Power Steering Box Rebuild or not???

[freeline95]

I recently did a power steering upgrade to my 69 f-100 and the steering box which is a ford box had a little bit of play in it so I adjusted it up but it still had a little bit of play in it and I also noticed that when I had my wife move the steering wheel back and forth that the shaft that the pit-man arm attaches to had a little bit of back and forth play in it and its also leaking around the seal at the pit-man arm. The little bit of play in the steering is really annoying while driving down the road

I was wondering if I should rebuild the p\s box or find a good used one and buy it???

If anyone thinks that the p\s steering box is worth rebuilding how hard is it to rebuild and what kid should I buy??? I will be buying a kit from advanced auto parts.

Also if I rebuild it will it take care of the back and forth play in the arm???

[FreakysFords]

I've built many steering gears, but never the specific Ford box. Honestly, they're not that bad. Personally I wouldn't mess with one without a full bearing and seal kit as a minimum. I do suggest some things though if you decide to build it.

Best to tear down first OR assume bad wear @ seal points and get sleeves (lest you do tear down first and find good)
Where possible, use flange sealant (LIGHTLY) rather than gaskets (on external parts only for those who might mess with UD center seal units).
DO NOT set the adjustments tight after rebuild. Set just slightly loose (in thousandths), install and work in for a minute, THEN final adjust (running on some kit's instructions and not running on others, go by what they say as I've not built this specific box).
Locktite is your friend.

I guess my post may make it seem difficult, but it's honestly not. Just turn the radio low, keep some ice tea on hand (or coffee or whatever), take your time and try to understand every part you're working on. No biggie really.

OH PS, on some boxes and with some kits, bushings may have to be reamed and some bushings are so thin as to require precise installation tools (which can be bought or built). I'm sure someone here's done this box and can chime in, but if worried on any bushing install, the local machine shop should be able to work it for ya in less time than it takes to write up the bill.

[fordman]

i syour rag joint worn? that can create slack when turning the wheel to check that play. if the play i sint he box i would not guarentee that a rebuild will take the slack out either. because the two main messing gears can get worn over time and that i swere the play comes from. the lower seal is no big deal to replace without tearing down the whole box.

[freeline95]

Thanks a lot "fordman" and "freakysfords" I think that im going to go with finding another p\s box.

[71HANKER]

hey man sometimes you can luck out at junkyards. I found a almost new power steering box off of a 79 bronco, that still had the remanufacturing tag on it. those things are like $270 bucks plus $150 core charge from LMC truck, and i snaked if for $100. it never hurts to browse.

[freeline95]

I plan on checking around locally before buying one at a parts store or something.

[Alvin in AZ]

I've built many steering gears, but never the specific Ford box.
Honestly, they're not that bad. Personally I wouldn't mess with
one without a full bearing and seal kit as a minimum.

Cool. :)
One thing's going to really surprise you about Ford's Integral Steering Gear....
-->It ain't got bearings<-- Look at the exploded views of them, no bearings. :(
Also look at the thick seals in the factory pictures and the thin spacer...

The kit will come with a thick steel ring that's going to be used as a -support- after
the cast iron case bearing surfaces are worn and the sector shaft will bump against
it and stay in alignment "ok" until the cast iron housing gets beat out there too. The
kit comes with thin seals, thats where they get the extra space for the steel ring.

Sad but true. :/

I had my wife move the steering wheel back and forth that the shaft that
the pit-man arm attaches to had a little bit of back and forth play in it...

Cool, glad to hear you did that! :)

That's the "sector shaft" and mine got to where it moved ~1/16" to the side
before twisting. I had a measured ~2+1/2" of play at the wheel and everything
else was tight because I'd worked on it. And, I got the steering gear line bored
and bearings installed and the play went down to ~3/8". No kidding. :)

I've got a couple I want to line bore right now just need to get off my lazy butt
and get 'em cleaned up and dismantled. The outfit is in Tucson AZ and my plan
was to talk to them about shipping and receiving the units. If they didn't want
to do that I was thinking about offering that service.

I'll get on this and try to take care of that Monday Apr 6 '09.

They were out of business on that service back when I first met them. Ford had
run out of bearings and the local bearing shops couldn't/wouldn't supply them.

I found them on the then-new internet. LOL :) Told the guy at a bearing shop
that's what I was going to do and he made fun of me like he couldn't get 'em,
I sure as heck couldn't by typing out cramp on a dumb computer. LOL :)

Hoping to tell you their name and address on Monday, so I can be left out of
the loop. LOL :)

All I know for sure is... "it worked for me"! :)

Alvin in AZ '75 f150
ps- Before the bearing install, what was really cool was driving around a long
sweeping curve on the freeway and having all the play taken up, so the steering
was quick and sure and felt great! :) ...until the end of the curve. :/
pps- I got a "rebuilt" one from AutoZone and it was almost as bad as my original,
talked to the the guy that rebuilt it (in Phoenix) and he claimed he couldn't line
bore them for liability reasons etc etc. I'll bet you money you aren't going to find
a tight one at AutoZone or the wreckin' yard or anywhere.

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/toe-in1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/toe-in2.jpg