I'd heard the Durango box makes for easier turning but I have also heard that you lose some turning radius. That's what I've heard but I have not done the swap so I think it's best someone who has tell you their experience. I've gone back and forth with swapping out mine for a Durango box.

 

I'm curious of this as well mine recently started to get loose. I tightened it up a bit and its still getting loose. I have already lost a bit of turning radius from the ranger pitman arm so I don't want to to lose more. Sorry to hijack OP. I have noticed Jk boxes are becoming popular, but don't know if its an upgrade
( they require lots fab'n to fit).

 

Durango box works fine for me, no noticeable loss in turning radius. The box itself is larger so it sits mayb a 1/4 farther to the right, by further I mean the pitman arm location is farther right from the frame than the stock box. What a did after I centered my wheel and tested my turning lock to lock was lengthen the draglink slightly to give me that 1/4 inch back I lost. This makes the wheel look slightly cocked to the right but I get full turn lock to lock no problem and it still drives straight as an arrow, the Durango box is much easier to turn with my larger tires than the stock box and it jumps back quicker in sticky situations. I tried boxes off of xjs, Dakota's, astro, and another yj on before deciding on the Durango one. None of the other ones turned the larger tires offroad worth a darn when I'm locked front and rear. My pump will whine a little when locked in 4lo in a tight turn but no complaints from the Durango box. If nething now I would like to find a larger PS pump that would fit. PSC makes one but I'm not paying an arm and a leg for a dang ps pump. I'm gona find one that fits from a JY eventually and is larger.

 

When you find it, let me know. Boring it out a little is supposed to work but I haven't tried it yet.

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?25303-Cheap-Hydro-Assist/page2&

 

Durango box a direct replacement ?

 

When you find it, let me know. Boring it out a little is supposed to work but I haven't tried it yet.

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?25303-Cheap-Hydro-Assist/page2&

Hmm never saw or heard of that before, doesn't look to difficult but looks like a lot of mess for not much result. I like the idea of boring out my stock one but I'm not sure I'd feel real confident on the street after all of that. There has to b a v8 Chevy out there with a bigger pump and similar mounting location. I think I could rig one to the stock bracket as long as it isn't majorly bigger than the stock one. I'll make a trip to the JY this week and start looking, I would tmrrw but I have to work in the morning.

 

I found several of the Chevy and Ford P/S pumps that are high output, typically used on large vehicles. I had to locate one in prep for my Hydroboost swap. Pirate has a couple of write-ups on what vehicles to look for those pumps in.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/chevy/951326-found-interesting-p-s-pump-info.html

I lucked out and got one from the junkyard that is in perfect working condition. The pump itself should be able to be mounted into the pump housing.

 

Durango box a direct replacement ?

Yes it is, it uses one less bolt on the frame tho. I use a steering brace I built similar to the MORE one, I had no issues with it moving before I built the brace tho.

 

Well the YJ I'm looking at has a Chevy v8 out of a k5 blazer I believe so maybe it has the better pump.

 

More than likely it doesn't. You need to physically remove the pump from the housing and look at the back of it to clarify if it is a HO pump or not. It took quite a bit of searching to score one. Check the parts stores, I found one at the parts store as well, but wasn't spending that much and returned it.

 

I am using the Durango box.
Yes it is a direct replacement.
Yes you only use 3 of the bolts.
Yes it turns my tires great offroad.
Yes I did loose some turning radius.

 

Though a bolt in, use all 4 bolts that hold on the original Jeep frame adapter bracket, not just the three that hold the gearbox on. This adds a lot of strength, keeps the mount from stressing the frame metal.

Yes you loose turning radius, those that say they have not just have not noticed, or they already had the turning adjuster bolts adjusted lower for wheels or something. You can swap in a pitman from a Grand Chero, which is 3/4" longer hole to hole. You have to cut a couple splines in the new pitman though, I used a hacksaw, so it slips onto the Durango shaft in the proper orientation. I concur that a brace to the other side is a good idea, especially with the differences in the frame mount.
:cheers2:

 

Ended up getting another YJ. 95 fuel injected 302 8.8 arbs 35s etc. went wheeling and Got it back on the trailer and had a nice few drops on the trailer deck from the seal leaking. I guess it's one for an upgrade.

 

I used a J20 box. Direct bolt on. Uses all four bolts. Yes you do lose some of the turn raduis. I bought mine from a place that rebuilds them. Paid 150.00.