dying!
I would not have been on good terms with my Maker after that disassembly.
I downloaded this video and literally watched it step by step to rebuild my steering box, greet job
Greetings my dear friend.... In fact, I would like to thank you for this beautiful video because you never entered music...Never.. How beautiful it is to make the sounds of nature speak ❤️ and not the ugly music and song for example... We want to see and hear the sounds of the tools that are used and made 💐 What a beautiful feeling 😍😍😍...
Nice job. Two questions if I may. Just wondering why you didn’t build the pin scanner before disassembly? And two, can the gear be filled with PS fluid and “bench bled” similarly to a brake master cylinder? Just curious. I’m sure this video will inspire many to try it themselves. Thanks for taking the time do show us how.
Dropping the heated bolts in oil...does that provide a protective coating? This is amazing work....amazing.
Meh... some but not much.
Pov: watching you put the puller on pitman arm... not coming off *flashbacks intensify*
never seen one of these rebuilt. nice
A man who doesn't waste time with words but results.
Great work ,but I can’t see full turn on the wheels when you turn left or right ,might need to adjust the screw to have it work 100% , well done 👍🏻
He probably has the steering stops adjusted out to compensate for the larger diameter tires.
Excellent Work Absolutely Stupendous Job Great Stuff I think I leaned something today Cheers.
Cerious what you brushed on those last few parts at @17:52 ? Awesome Job on the restoration rebuild!
Its a bluing liquid to give it a coat to prevent rust
Interesting fact. Saginaw steering played a huge role in WWII. They produced many guns for the allies. Including (367,853) 1919A4 .30 caliber machine guns, (44,531) 1919A6 .30 caliber machine guns (517,213) .30 caliber M1 carbines, (13,377,152) 37mm projectiles, (148,981) 57mm projectiles. Saginaw Steering gear also manufactured components for the M3 Submachine Gun built by the Guide Lamp Division of GM. SSG produced bolt assemblies, barrel bushings, and barrel collars for the M3. SSG produced subassemblies for many other military products. They included subassemblies and components for: Amphibian trucks (GMC DUKW), Canadian military vehicles (GM of Canada), 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns (Pontiac Motor Division), 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns (Pontiac Motor Division), industrial trucks, industrial cranes, industrial tractors, military aircraft, military road building equipment, Export Reconnaissance Vehicles (Chevrolet Staghound Armored Car), Armored Cars (Chevrolet Staghound Armored Car), diesel engine parts for trucks, tanks and boats (Detroit Diesel Division), Army Tanks (Fisher Body Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal), Army Tank Destroyers (Fisher Body Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal and Buick Motor Division), Gun Turrets, Army and Navy Supply Vehicles (GMC and Chevrolet).
I come here for the peace and quiet…. This guy is a Jedi. Best part of the web. 👍
Me: No way he can restore this Restoration Station: Hold my tools
🤣🤣🤣 nice
With the proper tool, these repairs are child's play and a delight.
I see the crumbled spacer after you dismounted the steering box. Must be a Jeep Cherokee, one of the lesser known reasons for death wobble, the crumbled spacer.
Little bit of heat with a mapp gas torch always lets the pitman arm come off... Anyways, you did a hell of a good job on the rebuild.
Believe it or not, melting a crayon on the splines above the pitman arm helps too. I didn't believe it myself until an old mechanic told me that trick and I tried it and it worked.
Looks like the one that’s in my 98 ram2500. Do u know if the same rebuild kit would work for mine?
Automotive poetry!!! got to rebuild mine too, CJ7 jeep.. thanks!!!
I noticed people use sharp pointed 'picks' to remove o-rings and other seals, this can scratch the grooves and ruin new software. Take a piece of brazing rod, brass or aluminum and flatten one end then round it off works better OR use a plastic toothbrush and sand down an end to a flat rounded surface. You’ll not damage components or seals.
And yet people around the world ignore your "directives" without a single issue.
A little heat even from a cheap propane torch would have helped get that pitman arm off without cutting it
It was going to get replaced anyways. So why go through the trouble
Legally can’t use heat on any steering parts. It can fuck uo angles and such
@@kalebolson9710yeah, no, that's not even a little bit true, nor correct. You're not heating the metal to a pliable working temperature, much less a melting or bending point. You're just getting it hot enough to slightly expand and get it to temporarily loosen its grip on what it's attached to. Once it cools, it is still within spec. You can witness this happening on an alignment rack. Grab a torch, heat up all the control arms and watch the toe spread apart a few degrees... Then watch the toe "snap back" to memory as it cools like nothing happened. You'd spend a fortune replacing steering parts every time you needed to make an adjustment if you were always afraid to heat it up.
I agree.I used to be a motor mechanic.I was very surprised.And then what do you see,a blow torch.Had the heat all along.
That's totally right, I don't understand why didn't he think about that easy one!
Tip for at 21 minutes , those tools are to find at bicycle shops because older bottom brakets have them a lot (tool XLC - TO-S09 for example )
Profissional mecânico parabéns como gostei
How long did you reef on that steering shaft before taking the bolt all the way out 😂👍
Do not cover the two oil ports when sandblasting?
What are you coating/painting the parts you media blasted with? What kind of oil are using to coat the heated bolts with?
Hey there, what media do you blast with in this video? Tears that rust off. Thank you!
Air.
Awesome how to! Well done!!! You dealt with all the issues I needed help with mine. Thank you!
A absolute pleasure to watch... Such care and attention to detail...
I wish I had rebuilt my original box on my FSJ. Instead stupidly I traded it in as a core for a reman... who knows where that one was built. Nice work.