I have an 1985 E-350 Class C motorhome that I need to replace the power steering box on. There is a small tag on the box that reads:
SPA DJ
84H 31C
My Father has an identicle motorhome only it is a 1983, his tag reads:
SPA DJ
82F 16B
I have found two used box's at a junkyard
#1: 1988 E-150
SPA DX
87K 17B
#2: 1989 E-350
SPA DX
88K 25B
Can anyone help decipher these numbers or what the mean?

 

Welcome to FTE

Despite the two different ID codes (SPA-DJ & DX), it's the exact same gearbox.

Ford P/S Gearbox ID numbers: SPA-DG-DJ-DM-DP-DW-DX-DY = Ford part number = E1TZ3504A .. P/S Gearbox.

1980/89 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog / Section 35.1 / P/S Gearbox Parts List #6.

Fits: 1982/89 E100/350 & 1981/89 F100/350.

The other codes refer to the build date of the gearbox and the plant that assembled them.

What is the matter with yours? Play in the steering, or is it just leaking?

The seal kits are available everywhere, so are rebuilt gearboxes, usually for under $200.00 exchange.

If yours is bad, what will the gearboxes in junkyards be like, condition wise?

Prolly the same...or worse.

Check out this website: redheadsteeringgears.com (the company is located in Seattle).

Read what this company says about these Ford gearboxes and what it does to fix the age old problem that affects them.

 

Thanks for the info Bill, as for the reason: The steering effort on my motorhome is so easy compared to my Dad's. Its almost like there is too much power assist, and it causes the motorhome to wander a bit. At 60 mph I can barely feel any road resistance unlike my Dads. I have replaced:every bushing in the front end, Front and rear springs, king pins and have had it aligned at least 6 times from a couple of different shops.There has been improvements but it still is difficult to control sometimes. The only thing I have not replaced is the PS Box, I was told that maybe the valving is too sensitive on my box.
Thoughts?

 

Wandering: This is typical of these gearboxes, that why I suggested reading what redheadsteeringgearbox.com says they do to fix them, something Ford left out = bearings!

You can buy a "rebuilt" box from an autoparts store, and if you're lucky, it might last a year, then it'll be time for another.

Autoparts store rebuilds are nothing more than resealed, that's it.

A used one prolly won't even last a year.

 

Aside from brakes, steering the most important part of a vehicle. Would you use junkyard pads, rotors, and calipers? Then why on earth would you use a junkyard steering box?