Wondering how many should be in the box. I took it apart and counted 24 of them. The guides that Jim posted show there should be 25 or 27 depending on the ID of the worm gear.

Also, the o-ring that fits in betweeen the Worm gear shaft and the stub shaft doesn't seem to fit right. How is this suppose to fit?????? When I put the stub/worm gears together with the o-ring, it seems like it just compresses the o-ring instead of the o-ring fitting around the notch in the worm gear shaft.(#5-7 on the diagram) When I lock the torque ring, it just seems like the o-ring is going to get smashed.
Here is a pic

http://images.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/drivetrain/129_0801_20_z+saginaw_steering_box+steering_worm.j pg

Thanks in advance if anyone knows.

The fast ratio (12.7:1 Jeep Grand Cherokee) gear should have 24 balls in the recirculating ball circuit. You must take into account that one half of the balls are 0.0005 inch smaller than the others. You will need a micrometer and sort the balls by feel. You MUST alternate big and small balls as you insert them in the circuit.

I just found in my notes the following: All 12.7:1, 14:1; 15-13:1; and 16-13:1 gears have 24 balls. The very slow ratio, 17:1 gear has 22 balls. Right now I am not sure where I got any other information.

Do not lose any of the balls. And most importantly, DON'T LOSE ANY BALLS INTO THE GEAR HOUSING! A loose ball can wedge between the rack and the aluminum end plug. The first full lock turn and POP goes the end plug.

Here are two papers that I scanned on assembly of the valve to the gear. One has photographs of the gear components the other has line drawings.

The paper with the drawings show how the thrust bearing races are to be oriented much better than the photo paper. The one with the photos shows them but you really can't see the angle of the race surfaces.

Also the paper with the drawings does not show the o-ring in your thread. The other scan with the photos does show the o-ring. All I can say is that you need that o-ring.

Line Drawing Paper
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/RBGDisassembly&RepairPics2.doc

Paper with Photos
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/rbgvalveasmscan.doc

Good luck,
JIML82

THanks Jim very much appreciated. Does it matter which balls go in first? smaller then large? or Large then small?

So you finally got the box ;)

It does not matter what size you start with. What matters is that they alternate. And if you start with small you will end with big, which means when that small comes back up and out it will connect with that last big.

Another point is to put the rubber bits together with a slime coating of PS fluid on them. It will help them slide into place better. I believe that O-ring in particular actually fits on the inside of the outside sleeve on the spool valve. So if it does not slide inside it is not put together right. IIRC that sleeve is simply notched to go over the pin you show.

The inside sleeve is the more interesting to get fit on there as it has to offset to get over the locating pin. It also has a O-ring on it that must fit *inside* the outer sleeve of the spool valve. Very tight fit there and I don't think it will go together without the slime factor.

Well it's all together, lets hope it works when I get the car running in the next year....or two
From this:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6711/02100813522re9.jpg

To this:
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9549/dsc0298md0.jpg