Can't figure out loose steering.

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-dw-

Greasemonkey
Mar 15, 2021
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Central MN
605-800.jpg
 
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Steve Bakken

Apprentice
Feb 20, 2015
83
18
8
Pretty sure it's the 605. Will confirm when I get home. Not finding many available matches online. Anyone know if the 800's are interchangeable, or what other gm vehicles used the same boxes?
 
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mikester

Comic Book Super Hero
Mar 10, 2010
2,904
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Small town NY
Pretty sure it's the 605. Will confirm when I get home. Not finding many available matches online. Anyone know if the 800's are interchangeable, or what other gm vehicles used the same boxes?
The 605 boxes werent that great when they were brand new. Switch to the 800 series. I bought rebuilt units for both of my cars that were made by a company in MN called Lares. They have a website. I ordered close ratio boxes for a Monte SS. You can buy them through rockauto but shipping the core back would be expensive. I bought mine from Advanceauto or Autozone. Its been a few years so I dont remember which. The core from the 81 was a 605 and when I brought it back it didnt seem to make a difference.
 

69hurstolds

Geezer
Supporting Member
Jan 2, 2006
8,088
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If yours is a 600 series and you move up to an 800 series, it should bolt right in with ONE exception...

The pitman arm for an 800 series is different. You can get replacements in many places for approx. 50 bucks, but just be advised you'll need a new pitman arm with the upgrade should you go that route. You can hardly tear them up so if someone has one off an 800 box from a G-body they want to get rid of for cheap, snag it.

 
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Jeff Blagden

Master Mechanic
Aug 12, 2016
453
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Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
My friend had a 79 Cutlass changed the rims and had the wrong lug nuts for the rims we went 2 years and 2 steering boxes and changed the whole front end and took it to Winnipeg front end and they told us we had the wrong lug nuts felt stupid but it fixed the loose felling in the steering good luck
 
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Steve Bakken

Apprentice
Feb 20, 2015
83
18
8
My friend had a 79 Cutlass changed the rims and had the wrong lug nuts for the rims we went 2 years and 2 steering boxes and changed the whole front end and took it to Winnipeg front end and they told us we had the wrong lug nuts felt stupid but it fixed the loose felling in the steering good luck
O.E. rims and nuts here. Torqued to 100 ft/lbs. He's lucky he didn't lose a wheel at 60 mph. That would downright ruin someone's day
 

64nailhead

Goat Herder
Dec 1, 2014
5,660
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Upstate NY
Not to be sarcastic, is the steering in good enough condition to pass inspection? Asking because loose steering is an immediate fail most everywhere. If the wheel is turned, there has to be an immediate movement of the out tie-rod end. If there isn't, then you have a vehicle that won't pass inspection. If there is immediate movement, then I'd be looking for issues in the ball joints or a-ram bushing. And there is the possibility that the rear arm bushings are total crap making you steer the front end to keep it in front of the back end.
 
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airboatgreg

Comic Book Super Hero
Oct 2, 2016
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You said you replaced ALL the steering linkage... Over how long of a period of time? Did you replace the idler arm, center link? I would take to another front end shop. Alignment could still be off. I put the SS gear in my 82 EL C and my what a great difference it made with good shocks, idler arm and center link. Someone is missing something. I know we are talking about street boats here but mine handles pretty well, all things considered
 
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JAMCAR223

Royal Smart Person
Jun 6, 2014
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Houston, TX.
Was the center link replaced?? It will waller out, and you may not notice it's bad until you remove, and inspect.
 
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