I slid off the road last night driving through Wyoming. 1000 miles from home. Managed to get to a truck stop a half mile away. Some debris had gotten in between my rim and tire on the front passengers side so I put the spare on. Went to drive around the parking lot to make sure everything was solid and I initially lost the ability to turn left. Then I lost all steering. PS fluid all over the ground. Looks like it may be coming out of the gear box itself. Here is the part that confuses me... The wheel turns freely indefinitely. I know my clockspring is toast, but how could this happen. It's like the linkage in the gearbox is stripped or something? I don't know much about the gearbox and how it all works together. I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction. It's freezing cold out and a lot of the parts shops are going to be closed. Getting ready to pull the air box and see is I can dissasemble the gearbox.

 

You need a new gear box. Wait....Is the pitman arm broke?

 

Is the Pitman arm the big metal flange that comes out of the bottom of the gearbox that actually does the work? if so it is intact.

 

If you can find someone to give you a hand, have them turn the steering wheel while you're looking underneath to see what (if anything) is moving.

 

Sound's like the box broke. Another person would be helpful, so you can see what if anything is moving.

 

Nothing moves. Linkage going into gearbox is all fine and turns with wheel but nothing on the otber side.

 

Are all gearboxes created equal? Looks like advance Carries a Fenco brand woth a core charge. My battery died on my laptop so I can't pull up alldata. How hard are they to replace? Any pressed fittings or weird alignment/adjustment
challenges?

 

Junk yard or order a red head steering box. (Seeing as your 1,000 miles from home, Junkyard or auto store/dealer)

 

Here's a how to thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...installed.html

 

curious an following

 

AutoZone has one in stock, $272 plus core. Hopefully they have a Pitman puller I can rent

 

Some autozones have tools to loan

 

Man 1,000 miles from home, I don't think I would be choosey. Everyone really likes the Red Head steering boxes, but in this case, Auto zone is 1 million times better than what you got!
Auto Zone does or should have a puller to rent/buy. A 3 jaw, propane torch, and a hammer would work in a pinch. Although you may really have to beat on it.

 

Getting towed to AutoZone parking lot. They have puller. Why would it have gone out on me like that? Are the gears inside really that weak? Should I be looking for something external that caused the failure? Nothing looks bent or broken

 

Where in Wyoming are you? Maybe there's an FTE member who could help you out.