I was wondering if anyone could tell me how I will know if I need to rebuild the original steering box for a 1972 chevelle malibu? Is there any way to tell or an easy way to rebuild it before I attach it back to the frame. I am in the process of completing my rolling chassis and I would like to do anything that is recommended before the car is completely back together. How often do these need to be replaced...rebuilt...

So far i have cleaned all the rust off of it with a wire brush and a stripping wheel on my grinder. .....

Thanks

Power or manual steering?

Presuming power:

Usually the first thing to go is the seals. Seal kits are quite cheap and widely available but most folks are too intimidated to try doing it themselves.

Next item up for wear is the gear teeth interface between the rack and pittman shaft/gear. But the gear teeth on the pitman shaft are tapered so that free play here can be adjusted out. Have to use the stop bolt/screw on top of the steering box for this.

May be some wear potential between the worm shaft/ball bearings/rack. But all hardened steel here and fully lubricated so these parts should be very long wearing as well.

Then there are a few roller bearings but these will probably last almost forever unless they get dirt and/or water in them.

A lot of us swap for a newer steering box more for the different (faster) steering ratio and larger T-bars in the control valve in more modern/recent steering boxes.