Hi All,
New to this Forum but a long time IH8MUD member. I'm the proud owner of new to me, 1982 SR5 4x4 LB with only 106,000 miles. It is bone stock and as I have a built for crawling 1973 FJ40, and a 1987 BJ70 I am keeping this beauty stock. I'm freshening up all the parts, knuckles, bushings, tie rod ends, stock wheels, etc. I've adjusted the Power Steering box as much as possible without binding and still have too much play for my anal Type A personality. Any suggestions on good sources for a rebuilt OEM push/pull Steering Box?

 

That's one clean truck. I'd use the chance to upgrade to crossover steering over push pull.

 

According to many folks in the know I'd need to lift the suspension in order to make room for cross over (high steer) conversion. I want to keep this truck stock. Thanks for the thought.

 

Yeah, you'd need lift so cross over is a no go. Nice looking truck, I think keeping it stock is the way to go as well. I don't know where to source a good steering box but I bet if you posted up on the want add section on here there's a lot of guys on here who have converted to cross over and have a push-pull box just taking up space in their garage. You could likely get one that was in good condition for really cheap. Just a thought.

Good luck!

 

Really nice truck! Like the color, and nice to see her staying 'stock'.

 

I will share a long story as briefly as possible. Some of us dream of past girl friends but in my case it's past trucks from my youth. In 1982 I was a probationary firefighter with an '81 Toyota 4x4, Tan, LB SR5. Drove it til '94 when I had to go bigger because of kids and bigger toys. Another new firefighter was infatuated with my truck and low and behold showed up in Jan of '84 with the identical truck except being an '82 with square headlites. We've been best buds since and he has kept the above truck all these years. His back, shoulders, and neck are pretty jacked up so he got to the point where he couldn't drive his '82 anymore. Not wanting it to go to some bozo I bought it and am reliving a little of my glory days. So all you overly testosterone guys with tears in your eyes suck it up and stop being sappy. That goes for me too.

 

Brought tears to my eyes! Not really, but good story. I think a lot of guys on here have a strong emotional connection to their Yota or one they had in the past.

I remember being in 6th grade or so and my dad was driving this awesome looking tan 4x4 for work. Jump forward to my sophmore year in high school and my dad decides that at ~380,000 mi, the toyota ought to be retired from the company so he buys it for $1200. A few months later I do a swap for an old ford with him and the truck is mine. Lots of years and lots of wrenching and money, and lots of dad looking over my shoulder saying "That's not the way I'd do it.".

I'm 37 now, dad's been gone for 3 years, but the truck and I are still going strong (527k mi) and every time I take a wrench to it I know my pops is waching to make sure I don't screw anthing up too bad.

It's not just about the cool looking truck, it's the memories attached to them. Sorry to ramble off topic so much. Back to the thread at hand!

 

Good memories. My Dad wasn't a car guy. We always had 1 car and that was usually an Oldsmobile Cutlass. I have know idea where my car/truck genes came from they've been there my entire life. Too sappy again, sorry.

 

very cool stories, there is something special about these trucks, people took more care of these then people too care of tercels or corollas. I have never been into trucks, I loved roadracing and drag racing since I was very little, but when my friend once came home with an 81 model, with those sweet curvy lines and round headlights, I had to have one, especially since he wouldn't let anyone drive it, he wouldn't floor it or rev past 2500, would complain when it got dirty, ugh. I don't see myself ever selling mine, and I have never had so much fun in a vehicle, yup there is something about these trucks!

 

Back to the original topic. Anyone have a good or bad experience with any Rebuilt Power Steering (push/pull) boxes out there ?

 

I use one on my trekker show truck .. all my steering components are new or rebuilt "stock" type steering , with addition to the drop drag link .
it's ok with the 35's and don't have any problems what so ever


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Slacker, Where did you source your rebuilt steering box from? What brand or company?

 

I don't recall where I got it from ... but here is the # 04445-35011 for the kit



.

 

Thanks for the part #. By the way I looked at your entire build and I thought I was anal but you make me look like a disorganized, not caring loser. Fantastic build!

 

hahaha ... thanks


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Are you sure there isn't slop elsewhere? Check your steering column U-joints. I was also chasing a slop issue, and all it took was a proverbial lightbulb, a pair of vicegrips (to hold the steerbox input shaft), and a little wiggling to locate the problem.

Glad to see someone keeping it stock! You know, there may be a way to do crossover steering without a lift. I'm semi-actively researching this myself. It will almost certainly require a bent tierod to clear the oilpan, which likely means sourcing it from a heavier vehicle (I would not trust a tierod I heated and bent myself). It'll also need a custom passenger-side steering arm because you're not doing high-steer (above the leaf springs) and I don't believe anyone produces low-steer arms.

 

Moroza, good suggestion on securing steering input with a vise grip. I'll try that tomorrow. Honestly I'll be happy with push/pull as long as tire's remain small (235's). My Rubicon rig is my FJ40 and that has all the goodies! However, back in the 80's my stock '81 LB PU did the Con with 30" tires. The trail is a whole different animal now.