Saginaw Steering Box Restoration/Rebuild

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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[@ladamyre1]

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.

[@magnatron7734]

Great reply, the B bodies of that era all rode like Cadillacs. Loved them.

[@ladamyre1]

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.

[@nicolasmartin1438]

Hoy cobien

[@Pruczepol]

probably one of the most insightful youtube comments i've seen in a while, even though its a year old haha

[@wam44]

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?

[@waleedmp3941]

I actually like That You Don't Use Music In Your Video's

[@mgmesh8533]

Natural sounds is better than music 👍🏼

[@VishalGupta-re3th]

​@@mgmesh8533 do. Çfdddfffffff me. ..... . BH vv vvvvcvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv😅

[@pjl1919]

It’s relaxing

[@donaldross1077]

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.

[@smarthome2660]

Irony - I am watching you from Saginaw, MI & I live 1 mile from the plant that steering box was made.

[@merlin2067]

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!

[@bradyrodgers1731]

I love watching a craftsman at his best. Outstanding work!

[@jaycarlson927]

Thank you for showing the whole process of getting the arms off of the box too. Most complete video out there

[@jtveg]

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. 😎👌🏼

[@phantomwalker8251]

fords are a split tube,. that can open up,like mine did.. non power.. probably why..

[@Dagrizzb]

The cherry on top was putting the original label back on. That really made me smile.

[@larrykrise3609]

never saw this kind of rebuild done.enjoyed watching.thank you

[@scottcates]

Super nice work there. Holy Smokes, that is a lot of seals! A very intriguing design.

[@jacobfield6581]

Watching you work is so effing relaxing I wish I had the challenge and patience for the amazing work you do God bless

[@910slastchancegarage6]

Quality craftsmanship right here folks!

[@davidbrown-55]

Beautiful resto! One of my favs.👍

[@morgansword]

Nice job, I never had the patience to do it or would of as I tangled with everything else so hats off to you

[@jeromebreeding3302]

Looks pretty complicated. I'd leave it to somebody in the know.

[@robertdavis6708]

This is the best reconditioned st.box video I've seen. Dam nice work Sir.

[@virtualink5]

Just a dude restoring an old steering box, and here I am ABSOLUTELY RIVETED. Good job, the jeep's coming along great.

[@yeraldinebedoya3524]

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

[@FLATHEADCREEK]

Damn i love the simplicity of a steering box!! Damn fine job!

[@cayleependerass]

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.

[@andrasilaszlo9904]

Excellent Craftsman. Great Job!

[@literalbot9593]

As an aspiring mechanic I find this super interesting, satisfying, fun and educational. Absolutely great video! Leaving a like!

[@tke1006]

I love you jeep videos I have a 98 XJ that needs a lot of the the stuff you've showed thank you!!!

[@oby-1607]

A man who doesn't waste time with words but results.

[@michaelzimmermann353]

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.

[@levivaughan3434]

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

[@wop60]

What Is a jeep video?? Greetings from Italy

[@levivaughan3434]

@@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.

[@wop60]

@@levivaughan3434 thanks for explaining from not Italy

[@mohamedkmc1153]

ķ¹²²àà à

[@joemuncie9187]

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.

[@joemuncie9187]

I bought the first one, 1/2" drive, brand new in1973. 50 years, wow.

[@rjman123au1]

Very good upload as usual. Thank You.

[@jmagana924]

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....⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@laebdangrs4274]

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 😍😍😍...

[@TwofierceTony]

I always love how your projects turn out!

[@onenonly0011]

You did an amazing job!

[@wileycoyotesr8623]

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.

[@polishmachine8303]

Very detailed in restoring the engine, very useful for mechanics, greetings from Indonesia 🙏

[@frankbiz]

Complicated but you did an outstanding job. 👍🏻

[@DeanG55]

My Daddy once said that everything that hits the floor has to be picked up eventually!! LOL!! Love your video!! Please keep them coming....

[@smarthome2660]

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.

[@user-dn2tg2fj3i]

impresionante trabajo, realmente impresionante! en verdad, nunca me canso de mirarlo! maestro, recibe un gran saludo desde República Dominicana!

[@madthewirdo4236]

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.

[@hesokayegar8259]

I downloaded this video and literally watched it step by step to rebuild my steering box, greet job

[@ClutchKickerNation]

what did u drop the bolts in after heating them/.?? also what did u brush on the end cap?

[@richardhavercroft7065]

We made that gear housing at Saginaw Malleable iron foundry.

[@haywin4601]

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...

[@nanogaming7949]

From Saginaw MI as well, saw Saginaw in the title so I clicked to see if anyone else was from here.

[@user-hu6mw4ez3v]

ОГРОМНЫЙ ЛАЙК за порошковое покрытие корпуса!!! A HUGE LIKE for the powder coating of the case!!!

[@ElTelBaby]

A absolute pleasure to watch... Such care and attention to detail...

[@arschgeige7178]

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!

[@EvgenyAA]

Огромная, качественная работа! Спасибо за контент!

[@MrEyad1990]

That was amazing. Wow.

[@MegaTapdog]

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.

[@jimknowlton342]

The cast housing usually eggs out before the bearings give up

[@user-mv6rs8cg9p]

У нас в России много XJ, я сам полностью отреставрировал джип 94 года! Наслаждаюсь им! Видео 👍

[@austinXonXfire]

Your “don’t @ me” subtitle had me dying!

[@terryrogers1025]

Nice torque wrench “ impact impact ---click”, you gotta love it!!!!!!!😉😆

[@estefannodelparral5326]

With the proper tool, these repairs are child's play and a delight.

[@hikariyouk]

A rare look behind the camera there too :)

[@JOSEF7011]

10:50 When I watched your video, I had exactly the same idea, to polish that aluminum lid 🙂

[@bitcoinphill8635]

Excellent Work Absolutely Stupendous Job Great Stuff I think I leaned something today Cheers.

[@stevejette2329]

Nice lighting & camera work !

[@OldSkoolF]

Sweet rebuild and rig there bud...

[@timgruver5932]

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. 👍👍

[@RestorationStation]

That's only cuz they aren't on camera with hundreds of thousands of people watching 😛

[@Basslicks82]

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.

[@MechanicAvenue]

Nice work 👍❤️

[@jodymcleod4636]

Good lawrd I wish I saw this last week! looks exactly like mine!

[@robertguy23]

never seen one of these rebuilt. nice

[@dontaylor9719]

It's been a while since I have seen a pair of spanner wrenches good job man keep up the good work

[@BobSmith-mj7ik]

Perfect rebuild. Better than new.

[@maggs131]

A little heat even from a cheap propane torch would have helped get that pitman arm off without cutting it

[@roge954]

It was going to get replaced anyways. So why go through the trouble

[@kalebolson9710]

Legally can’t use heat on any steering parts. It can fuck uo angles and such

[@Basslicks82]

​@@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.

[@chuckoster8221]

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.

[@abdellahbouincha3519]

That's totally right, I don't understand why didn't he think about that easy one!

[@lawrenceengel3330]

Very nice rebuild 👌

[@moseschickenwater5861]

Outstanding video!

[@jeffreysloan6484]

Love the videos! If you could, what are the specs on your blasting setup, seems so efficient! Thanks

[@danieleder4863]

Now you made the tutorial! I needed it 3 years ago 😂

[@charlyperez1636]

Automotive poetry!!! got to rebuild mine too, CJ7 jeep.. thanks!!!

[@ricardou1970]

very nice clean job!

[@Zoofactory]

I come here for the peace and quiet…. This guy is a Jedi. Best part of the web. 👍

[@frankfarklesberry]

It couldn't be that old if it had a barcode label, but I'm amazed the label is so clean and intact!

[@Basslicks82]

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.

[@Ms1Explorer]

I’m impressed!

[@byrontaylor9235]

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

[@ghulabkhan5231]

Okay

[@BarbazuX]

Why is this so soothing?

[@stewartmcmanus3991]

Good Lord, what a complicated setup. I've never seen anything like it. No wonder you needed a workshop manual !!! Well done.

[@Basslicks82]

Wait till you see the insides of a transmission.

[@MrKiteman42]

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.

[@budstewart1]

Awesome how to! Well done!!! You dealt with all the issues I needed help with mine. Thank you!

[@LoftechUK]

The finished product will be stunning

[@garywalters4286]

I worked at SSG for 30 years,made many dies for the pitment shaft.

[@user-wt3hg5mm8b]

قنننح

[@jakewagner7416]

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.

[@haywin4601]

My Dad put in 38 yrs. at SSG plant #3 (G. Case)...

[@MFR_Revival]

Great job sir 😍

[@rogemonxxx599]

Show!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!

[@stilltlrforlife]

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.

[@Basslicks82]

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.

[@jm1551701]

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,

[@eggylikesbass]

I just watched a master class in dudeism. Loved and subscribed my guy

[@Billy28376]

Excellent work

[@johnpartridge7623]

Good job mate 👍

[@comfort_in_discomfort]

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.

[@takeshiaraki2387]

Hey guys, great job nice video

[@tommay2437]

Perfect Job!!!

[@malevopfgm]

Great ! I was wondering how to put back those bearings 😃

[@markroth9827]

Great video. Thank you.

[@davebarron5939]

Beautiful work, looks like I will be doing my ow rebuild instead of purchasing one, Thanks.

[@art1muz13]

Great job!!!!!!!

[@SmudgyContent]

Looks like the one that’s in my 98 ram2500. Do u know if the same rebuild kit would work for mine?

[@bigmikeh5827]

Reminds me of my 95 XJ when my son rebuilt the front end.

[@gthomer1231]

excellent restoration

[@gerhardvanstaden389]

Great job man you got me to sub. You remind me of cool again restoration

[@walter9724]

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👍

[@wolfgang2281]

Plz do more videos like this I absolutely love them bc I'm a mechanic

[@rcmc1256]

That jeep is going to be perfection

[@wfecowboy]

I don't have high blood pressure, but if I did, videos like this would cure it.

[@juanlopezpolanco3400]

really like it to see this job!

[@LiquorWithLenoir]

beautiful work