Bendix Power Steering---Really So Bad?

[Mooosman]

My manual steering box is worn out in my 72, and I was thinking of changing over to PS if I have to wrestle with steering box installation anyway. I have a 3 on the tree truck, so I would have to use the Bendix box.

Anyway, looking through some old posts on changing to PS, it looks like a lot of people hate the Bendix box! Is it really all that bad? If I were to run a big tranny cooler, would it be OK? I daily drive my truck, but it is empty 99% of the time.

In real-world use, is a rebuilt Bendix box with a good size cooler that bad? I'd like to hear your experiences with the Bendix box.

Nick

[fordman]

mine just leaks even after we rebuilt it. im not sure why eother.

[72stepside]

Seems like I saw $600 for a rebuilt Bendix box.

Thats why I modified by 3 speed column to work with a saginaw box.

[FORDification]

It's not really the overheating that turns folks against the Bendix box, since as you state you can install a transmission cooler to take care of that problem. The biggest gripe is that they're very prone to leaking and replacement seals can sometimes be hard to find.

...and like 72stepside mentioned, they're pretty expensive, when compared to a Saginaw setup.

Since I'm always trying to save folks a future headache, I always recommend just getting a Saginaw. However, it will require some mods to the steering column to fit...but once it's done, you basically can simply forget about it, aside from maintaining a proper fluid level in the pump.

[cghstrojan08]

I saw a rebuilt bendix power steering at autozone here was only $160.

[Mooosman]

I was just trying to get around shortening my 3 speed column. I've read the article about doing it, I'm just afraid of screwing it up!

I only want to do this job ONCE, so a leaky steering box I don't want. I may just have to bite the bullet and take a shot at shortening the column.

Does anyone have any better pictures of the shortening process?

Nick

[FoMoCo]

If you dont want to shorten the column look for a truck that already has the saginaw power steering system. The're out there. But keep in mind you'll need to grab the power steering firewall bracket. You'll nee the bracket wit a column swap or alteration.

Nick

[BobbyFord]

The real main dislike with the Bendix box is how twitchy the steering is at highway speed. Very floaty.

[72stepside]

Does anyone have any better pictures of the shortening process?

Nick

My father and I are co-authors of that article (3speed w/ power steering). Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot to take a picture of. Most of it was measuring, chopping, fitting... you know, a lot of trial and error. The key for us was having an extra column available if something did get screwed up. The surgery was done on the extra, not so good column, preserving the good, working column until I robbed the good bushings and such off it in the end. "Long" 3speed columns are pretty plentiful around here so I wasn't too concerned.