Steering Gear Replacement woes

[sagebel]

So I got a new (reman) steering gear today and it does not have the same travel as the one that was on the truck. It looks like the keys for the pitman arm are not in the same location in regards to the motion. (hard right and hard left on the old box is in a different location than the new box.) My truck is always difficult to buy chassis parts for (March '00 build) but everything else matches up. Is it possible to mis-align the the output shaft during assembly? I pulled the old box apart and it looks about impossible to mis-align the rack and pinion. Any ideas are apprciated. I am flying out of town in the morning so I'll check back on Thursday when I get back.

Scott

 

[JLDickmon]

well, no.
but I suppose you could get the worm gear not centered on the sector shaft...
depends on how the rebuilder put it back together.
When I learned how to do these, I was taught half a turn to either side difference was acceptable.

But I'm thinking it's just flat not the right box.

 

[Dogman]

well, no.
but I suppose you could get the worm gear not centered on the sector shaft...
depends on how the rebuilder put it back together.
When I learned how to do these, I was taught half a turn to either side difference was acceptable.

But I'm thinking it's just flat not the right box.

X2

 

[sagebel]

Yup, wrong box. Even the second box is the wrong one. I rechecked my build date (Dec '99, I mixed it up with the Jetta) and called the stealership. I gave them the P/N of my old box. Turns out that there are different boxes for these trucks depending on build date. I am getting the last one in this region. Hopefully I will get it back together on Saturday.