RedHead Steeering Gears.....

[alpinecrick]

It's time.....my 96 K1500 needs a steering gear and I'm tired of screwing with the parts store remans. What experience do you guys have with RedHead boxes?

Other suggestions are welcome. And thanks in advance.

 

[Dre319]

Following. What issues are you having?


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[alpinecrick]

Following. What issues are you having?


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96 K1500 ECSB. No lift, LT265/75 E tires.
My dad bought this truck new. Once in a while I drove it. Up to about 130k the truck drove EXCELLENT. Just the right amount of effort, centered itself perfectly. It drove noticeably better than my 91 K2500 LD that I bought new.

I got the truck at 165K. Steering was by that time a bit loose. About 30k ago I replaced EVERYTHING. Moog upper and lower BJ's, drag link, tie rods, adjusters, idler arm bracket and idler arm, pitman arm, a reman AC Delco steering gear, rebuilt AC Delco CV axles, Timken hub bearing assemblies.

I've since put two Oreillys steering gears in it. The current one has about 1500 miles on it and already has play. Thought about adjusting it but I've been down that road with this truck and other GMT K1500's--any benefit is short lived.

My son borrowed the truck the other night and said he was afraid he was going to get pulled over for drunk driving............

 

[alpinecrick]

Oh, and I also have a new Lares rag joint........

 

[Dre319]

The front of my 98 k1500 is pretty much all new too. I only ask cause it has some play in my steering as well. My steering box has been replaced twice since I’ve had this truck and I purchased it back in 2000.


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[alpinecrick]

The front of my 98 k1500 is pretty much all new too. I only ask cause it has some play in my steering as well. My steering box has been replaced twice since I’ve had this truck and I purchased it back in 2000.


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The auto parts stores remans are jumk. Redhead or AGR are a couple choices for allegedly upgraded rebuilt gears, or RockAuto had the BBB-Vision new steering gear. The alignment guy at the tire store says he has installed the BBB-Visions on a K1500 and the owner was recently back with a flat tire and reported the steering was great.

 

[KO1960]

I have only heard good things RedHead. Their prices are a bit steep, but I personally would spend a bit more for quality, especially considering the problem seems persistent.

 

[454cid]

I will probably try Bluetop.... owned/run by a former employee of Redhead, I believe. I have my original to get rebuilt. Currently, I have an AC Delco reman that is sloppy. I need to figure out a coolant leak before I mess with the steering, Though, and I should probably do rear brakes on the Saturn before I do that.

 

[alpinecrick]

I will probably try Bluetop.... owned/run by a former employee of Redhead, I believe. I have my original to get rebuilt. Currently, I have an AC Delco reman that is sloppy. I need to figure out a coolant leak before I mess with the steering, Though, and I should probably do rear brakes on the Saturn before I do that.

Haven't heard of Bluetop. I'll be googling.......

 

[ZRoe]

Bluetop also offers an upgrade to use needle bearing in place of the factory bushings for about the same price as a redhead. The bluetoo prices are with core, the redhead prices shown do not include core charge, this threw me off at first.

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