So,, my manual steering box has leaked all over the frame and seems really sloppy.

I've always contemplated upgrading to P.S. but have no idea what is the best approach.

I'm hoping you all can share some do's and don'ts in conversions, exterra swaps, others, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rick

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From my personal experience, I’ve done this upgrade twice. If you have lots of money to spend, I would say just go to one of the Bronco Vendors and buy one of their kits, they should have everything you need. Toms Bronco kit (for example) with everything they provide including shipping is a little over $1200 bucks to your door. You will still need to buy pulleys and belts in addition to their kit. Plug and play???!!!

Me... not so much ... I found a 79 bronco power steering gear for $100 bucks and a junkyard 96 bronco power steering gear for $50 bucks and did the 4x4x2 swap. I would definitely get the Saginaw pump and brackets, looking for the best deal between Bronco vendors and eBay. EBay has steering U joints for $22 bucks.

You should be able to do this conversion and get yourself into what I consider probably “the best” power steering set up for under $400 bucks. PS gear, PS pump, hoses, u-joint, DD or round bar for lower column. Don’t forget you will need a dual camshaft pulley and water pump pulley and another belt as well.

http://www.wcb4x4.com/tech/diyrockcrawler.shtml

I personally run the 4x4x2 box and the Wild Horses bracket for a Saginaw pump. If you go the route of two belts I have some of the pullies and stuff since I switched to the Explorer front dress.

I must ask forgiveness my ignorance. Explain "4x4x2" I assume 4 turns,?

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4x4x2 box is a hybrid steering gear, using the box off a 4x4 78 or 79 Bronco or F150. Those trucks had a pitman arm that faced forward from the box (ours point rearward from the box), so you put the worm drive from another box (many are 2 wheel drive trucks, but not all) and it reverses the valving allowing a rear facing pitman arm. Super strong, but doesn't fit the stock mounting holes in the frame, and needs a small modification to the pitman arm. You will need hoses, pump, and steering shaft to match the 4x4x2 box, but you will need those for a stock p/s system anyways. Probably stronger than you'll need, but can be done cheaper than sourcing a stock p/s box, if you can get a deal on the 78/79 Bronco/F150 box.

So sounds like a trip to the U-pull is in my future. For you guys that don't know, my wife LOVES going to the junkyard. Really, I kid you not.

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I gave you the link... click on it and become powerful!!!

http://www.wcb4x4.com/tech/diyrockcrawler.shtml

Thanks - yes just read it now on my computer. Excellent article and very descriptive.