Steering Box Design Flaw?

[Woreign]

It seems that my steering box has more slop when turned to the left, and tightens up when turned to the right. Driving straight is just right. What's the problem? This is the second rebuilt box that I have installed. The first one had a similar problem, but a lot worse.

I'm leaning at buying a new box if there is a third time replacincing it. Any recommendations where to buy, and which is the best? I've heard that there are a lot of cheap copies out there...

[glutamodo]

I thought the TRW box was the only new one sold..... pretty much the same wherever you get it from. Quality doesn't seem to be that great on them though, I put one in my baja a couple of years ago - and recently noticed when adjusting it, that it's got some play in the output shaft already.

[uberautowerks]

I gotta say "Quit buying rebuilt boxes!" I only know one company that sells them and they are crap. Go for the new TRW box.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)

[Woreign]

I've found three different steering boxes, all for around the same price:

TRW
Ampri
Varga

What's the word about these different brands?

[glutamodo]

Got links to these for sale? I'm not sure if they are completely different makes or just same part just repackaged by the different company/distributor.

[Woreign]

Here's what I've found:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...0144097147

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=174308

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=405393

[KTPhil]

"It seems that my steering box has more slop when turned to the left, and tightens up when turned to the right."

It should be symmetric, whether new or rebuilt. It sounds like the unit is not centered when you install it. Lift the front end, and see if it has the same travel left and right. If someone repositioned your steering wheel, and later changed the tie rod adjustments, this might be the result.

[glutamodo]

Well that one sitting on the Varga-logo box, that's a TRW unit, the "T" inside the triangle is found on TRW boxes. Not sure about the Mofoco unit, but it looks like it could be a TRW too.

[Woreign]

I've ordered a new TRW box. What are the procedures for "centering" and installing it correctly? My understanding is that I may have to have the tie rods adjusted to match the box?

Thanks...