4x4x2 Power Steering Lower Snap Ring Problem

[Bradical69]

I just got back from wheeling, well like a whole mile of it....about 1/3 into Red Lake the bottom snap ring on the 4x4x2 power steering box pushed out along with the seal and made a mess. We got it back together and it promptly blew it back out when I turned the wheel.

Did I get a box with a manufacturing error, like the snap ring groove? Or maybe a bad snap ring? (the ring looks fine though)

It worked fine around town and driving up the hill, but after maybe a mile pulling against the front locker it blew. I just installed this box so not many miles on it. It is a re-manufactured 4x4 box with a junkyard 4x2 worm gear.

Is there anything I'm missing with this pump or to look at before I go through exchanging it?

and we got it out by winding tie wire around the shaft a bunch of times and pinching them against the snap ring and washer when we tightened the pitman arm. It basically held all the guts up inside the pump as I drove out.

Other maybe relevant info: Just installed this box, new power steering pump, and Astro van hydro-boost system.

Thanks

[DirtDonk]

Re: 4x4x2 Power Steering Lower Snap Ring Problem

Don't have any answers for you. But will be following along with interest. Usually those boxes are pretty reliable and trouble-free.

Good luck! Hope someone has a simple (and cheap!) answer.

Paul

[JimGo]

Re: 4x4x2 Power Steering Lower Snap Ring Problem

I don't think its properly seated in the groove, or its a bad groove or snap ring. Once seated in the groove I can't see it coming apart. I would think it would blow apart the seal before the snap ring would fail. I'd be interested to find out what you find out! I have a good box/case if you end up needing one.

Jim

[California Monkey]

Re: 4x4x2 Power Steering Lower Snap Ring Problem

snap rings also have a top and bottom when installing. Once side has a sharp edge and the other has the smoother side. Might have been installed upside down.

[crawlin68]

Re: 4x4x2 Power Steering Lower Snap Ring Problem

Without seein git, my guess would be something wrong with the snap ring groove in the box. That snap ring should never pop out.

[Bradical69]

Re: 4x4x2 Power Steering Lower Snap Ring Problem

Follow up: Still some problems...new ones...

I pulled the broken box off, switched the 4x2 guts out (for the orig 4x4 guts) and returned it to O'Reilly's for another one.

So the new one has different seals on the sector shaft top and bottom and NO snap ring on the bottom, and the drive in has a different seal. That's fine except now the 4x2 drive doesn't fit into the new 4x4 box, like not just tight but would probably be wedge in there, if i where to really hammer it in. Not sure what I'm missing this time. Here are a few picture of what I'm working with. and the 4x4 drive wont fit in the 4x2 box either...

What's going on here, what am I missing?

The 4x2 donor was a 97 Ford Ranger in the junkyard. The 4x4 box is a reman from O'Reilly's

[JimGo]

Re: 4x4x2 Power Steering Lower Snap Ring Problem

Follow up: Still some problems...new ones...

I pulled the broken box off, switched the 4x2 guts out (for the orig 4x4 guts) and returned it to O'Reilly's for another one.

So the new one has different seals on the sector shaft top and bottom and NO snap ring on the bottom, and the drive in has a different seal. That's fine except now the 4x2 drive doesn't fit into the new 4x4 box, like not just tight but would probably be wedge in there, if i where to really hammer it in. Not sure what I'm missing this time. Here are a few picture of what I'm working with. and the 4x4 drive wont fit in the 4x2 box either...

What's going on here, what am I missing?

The 4x2 donor was a 97 Ford Ranger in the junkyard. The 4x4 box is a reman from O'Reilly's[ATTACH=CONFIG]32947[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32948[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32949[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32950[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32951[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32951[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]32952[/ATTACH]

New box is knock off from China and not a rebuilt ford box. I tried and failed on this too.