I have a 77 F100 Explorer with the 302 and I need a new steering box-

After doing my homework on here, I've read that people either send the steering gear box to lares corp or to red head-

Is this the same lares that people are sending away to?

Advance Auto Parts: Search Results for steering gear

Am I on to something or do you guys think they just replace the seals in these and not rebuild them like they would if you sent your gear box out to them?

Last question- can you use either gear box? (the 3.5 turn lock to lock or 4 turn lock to lock) or do you need to use whats currently in your truck? For a $70+ price difference if I can get away with the 3.5 turn lock to lock Im all over it-

Mines leaking pretty bad and I just dont have the funds to send it out to red-head like I want to- I use it as my daily driver so i cant wait and save-

Thanks guys-

-Travis

**When I check the link its not working for me - so the P/N on www.advanceautoparts.com are 1060 and 1061**

 

I'm not sure if Lare's machines the gear box for the needle bearing mod like Redhead does, if not, that's reason enough to choose Redhead.

 

If money wasnt an issue I would be all over Redhead- I just cant afford the $300+ price tag right now-If shipping wasnt $98 bucks back and forth I could probably swing it-

Im thinking of what would just get me by for now until I can afford to send it out- Hmm..

 

This rarely ends up being cheaper or the better investment in the long run.

 

Youre absolutely correct Longtravel, but I also cant drop my funds so low when one half the price will get me back on the road for now- I just need a temporary fix before I can afford the more permanent solution- I was just curious if people thought those would be of equal rebuild quality because they are Lares

 

I hear ya man, i just have ended up paying double (or more), because of having to compromise initially, enough times that i try and avoid similar situations now.

 

All Ford integral P/S gearboxes have a built in flaw: There are no bearings on the sector shaft, so before too long, P/S fluid begins leaking from this area. Replacing the sector shaft's seal kit only lasts...just so long.

Redhead takes the gearbox, machines it, installs needle bearings that Ford omitted...on purpose, so they could sell a gazillion seal kits.

Ford P/S was first introduced in 1965 Passenger Cars, wasn't available in F100/350's (2WD) until mid-year 1969.

So-called autoparts store rebuilt gearboxes are nothng more than resealed gearboxes because...there are no spool valves or other internal parts available for vehicles of this vintage.

There are two seal kits used in Ford P/S gearboxes from 1965 thru 2002:

D7AZ-3E501-A (replaced D7AZ-3E501-A, D3AZ-3E501-A & C5AZ-3C538-A) .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit / MSRP: $24.18 // FTE Ford Dealer Parts Dept sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM price: $17.41.

F3AZ-3E502-A (replaced D7AZ-3E502-A, D3AZ-3E502-A & C5AZ-3C538-A) .. Input Shaft Seal Kit / MSRP: $24.02 // PARTSGUYED.COM price: $17.29.

Similar kits are available from autoparts stores.

 

I feel your pain because mine is leaking crazy bad...I was hoping that one from the auto parts store would be ok but maybe not ?maybe I'll call cardon {sp } and see what they say about the missing bearings

 

I realize money is tight for a lot of people these days, but for you guys considering a "rebuilt" gearbox from the parts store you're just throwing your money away, not trying to sound harsh but it's the truth, those boxes are just resealed and repainted, in a word, they're junk, save your money up and do it right, and do it only once, buy a gearbox from Redhead.

 

It's not wasting money if it keeps my steering going for now and me out of a ditch-when it's your daily driver you gotta get it back on the road asap-if the seals pop between now and when I can afford to send it to red-head, well, that's why napa has a lifetime guarantee-driving to work or walking 20 miles to work-I'll take my chance with napa for now