This truck has just 90,000 miles on it. I've replaced the pitman and idler arm on it, front shocks, had the front ball joints repacked and the steering is still pretty loose. I think it might be the steering gearbox, so I called the nearby Midas and they said that a new gearbox is around 700 dollars! I look online and I can only find prices around 125-150. Are they trying to rip me off?

He didn't include labor or anything in the price but just said that the part itself is around 700-800 bucks. What do you guys think?

 

Considering you can go to the parts store, and pick one up for under 2 bills, I would say he is gouging you.

If you don't wanna spring for a new one, you can adjust your box.... requires taking it off the truck though. There is a nice procedure for it listed in the factory service manual (available for download in the DIY section, its for 2001, but, yours is pretty much the same).

Welcome to DF!

 

I just talked to the manager at Tuffy and he said that the 700 dollar price would be if he got it from the dealer. He looked around and found a good price and with labor estimated it around 450 or so. Much better than just a 700 dollar part to begin with. I feel better.

 

Thanks!

I would do the adjustment myself, but I live in an apartment complex and simply don't have the room to do that kind of work on my truck, (plus they don't allow it in the parking lot) neither do I have a good array of tools. The Tuffy guy said that after a certain point it's not very good to adjust but simply better to replace. Mine might be past that point.

 

Hope that includes a front end alignment..... If you have some hand tools, and a place to play for about an hour or so, you can buy the box, install it yourself, get it aligned, and save yourself 200 plus dollars.

NINJAD!!

Ok, so much for that thought. Make sure their price includes the alignment.

 

In other news, how critical is it to replace the water pump? It has been moist around the seal since the beginning but as long as I keep an eye on the coolant level and the engine temp it should be fine for now right?

 

Best to replace it before it completely fails. If it is just seeping a bit, and you don't have to add coolant more than once a week or so, you can probably slide for a while. Probably..... Keep a VERY close eye on it though, if you overheat your engine, it is highly likely it will be a LOT more expensive to fix.....

 

You don't have to take it off to adjust it.

 

There are two adjustments, one is really simply while it is on the truck, the other is not quite so easy......... having the box off, and clamped in a vise, makes doing both adjustments significantly easier. I plan on doing this here in the not so distant future.......

 

Here in southern Michigan I got a quote of $475 for the stearing box and the labor. I have had some bad experiences with Midas on their repairs and their pricing. I would not ever go there again.