Cat Wheel Loader Hydraulic Cylinders

This category covers lift cylinders, tilt cylinders, steering cylinders, and hydraulic cylinder tubes for Caterpillar wheel loaders — from the compact 920 and 930 up through the 950, 962, 966, 972, 980, 988, and the giant 992K. Whether you need a complete cylinder group or just the tube to rebuild a scored bore, this page pulls together the Cat wheel loader cylinders that raise the lift arms, curl the bucket, and steer the machine. Broken Tractor stocks complete cylinder groups and replacement tubes ready to ship, all built to accept OEM-style seal kits.

Fits Models At A Glance

920, 930, 930R, 930T, 930T II, 938F, 938G, 938G II, 938H, 950, 950B, 950E, 950F, 950F II, 950G, 950G II, 950H, 960F, 962G, 962G II, 962H, 962K, 966, 966C, 966R, 966G, 966G II, 966H, 966K, 966M, 972G, 972G II, 972H, 972K, 972M, 980C, 980F, 980G, 980G II, 980H, 988B, 988F, 988F II, 988G, 988H, 992K, IT38G/H, IT62G/H, R1600, R1600G, R1600H, 834B, 836, 854G, 854K — with steering groups shared to 814-series and TK-series machines

Fitment note: Verify your serial number and cylinder casting number before ordering. Many wheel loader cylinders changed between series generations (G, H, K, M), and lift vs tilt vs steering groups are model-specific.

What's In This Category

Lift Cylinder Groups

Bucket lift cylinder groups for the 930 series (7J9871, 7J9872), 938H (2549037), 950B/E/F/960F (1U1147 LH, 1U1148 RH), 950H/962H/IT62H (2424271, 2424272), 966C/966R/966 (9J2434), 966G/972G (1332963, 1332964), 966H/972H (2424274), 966H/966K/966M/972M (2424275), 980G/980H (1118181), 992K (2711716, 2711717), and R1600 series (1586586, 1586587). These raise and lower the loader lift arms.

Tilt Cylinder Groups

Bucket tilt cylinder groups for the 930 series (7J9729, 7J9730), 938F/938G (1377855), 950 (7J9695), 950B/E/F/960F (3G8786), 950G/962G (1189001 seal tilt group), 950H/962H (3562217), 966H (2457484), 966H/966K (3562219), 966H/972H (2448777), 980G/980H (1125003, 1125004), 988B/988F (9J3632), 992K (2713572), and the 323E/324D/938H group (3461093). These curl the bucket for digging and dumping.

Steering Cylinder Groups

Steering cylinder groups for the 920/930 series (7J9838), 950F/960F/924K (6E4892), 962H/962K/938H and tool carriers (3149340), 966G/966H/972G/972H and M-series graders (3149336), 980C/980F/980 (9J5869, 9J6536), 988G/988H (2594733, 2594737, 2880568), 834B/836/988B/988F (9J8165), 854G/854K/992K (1571352), and the wide-fitment 814-series/966F/970F/R1600 group (6E5024).

Hydraulic Cylinder Tubes

Replacement cylinder tubes for the 930 series (7J9727, 7J9728, 7J9867, 7J9691 semi-finished), 938F/938G (1287674), 950B/E/F/960F (3G8785, 3G8792), 950G/962G/IT62G (1250028), 966C/966/966R (9J2433), 966G/972G (1334048), 980G/980H (1118182), 988B (4T7587), and 834B/836/988B/988F (9J8166 semi-finished). Replace the tube when the bore is scored but the rod and gland are still good.

Fitment Tip

Cat wheel loaders span decades and dozens of models, so the cylinder that fits depends entirely on your exact model, generation suffix (G, H, K, M), and serial number. A lift cylinder for a 966G will not fit a 966H, and steering cylinders often cross over to graders and tool carriers that share the same front frame. Several groups here are broad-fitment — the 6E5024 steering group, for example, spans the 814, 815, 816, 966F, 970F, and R1600 mining loaders. When rebuilding rather than replacing, match the cylinder casting number stamped on the tube (and the rod/bore dimension) to the correct seal kit, since a single model like the 950H uses cylinders in several rod/bore sizes. The wheel loader serial number is on the left (highway) side of the machine behind the front tire; pre-2001 machines use an 8-digit serial (like 3CL12345) and 2001-and-newer use a 17-digit VIN. Call us with your serial and cylinder number and we'll confirm the right part before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I tell which lift cylinder fits my Cat 966 wheel loader?

It depends on the generation. The 966C/966R/966 uses lift cylinder group 9J2434, the 966G/966G II/972G/972G II uses 1332963 or 1332964, the 966H/972H uses 2424274, and the 966H/966K/966M/972M uses 2424275. These do not interchange across generations, so identify your exact model suffix (C, G, H, K, M) and serial number before ordering. If in doubt, match the casting number stamped on your existing cylinder.

Can I replace just the cylinder tube instead of the whole cylinder group?

Yes, and on these large loaders it's a major cost saver. Broken Tractor stocks wheel loader cylinder tubes separately — for example, 1250028 for the 950G/962G, 1334048 for the 966G/972G, 1118182 for the 980G/980H, and 4T7587 for the 988B. If the cylinder bore is scored but the rod, gland, and piston are still serviceable, replacing just the tube saves thousands. Inspect the rod and gland first to confirm they're reusable.

Why is my Cat wheel loader bucket or lift arms drifting down?

Drift usually comes from worn cylinder seals or a leaking control valve, and on wheel loaders it often starts with contamination. Even small imperfections on the cylinder rod let contaminants past the seals, which damages the bore and piston seals and causes internal leaks. Hydraulic efficiency can drop as much as 20% before an operator notices. Check for dirt buildup and leaks around the lift and tilt cylinder seals, inspect the rods for damage, and pressure-test the cylinders — if they bypass internally, reseal or replace before the contamination spreads to the pump and valves.

Do steering cylinders interchange between Cat wheel loaders and graders?

Sometimes, yes. Several Cat steering cylinder groups cross over between wheel loaders, motor graders, and tool carriers that share the same front frame design. For example, the 3149336 steering group fits the 966G II, 966H, 972G II, and 972H loaders plus the 120K, 120M, 12K, and 12M graders, and the 6E5024 group spans the 814/815/816 series, 966F, 970F, and R1600 mining loaders. Always confirm by serial number and casting number, since visually similar cylinders can differ in stroke and pin size.

What rod and bore size is my Cat 950H cylinder?

The 950H uses cylinders in several sizes depending on function. The lift cylinders (2424271, 2424272) run a 3-1/4" rod and 5-3/4" bore. Some tilt cylinders (2424270, 2457491, 3562217, 3585187) use a 3-1/4" rod and 6-1/4" bore, while the smaller 1630324 cylinder runs a 1-3/4" rod and 3-1/2" bore. Because one model uses multiple cylinder sizes, always match the casting number and measure the rod before ordering a seal kit.

Where is the serial number on a Cat wheel loader?

On Cat wheel loaders, the serial number is on the left (highway) side of the machine behind the front tire. Pre-2001 machines use an 8-digit serial like 3CL12345, stamped close to the VIN plate. 2001-and-newer machines use a 17-digit VIN like CAT0962GR4PW00533, also stamped near the plate (sometimes hidden under paint). On older 1960s and 70s machines, the plate is on the right (curb) side in front of the cab. You need this number, plus the cylinder casting number, to order the correct cylinder or tube.

Not sure which cylinder, tube, or seal kit fits your machine? Call or text us at (800) 909-7060 or submit a parts request and we'll match it to your serial number and cylinder casting number.