Steering Gear Box

[spider2354]

Hey wanted to throw a question out here. 1976 Fiat 124...Was advised to get a new/replacement steering gearbox. They are pretty pricey for the ones that I have found, was told that they almost never go out and this is one is not completely gone but is certainly hard to steer. Searched around for a rebuild/refresher kit and haven't had much luck. Wanted to know if anyone had any ideas or if anyone knows about servicing these gear boxes. Thanks

[SunnySideUp]

Try the Fiat Parts Warehouse site (http://www.spiderroadster.com/index5.htm), specifically this page of their site... http://www.spiderroadster.com/124steeringbox1.htm

Part number 4296193RK is a repair/rebuild kit.

[azruss]

my hard to steer, do you mean loosey goosey or difficult to turn. If it is the later, it probably isnt the steering box, but perhaps the dampener box on the other side. most steering boxes that are bad have a lot of slop at the center position and will sometimes develop a hitch as you turn from straight. i've had a couple of steering boxes go bad. They both had lots of miles on them (150k+)

[spider2354]

thanks for the info sunnysideup I'll check into that. azruss it's hard to turn not really too sloppy yet.. I'll be honest haven't had a lot of time with this car other than the time spent to get it running so the only reason I'm saying it needs a steering box is because the guy I took it to to have the rust repaired who works on all kinds of Italian stuff said it needed one. Not saying you are wrong, the steering box is just what I was told needed to be fixed/replaced. I'm also unsure of the mileage on this particular car, only showing 16k and some change so i don't know if it has rolled over or not, i would think it has but who knows, it's in much better shape than most 76s i see.

[TX82FIAT]

I would not take the car to a shop and risk the possability of them diagnosing a problem in order to find something to charge you with a profit behind it. Check your lubrication levels in the stearing box and the idler arm. See if adding the proper 80/90Wt oil eases steering. Both the steering box and the idler will run dry over time.

Hard to turn sounds more like the Idler on the passenger side. With car off and key in the ignition so you can turn the wheel without it locking, "listen"does it make any noise almost like a rumble when you turn the steering wheel. As mentioned earlier, the steering box gets sloppy when the gears inside the box are worn conversly when the idler arm runs dry or binds up the steering becomes difficult to turn. if you have a noise our rumble it is very hard to tell where it is coming from and I've even thought i had a problem elswhere (ball joint) when it was my idler. The good news is the idler rebuild/replacement/upgade is not very difficult. The bad news is that if it is your steering box it takes some real work to get it out. If there is a rumble/binding noise a harbor freight $3 mechanics stethoscope will help you narrow down where the noise is coming from.

[fredguaz]

I'm getting ready to visit this soon. My steering is VERY hard to turn, even with front wheels off the ground. Already had the idler out. It was dry but otherwise fine. Filled it with grease because it would leak fluid. Reinstalled idler and it made no difference. Steering box is next. I read where starter motor has to be removed from underneath and slid forward in order to withdraw the box. It looks VERY tight under there. I believe there are replacement parts available for the steering box but not the idler.
Good luck to both of us!

[spider2354]

tx82fiat thanks for the advice, and yeah i'm with you on avoiding shops..only reason it was at a shop was to get the trailing arm brackets fixed which took quite a bit of work and they just mentioned the steering box, so nothing i paid extra for:-). But yes definitely will do the checking of the fluids. I'm not one who likes to throw parts at something, troubleshooting/diagnosing has always been preferable lol. Thanks again for the advice and I'll let ya know what i find.