well my power steering assist cylinder is starting to leak. I like having it and want to keep it. but i am wondering if anyone has cut it open and rebuilt it? im a good welder so im not worried about the welding mainly the cutting. does anyone have pics or has anyone done it?

 

Are you sure it needs to be cut open ,then welded ? That don't sound right, I was going to rebuild one with a rebuild kit,never expected to cut it. If that was the case i would buy a rebuilt or new one. I don't see how it could be welded back with out doing damage to any seals or o-rings you would have just put in.

 

As impractical as it may seem, yes you have to cut it open to replace the seal, then weld it back together.

 

i was reading up on the site and it was looking like most people said it needed to be cut open. what was involved in rebuilding it? do you have any pics?

 

Well, i guess it's time to learn something new. I don't think i would trust my welding ,so i will have to look for a rebuilt one . I would like to see how it is done if anybody has pictures. JIM

 

Don't have any pics of one cut open, but it's pretty self explanatory once you tear it down, if i recall correctly it only consists of (2) seals (1) o-ring (1) washer (1) snap ring......NPD use to sell the seal kit for $40, but i see they no longer have it listed, they still sell the reman'd cylinder for $225 though.

 

THEY MUST BE DIFFERENT FROM MY 67 FAIRLANE. I OVERHAULED IT AND EVERYTHING CAME OUT THE FRONT

 

Unless it is differant than my 77 f250 then no you do not have to cut it open. The snap ring will come off and everything will sllide off of the rod. Put new seals in and the washer then the snap ring your back in business in about 45 min. start to finish.

 

Since NPD doesn't carry the seal kit anymore, does anyone know where to get seals. I don't need them just wondering.

 

You might be able to take the seals etc. into a shop in your area that specializes in rebuilding hydraulic cylinders. They might be able to come up with something.

 

jbweld it, thats a cold weld.

 

i got my seal kit from macs but thaat was 2-3 years ago. they haave to be available

 

I took mine to the local hydraulic shop(the only major one in a 200k pop. city) and they said that it would have to be cut and welded and they wouldn't do it on a steering ram. I wish I would've checked my old cylinder when I had it off but I just thought that they'd know if they could just change the seals so I didn't worry about it.

 

Just to clarify things so we're all on the same page here, the stem seals can be replaced without cutting open the cylinder, it's the piston seals which require cutting open and then welding back together the cylinder, the stem seals are recessed about a 1/2" deep into the cylinder and can be a real bugger to remove/install without damaging the stem in the process, so some guys do choose to cut the cylinder open to install the stem seals as it's much easier with the stem removed and there's no risk of gouging or nicking the chrome plated stem, removal of the stem also allows you to polish out the groove that inevitably wears into the stem where it rides on the seal while driving straight, which is 90% of the time, my thinking is Ford just considered these cylinders to be disposable, hence their inability to be serviced very easily.

 

I just ordered a seal kit from MAC's for a 63 galaxie 500 power steering cylinder.When I get them I will see if they fit. The push rod end of the cylinder looks the same as my F250's.
From what I can tell ford used the same seal on a lot years,and model cars.