Steering Boxes

What Does a Steering Box Do?

A steering box turns steering wheel rotation into the swing of the pitman arm, which moves the steering linkage and turns your front wheels. Most use a recirculating-ball design, where ball bearings roll between a worm gear and ball nut to cut friction.

The ball nut's teeth mesh with the sector shaft, and the pitman arm bolts to the sector shaft's splined end. That gear reduction gives you leverage over a heavy front end. The ratio decides how far your wheels turn per turn of the wheel, so a quick-ratio box needs fewer turns lock to lock.

The box is only one part of the system. Your column connects to it through steering shafts and U-joints, and worn joints or couplers can feel like a bad box. Check your steering box components before you replace a box that may only need service.

Manual vs. Power Steering Gear Box: Which Do You Need?

A manual steering box suits light, simple builds, while a power steering gear box suits heavier vehicles, wide tires, and daily drivers. Here's how the two compare:

• A manual steering box needs no pump, belt, or hoses, so it's lighter and simpler.
• Manual steering takes more effort at parking speeds, especially with wide front tires.
• A power steering gear box uses hydraulic pressure to cut steering effort.
• Power steering needs a pump, reservoir, and hoses, so plan for bracket space.

JEGS offers a 16:1 manual box for 1966-1979 Mopar A, B, C, and E-body cars and a power box for 1964-1976 GM passenger cars. Jeep owners can choose an Omix-ADA manual steering gear box for 1972-86 CJ models.

Going with power? Pair it with matching power steering pumps and reservoirs. If your current setup fights you, read why your steering wheel is hard to turn before you pick a box.

How Do You Choose the Right Replacement Steering Box?

Start by confirming fit with the Add a Vehicle tool, then match the specs of the box you're removing. When you're replacing a steering box, a mismatch in any of these details can stop the install:

• Input shaft spline size and count
• Sector shaft spline and pitman arm fit
• Frame mounting bolt pattern
• Rotation direction for front-steer or rear-steer layouts
• Pressure and return port threads on power boxes
• Steering ratio and turns lock to lock

Ratio is where a replacement can double as an upgrade. The Flaming River Vega-style manual steering box uses a 16:1 quick ratio for street rod builds. JEGS also carries direct-fit manual boxes for 1971-1977 Chevy Vega and 1965-1979 Ford F-Series 2WD trucks. There's a power box for 1968-1976 GM K Series trucks, too.

Not sure the box is the problem? Start with diagnosing common steering issues to rule out worn joints, linkage, or alignment first.

Steering Box vs. Rack and Pinion: Which Is Better for Your Build?

A steering box is the better fit if you want to keep your factory frame, linkage, and mounting points. Rack and pinion suits builds that are already changing the front suspension. Steering box setups are durable and suit trucks, Jeeps, and off-road rigs.

A box also keeps the original look for restorations. A rack and pinion conversion changes more parts. You'll often need new brackets, tie rods, and a different steering shaft.

The payoff is a lighter, more direct feel that suits pro-touring builds. Leaning toward a swap? Browse rack and pinion steering kits and read how to choose a rack and pinion for your steering conversion before you order. Suspension geometry changes often touch other chassis, steering and suspension parts, so plan the full system up front.

Power and Electric Power Steering Conversion Kits

A power steering conversion kit adds hydraulic assist to a vehicle that left the factory with manual steering. Borgeson offers complete kits for 1968-70 Mustang 289/302/351W, 1966-1977 Ford Bronco, and 1958-64 Chevy small block. Borgeson also covers 1962-1972 small-block Mopar LA and 1965-1979 Mopar 383-440 big-block cars, plus 1949-1951 Ford cars.

An electric power steering conversion skips the pump, belt, and hoses entirely. An electric motor provides the assist, which frees up engine bay space. EPAS Performance builds kits for 1967-1968 Camaro, 1950-1954 Chevy Bel Air, 1955-1957 Ford Thunderbird, 1964-1967 GM A-body, and 1958-83 Willys/Jeep CJ5.

For custom builds, the Flaming River FR40200 Microsteer is a universal electric power steering system. Round out your conversion with matching steering and alignment parts, then Shop All Steering Boxes above to find the right fit for your project.