replaced steering box with a rebuilt one from advanced auto, steering will get tight at certain spots. when off it sounds like there's a rubbing noise inside the box-could the ps pump be going out making it get stiff and act like it's hanging up in certain places without making noise or leaking?

 

Those "rebuilt" boxes from the parts stores are hit or miss, you could go through ten of them before you found a halfway decent one, all they are is resealed and repainted, there is no rebuilding per se, all the internals are left untouched, yea the price is good, but you get what you pay for, you're much better off in the long run paying some more money upfront and buying a quality rebuilt box from the likes of Red Head steering.... Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA - Red-Head Steering Gears Home

 

Um... Sounds like you have air in your power steering fluid. Check your fluid. Lift front wheels off the ground after you chock the rear. Turn your steering full left and right 10 times. Check fluid, then do it ten more times. Check again lower truck 10 times check, then ten more. If it still makes noise you have to vacuum bleed with a vacuum pump "mitivac" and a rubber stopper do the non vacuum first. Sometimes no mater what you do the pump will still whine. Mine does and I even vacuum bled it. Oh well such is life.

 

theres no pump noise at all-just jacking front up and turning back and forth will bleed it

 

Yes. You have to have the truck running too. Air in the pump and box will make your steering feel sticky and or make a groaning whining noise too.

 

Is the truck a 4x4 ? If so, sounds like a froze up axle U joint.

 

the sector shaft adjustment may be to tight, does it hang up in the center?

 

yes it does-easy everywhere else, replaced the rag joint and just tightened everything pretty good?

 

remove the ps dipstick or leave it on?

 

In. That shouldn't be an issue.

 

loosen the locknut without letting the straight blade adjuster bolt move, back off the center bolt (counterclockwise) until you have a small amount of play in the input, the tight spot will be gone, now adjust it back down so it has no input play but has not tightend up yet, you can set it where it just starts get tight again and then back it off a bit, the tightest you can go without getting it over tight , drive on a flat road and turn the wheel just off center and see if it stays (tight) or will return to center.

 

your talking about the adjustment screw/bolt on the box? not the steering shaft and ragjoint assembly?

 

Are you sure you're getting high pressure out of the power steering pump? I recently replaced my '74 F100 steering gear box. The pump appeared fine. After swapping the steering gear with a rebuilt unit, the power steering was still not working. Then I replaced the pump and immediately my power steering was restored as good as new. It turns out that my old pump was turning like it should, (not froze-up), but it was not putting out the 1200psi that it is supposed to.

 

was yours making noise-just seems that it's easy at most points but it gets stiff like something is binding or hitting-i'm going to jack it up and bleed it first

 

You are putting type f trans fluid in it arn't you!!!