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Thread: another option (other than rebuild) worn steering boxes
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MAZDAMARK
Hauling
Posts: 139
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posted September 30, 2011 10:23 AM |
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Another Option (Other than rebuild) for Worn Steering Boxes
There's a thread in this section talking about steering boxes, and one of the users mentions he swapped in a steering box out of a later mazda truck. The only drawback the user said was he needed to swap over the entire front suspension (knuckles, drag link, tire-rods, etc.) from the donor truck.
I went looking on car-part.com and saw they had a box in my state from an 84 B2000 with only 15k miles on it for $75. Figured for that money and that low of a mileage part, I could experiment to see whether it fit.
Turns out, as long as you swap over the pitman arm from the REPU box, it fit my truck using the stock suspension parts perfect. Had it on there for 4 or 5 months now, and other than the unusually accurate steering (for my truck, anyway ;-)it's been perfect.
I had to grind a small flat spot on the steering box input shaft (which matches the original REPU box) and also grind one of the edges slightly on the large 2.5" or whatever nut that holds the steering box together. If that nut is clocked with a flat spot towards the truck, you probably would not even need to do that.
Posted some pics in the gallery in the "Mazdamark" folder. If you look close you can still see the original paper "NSK" sticker on the box I picked up.
FWIW, it made the truck totally different to drive. I can place it in the corners now, instead of "guiding and suggesting" like I had to with the old, worn out box...
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94 RX7
89 RX7 GTUs
85 GSLSE
88 323 GTX
1975 REPU
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MAZDAMARK
Hauling
Posts: 139
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posted September 30, 2011 10:36 AM |
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Anyone know how to re-size this img so it doesn't make you scroll or re-size your page to see it?
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94 RX7
89 RX7 GTUs
85 GSLSE
88 323 GTX
1975 REPU
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Brad
Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
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posted September 30, 2011 12:48 PM |
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I'm searching for the ratio of that 84 steering box. Thanks for the info on this Mark!
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77repu23
1st Gear
Posts: 19
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posted April 04, 2012 12:17 PM |
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Thanks MAZDAMARK! Just did this on my repu and the steering difference is night and day.
-Josh
http://www.rotarypickup.com
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MazdaMcD
Newbie
Posts: 4
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posted May 30, 2013 02:02 PM |
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B2000 steering swap
can anyone clarify that swapping the B2000 steering into the rotary truck can be done without swapping the entire front suspension?
I read the post on it, but wasnt sure if it was meant that the swap was done with all the front suspension components from the B2000 as others have implied or just the steering portions? And any updates on the longevity results of this swap to date such as any issues that have arisen and how remedied.
Thanks
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sparky
Redlining
Posts: 299
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posted May 31, 2013 05:58 AM |
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I swapped out steering boxes in my 77 a year ago. Huge difference. It was fairly simple. You will have to use the pitman arm connected to the old box and install it onto the newer one. Had to heat up the pitman arm with a torch to extract it off the steering box output shaft. Did not have to change any of my suspension. Good luck.
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'77 REPU
Stock 6-port
T-2 tranny
Weber IDA 48
Alum Flywheel
3rd gen Torsen in rear end.
DLDFIS ignition
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MazdaMcD
Newbie
Posts: 4
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posted May 31, 2013 10:31 AM |
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Thats great news. I am gong to go for it. thanks!
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Mazdamark
Hauling
Posts: 139
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posted June 19, 2013 07:27 AM |
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Still working great on my truck, MazdaMcD.
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94 RX7
89 RX7 GTUs
85 GSLSE
88 323 GTX
1975 REPU
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