'97 Steering Gearbox Replacement Guidance

fancyTBI · Apr 28, 2024

xXxPARAGONxXx said:
A lot of people damage their stock gear box during removal, and when they send it in, they expect to get their full core refund. If you damage something on your gear box, the company has to replace it, including the Pitman arm shaft when you're trying to remove the Pitman arm. They can't keep re-use that same damaged part and pawn it off on a future customer. The future customer does not deserve that.

Yeah I get that. If I were to send one in they’d get the pitman arm too! A freebie for them, haha.

Caman96 · Apr 28, 2024

xXxPARAGONxXx said:
Interesting.

Edit: So, I went to GMPartsGiant and plugged in 1998 Chevrolet K1500, 1998 Chevrolet K2500, and 1998 Chevrolet K3500. (I used 1998 since GM produced 1/2-ton Silverados (GMT800) in 1999, right?)

The K1500 uses P/N 26100345.

The K2500 uses either a P/N 26100345 or a P/N 26100335. The determining factor is the GVWR. RPO code C6P, which is 8600 lb. GVWR, uses the 26100335. RPO code C5Z, which is 7200 lb. GVWR, uses the 26100345.

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The K3500 uses the 26100335.

If you look on here, you can see all the parts that differ between the two steering gear boxes. For example, they have a different “rack kit” in each one. Many other parts differ as well. So, yes, I don’t doubt they would each bolt up to the frame, but the performance will differ. I cannot in good faith sell my 3/4-ton steering gear box to someone who has a 1/2-ton unless they state they are looking for a 3/4-ton steering gear box.

Upon a quick review, these are the parts that I observe as being different:

# seal kit, steering gear Pitman shaft
# valve kit, steering gear
# bearing kit, steering gear stub shaft
# plug, steering gear housing
# seal kit, steering gear end plug
# rack kit, steering gear

The valve kit and rack kit almost certainly create a performance difference somehow.

On gmpartsgiant.com it shows GM 26052912 as correct for my 96 K1500.
On this site, that part shows fitment for all 1500/2500/3500 up to 1996.

26052912 - GENERAL MOTORS Steering Gear Box | GM Parts Depot, Ottawa Ontario

Genuine GENERAL MOTORS Part # 26052912 (26036036, 26052911) - Steering Gear Box. Ships from GM Parts Depot, Ottawa Ontario

www.tubmangmpartsdepot.ca

^^^If you scroll down and click “What This Fits”/More it shows all the fitment.
These sites can all contradict each other too. But, I have seen a ton of stuff showing the same part for all.

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Erik the Awful · Apr 29, 2024

crowfather said:
Redhead: $316 - mixed reviews on this forum. Has a good rep with the Dodge Ram people.

With shipping and the core charge it's about $500.

A97obs said:
The thing I’ heard is redhead try’s to say a (core) the core you send back is not rebuildable.

These trucks are 25-35 years old and most were abused. I didn't send a core. I'm pretty sure they're going to be very picky about what they rebuild. I would be, too. I would only be upset if they're not paying core charges, and then rebuilding the "bad" cores.

A97obs said:
Any company can use anything as a say so situation to avoid having to pay out core costs.
As a consumer you gotta just say ok I agree or fight about it.

Done properly, core charges are not "sales". You offer a high enough core charge to encourage the customer to return their old core, because it's economically worth it for you. You are offering a minor refund because the value of the rebuildable part is even higher. It doesn't make economic sense to offer more than the core is worth.

Many years ago when checks were still a thing, I went round and round with a O'Reillys manager who didn't want to give me my core charge for two weeks until my check for the original part sale cleared. He couldn't understand that the core was worth more. That store didn't make another sale to me for several years.

crowfather · Apr 30, 2024

Erik the Awful said:
With shipping and the core charge it's about $500.

Looking at Redhead, the stub shaft claims to have 25 splines with flat, yet the lower steering shaft is 15 spines with the flat. Is this incorrect on redhead's website, or do I need a new coupler as well?

crowfather · May 8, 2024

I am still working my gearbox purchase. Are redhead's boxes rebuilds or new?

Edit: Also, if I do not send back my old one(pitman splines are damaged from previous owner and the pin on the stub shaft was cut off) then redhead is the same price as borgenson, more or less, which is a new box rather than a rebuild. However, borgenson only has the quick ratio box (12.7:1). Does anybody think the quicker ratio will be detrimental to steering? I don't have a lift on the truck(nor do I want to put one on), I don't plan to off road with it. I know others have said to not go with quick turns for lifted or off road vehicles, but will the 4wd variant suffer if driven normally?

I ask these questions because the redhead has only 12mo warranty and borgenson has 3 years.

crowfather · Thursday at 9:00 AM

A97obs said:
The best bet at this point is to just invest 1000% in the best of the best
Redhead box / Cunningham solid U-joint steering shaft / mevotech Ttx tie rods / moog pitman and idler arm and definitely opt for a 96’ year model Ps pump and 96’ year pressure hose and by pass all the evo junk if you have it .
Do away with the evo by adding a 96 style pump and high pressure line . Less points to leak and it will leak !

That’s what I did with the Ps pump on my 99 suburban

Redhead is more gm related company Bluetop I heard is a newer company that still offers great boxes and so far has warranted there core returns without issue . The thing I’ heard is redhead try’s to say a (core) the core you send back is not rebuildable.

That’s when they try sticking it to the customer ? It’s all say so who knows. But that’s what I heard the deal is 50/50.

You could get ahold of Cunningham machine …
I think he knows a guy who offers a legit rack pinion bolt on kit for the c1500s it’s basically a mustang 2 design rack setup
I Seen a pic of one on a 1500 !

How does the cunningham U joint shaft compare to borgeson?

scott2093 · Thursday at 9:25 AM

crowfather said:
However, borgenson only has the quick ratio box (12.7:1). Does anybody think the quicker ratio will be detrimental to steering?

The Borgeson quick ratio for my 93 truck is 3 full turns lock to lock so very similar to what my 93 had already.
I think it feels totally the way it should . I mean, the responsiveness of the truck actually steering vs being sloppy can take some getting used to especially at high speeds . Like you wouldn't want to jerk the steering too fast on the highway but that is something you shouldn't do anyway with a truck.
Steering is awesome...totally happy with it.
However, my Borgeson seems to be getting some slop and it's just under 2 years old. Steering is still wonderful but there is some growing left/right play that I need to investigate further. Pretty sure it's coming from the steering box though.

crowfather · Thursday at 10:31 AM

scott2093 said:
The Borgeson quick ratio for my 93 truck is 3 full turns lock to lock so very similar to what my 93 had already.
I think it feels totally the way it should . I mean, the responsiveness of the truck actually steering vs being sloppy can take some getting used to especially at high speeds . Like you wouldn't want to jerk the steering too fast on the highway but that is something you shouldn't do anyway with a truck.
Steering is awesome...totally happy with it.
However, my Borgeson seems to be getting some slop and it's just under 2 years old. Steering is still wonderful but there is some growing left/right play that I need to investigate further. Pretty sure it's coming from the steering box though.

Thanks for the feedback scott. If it is truly from the box, hopefully they warranty it for you.

A97obs · Thursday at 4:05 PM

crowfather said:
How does the cunningham U joint shaft compare to borgeson?

They’re all relatively the same design with the U-joint shafts. Cunningham just is the go to for a lot of new products for the 88-98s . They ship fast and their products work !

A97obs · Thursday at 4:10 PM

scott2093 said:
The Borgeson quick ratio for my 93 truck is 3 full turns lock to lock so very similar to what my 93 had already.
I think it feels totally the way it should . I mean, the responsiveness of the truck actually steering vs being sloppy can take some getting used to especially at high speeds . Like you wouldn't want to jerk the steering too fast on the highway but that is something you shouldn't do anyway with a truck.
Steering is awesome...totally happy with it.
However, my Borgeson seems to be getting some slop and it's just under 2 years old. Steering is still wonderful but there is some growing left/right play that I need to investigate further. Pretty sure it's coming from the steering box though.

That’s good to know ! Im about to make this next project a new 12:7:1 box .
That’s odd after 2 years your getting play hmm??? Think for the money spent it would be a premium build Yielding at least 10 yrs of proper functioning.
Kinda worries me but still going for it .

I had wondered , I went form a 6” lift to a 5-7 drop …on my suburban so I read initially the quick ratio wasn’t really recommended for a lifted truck but some said it’s good for a stock or dropped truck .
How finicky is it when you veer/change lanes at 70mph on the interstate? Does it float over fast ?
Must be as regular as any modern rack/pinion vehicle . It’s strange new cars have a bit of a stiff steer one noticed driving smaller new cars , but it’s immediate response . So I’m guessing that’s what it will be like with a 12:7:1 on a 24 year old truck with all new suspension components.

'97 Steering Gearbox Replacement Guidance

fancyTBI

Some of my trucks run and drive

Caman96

OEM Baby!

26052912 - GENERAL MOTORS Steering Gear Box | GM Parts Depot, Ottawa Ontario

Erik the Awful

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crowfather

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scott2093

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