Steering Box Options

[JPVortex]

Hey y'all, 02 Suburban 1500. At 200k miles, it's well worn with a good amount of slop. Entire rest of the front suspension and steering is brand new. What's the verdict on the best steering box to go for without breaking the bank? Debating between a Bluetop or a new unit from one of the RockAuto brands. I know RedHead is crap now, not sure about Bluetop, also not sure about how these new ones would be.

Heres the new ones on RockAuto:

 

[Marky Dissod]

Borgeson, Lee Power Steering, and Turn One come to mind for having reputations that exceed GM OE.
They are capable of rebuilding your steering box.

Do not know how to determine whether your 'production code' is LS, UT, or YK.
Do know that you want 12.7:1 steering box.

 

[JPVortex]

Borgeson, Lee Power Steering, and Turn One come to mind for having reputations that exceed GM OE.
They are capable of rebuilding your steering box.

Do not know how to determine whether your 'production code' is LS, UT, or YK.
Do know that you want 12.7:1 steering box.

Thank you sir!

 

[JPVortex]

Hey folks, so was looking for play today. Kind of hard to tell where the play is from. I know it’s from either the column to the box, everything else is new. I took this video here.
Thoughts?

 

[Fless]

I'd say gearbox. No way you should be able to move the shaft that much with your hand.

My test was having someone inside the cab wiggling the steering wheel back and forth slightly, while I watched the gearbox input shaft for movement.

 

[JPVortex]

I'd say gearbox. No way you should be able to move the shaft that much with your hand.

My test was having someone inside the cab wiggling the steering wheel back and forth slightly, while I watched the gearbox input shaft for movement.

That’s kind of what I was thinking. So definitely am in the market for a new gearbox. Then I can get the alignment decent. Right now the wheel is off center and pulls to the left. Literally I’ll be going around a left curve and I’ll have to hold the steering wheel slightly to the right. Feels super weird.

 

[BoatyMcBoatface]

Hey y'all, 02 Suburban 1500. At 200k miles, it's well worn with a good amount of slop. Entire rest of the front suspension and steering is brand new. What's the verdict on the best steering box to go for without breaking the bank? Debating between a Bluetop or a new unit from one of the RockAuto brands. I know RedHead is crap now, not sure about Bluetop, also not sure about how these new ones would be.

Heres the new ones on RockAuto:

View attachment 452768

Check out the close out section of rock auto, i found my gear box there. It was a BBB.

 

[JPVortex]

Check out the close out section of rock auto, i found my gear box there. It was a BBB.

I had horrible luck with BBB Industries steering gears in a 94 K1500 I owned. Tried like 3 different ones and they all had slop in them.

 

[BoatyMcBoatface]

I had horrible luck with BBB Industries steering gears in a 94 K1500 I owned. Tried like 3 different ones and they all had slop in them.

Funny , i had the same issue but once i adjusted the preload it was good. I was going to send it back but it worked out fine. Still in use. This is unfortunately what happens with rebuilt boxes.

 

[JPVortex]

Funny , i had the same issue but once i adjusted the preload it was good. I was going to send it back but it worked out fine. Still in use. This is unfortunately what happens with rebuilt boxes.

Did you do the 2 part preload adjustment? I know on the Saginaw boxes you can adjust the preload from the front by the input shaft and up top like most other gears.