Power Steering Box/Repair or Replace
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Power Steering Box/Repair or Replace
I thought I would check to see if any members have rebuilt the 73-76 power steering box; if so, does it require special tools and is it involved. Just rebuilt the steering column when I noticed the minor leak in the power steering box is getting worse. Kinda between rock and hard place, need the truck and faced with the dilemma whether to bite the bullet and pay for a replacement, figure the removal and installation should only take a few hours; or attempt to rebuild where the time it would take to get the truck on the road is unknown. I checked the online inventory with the local 'Pic n Pulls' and they don't have any 70's Ford pickups on the lot at this time. Anyhow, suggestions, input appreciated! 
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Upper end is a little more tricky, but if it's the lower end, just put a seal kit in it.
It does take some big wrenches and a fork to get the pittman arm off, but not too big of a job.
John
It does take some big wrenches and a fork to get the pittman arm off, but not too big of a job.
John
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
John, thank you for the info, affraid if I were to open it up may find 1 of the components projecting to neighbors house. Appears majority of the fluid is coming from the bottom end, hopefully able to tell more once it's pulled. I do have a front end kit so removing the pitman arm should not be a problem. Went to Napa online inventory and they have a bottom seal kit that runs around $20, looks like it only consist of 3 components so I should be able to do that much. I will not be attempting the full rebuild kit, too many parts to the kit to keep track of. Again thank you!!. 
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Figure once the box is removed I'll have better sense of what needs to be done, if there's any question whether the kit will solve the problem I agree, the darn box is expensive enough as it is don't need to kick in an additional $20 bucks. Thanks for input!!.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Uh huh, and within a year or so, the puppy will be leaking from the same location again, you wanna know why?All the Ford integral P/S gearboxes have a built in flaw, no bearings on the sector shaft. It doesn't take too long for the seal to become oblong, the housing takes a beating too.
Since there are no internal parts for the 1960/70's gearboxes available any longer except for what makes up the two seals kits (input & sector shafts), the so-called autoparts store rebuilt gearboxes are really re-sealed gearboxes.
redheadsteeringgears.com (located in Seattle) takes the housing, machines it, installs the needle bearings that Ford left out...on purpose, so they could sell a gazillion seal kits.
D7AZ-3E501-B (replaced D3AZ-3E501-A & C5AZ-3C538-A) .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit / Available from Ford.
MSRP: $24.18 // FTE sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM price: $17.41.
-------------------------------------------------------------
F3AZ-3E502-A (replaced D7AZ-3E502-A, D3AZ-3E502-A & C5AZ-3C538-A) .. Input Shaft Seal Kit / Available from Ford.
MSRP: $24.02 // PARTSGUYED.COM price: $17.29.
Applications: ALL 1965/2002 Passenger Car/Truck/Bronco/Econoline and et cetera Ford Integral P/S Gearboxes.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Bill, thanks for the resource, I am kinda slow, if understand correctly the kits mentioned are pretty much a temporary fix, perhaps 2-3 yrs.; further, majority of the reman's use the same/simular kits and I can expect the same results. Checked w/ local Napa auto and then called 'redheadsteering', for approx. $50, plus s/h more, they have a replacement, and likely a better quality rebuilt gear box.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 825
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, Texas
I would think that $50. additional would be a absolutely great deal.
If, I were going to buy a new box, and planned to keep the truck for any length of time, I would spend the extra dough!
Problem always is, that the cost of a $500. gearbox gets compared to the cost of the much-needed upholstery, paint or bodywork, or a super-duper transmission and folks would rather spend the $500. on one of the above and $20. on a seal kit.
If, I were going to buy a new box, and planned to keep the truck for any length of time, I would spend the extra dough!
Problem always is, that the cost of a $500. gearbox gets compared to the cost of the much-needed upholstery, paint or bodywork, or a super-duper transmission and folks would rather spend the $500. on one of the above and $20. on a seal kit.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
I would think that $50. additional would be a absolutely great deal.
If, I were going to buy a new box, and planned to keep the truck for any length of time, I would spend the extra dough!
Problem always is, that the cost of a $500. gearbox gets compared to the cost of the much-needed upholstery, paint or bodywork, or a super-duper transmission and folks would rather spend the $500. on one of the above and $20. on a seal kit.
If, I were going to buy a new box, and planned to keep the truck for any length of time, I would spend the extra dough!
Problem always is, that the cost of a $500. gearbox gets compared to the cost of the much-needed upholstery, paint or bodywork, or a super-duper transmission and folks would rather spend the $500. on one of the above and $20. on a seal kit.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 825
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, Texas
Hmmm..No address or telephone number, but a lifetime guarantee...
Come to think of it, dave, I gotta guy, ...a Nigerian businessman, as I recall, ...he has 50 million in gold, but can't get it out of his country. If you want the details, I can send 'em to you!!
Come to think of it, dave, I gotta guy, ...a Nigerian businessman, as I recall, ...he has 50 million in gold, but can't get it out of his country. If you want the details, I can send 'em to you!!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Greg, I get the same emails unfortunately hav't had the time to send him any money.
Surprisingly REMsteering returned my email and noted the info is on their webpage; although I did find the tele# I still can't find the address on their webpage, nor did they include it in their email. What's more interesting, I called and was informed they are located in the Palm Springs areak, yep here in the great state (?) of Ca., but still did not give me an address. Sounds like 'here today and gone tomorrow, anyhow, still pondering.
Surprisingly REMsteering returned my email and noted the info is on their webpage; although I did find the tele# I still can't find the address on their webpage, nor did they include it in their email. What's more interesting, I called and was informed they are located in the Palm Springs areak, yep here in the great state (?) of Ca., but still did not give me an address. Sounds like 'here today and gone tomorrow, anyhow, still pondering.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
(sigh) All I can say is...you've lucked out. Integral P/S was introduced in 1965 Galaxie/LTD. Thru 1972, the only seal kit was a master, then Ford replaced it with individual input/sector seal kits.
I prolly passed out 10,000 of these puppies in 35 years, you wanna know why?
Because without sector shaft bearings, the sector shaft seal only lasts sooo long, then the little darlin' starts leaking again.
If the boxes didn't have this built in flaw, why are there companies machining the cases to install the bearings?
Because...unlike you, 10's of 1000's of peeps haven't been as fortunate.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Pulled the p/S box and appeared fluid had been leaking from every oriice for quite some time. Purchased a Napa auto reman w/ lifetime warrantee, surpised to find price varied between various Napa stores. Anyhow, just returned from test run and wow, truck has never steered w/ this much ease since installing the donor box. Thanks for the input.