ZQ8 Steering box ????

[imnprsd]

Okay... I have slop in the steering wheel and I want to get it out. I have changed out the idler arm and pitman arm... because it need it; then I changed out the ball joints...not so much because it need it now but with 115K miles on the car I decided to do it now rather than wait a nother year or so (and be safe); and I put heavy duty torsion bar spacers (I think they are polyurethane) on the front end. All of these repairs make my 97 Blazer 4x4 ride much better, but I STILL HAVE SLOP IN THE STEERING!

I don't want to live with this problem. Can anyone suggest a solution to this problem and/or confirm that replacing my OEM steering box with a ZQ8 steering box will do the trick? ... How much are we talking about, and where can you buy one?

(PS I did replace the donut/rag and that helped a little, but not nearly enough.)

[BlazerLT]

Can you tightenup the steering box?

[imnprsd]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Can you tightenup the steering box?

My steering box has one adjustment screw on the top. We put a 1/4 on it, but the mechanic was reluctant to do more. He said older models has an adjustment screw on the side which takes the slop out out (do to wear). Do you think I should tighten the upper adjustment screw and see what happens? At this point it's my last option other than buying a ZQ8.

[BlazerLT]

try it, if it helped before a bit.

why the zq8, why not a cheaper standard steering box?

[imnprsd]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

try it, if it helped before a bit.

why the zq8, why not a cheaper standard steering box?

Good question. I don't need a tighter turning radius or more "action." I just want to get the slop out of the wheel when I'm heading down the highway. Will a standard steering box (NOT OEM I PRESUME) do that? If so, can I find one with the side adjustments for wear? Any particular brand? (In this case, cheaper sounds just as good as more expensive to me.)

[BlazerLT]

any brand will do, but you should check your tie rods for play.

They are more directly related to sloppy steering than ball joints.