2001 F-250 7.3l --- I followed Monster's writeup on the red head steering box installation and have a problem. The steering is very difficult left to right and the power steering pump has a low groan when the steeing wheel is moved in either direction. The AFT fluid in the pump is also foamy looking. I did fill the power steering before staring up the engine. 2nd issue is the brake peddle has a problem like the ABS is working and pushing the peddle back. Not sure if these issues are related but this brake problem did not happen prior to installing the red head gearbox. The power steering lines are different sizes so they can't be crossed up. What could I have done to cause this issue? Is it possible that the gear box requires a stronger power steering pump and my pump is not as strong as it needs to be and it now needs to be replaced also? I didn't have any power steering issues like this other than the wandering problem before installing the red head gear box.

 

Sounds like its tight or hooked up wrong..

 

I installed a redhead steering gearbox on my 2001 F-250 to solve a wandering problem.I had a difficult time getting the pittman arm off and had to wait overnight before resuming with the install. I was able to get the pittman arm off with torch heat and a 5 lb hammer. The install went quick but I guess too much air got into the system through the power steering hoses. I found a power steering bleed post and followed the directions and solved the problem by bleeding the air and dirty ATF out into a bucket via the boost line return directly behind the brake reservoir tank. I bleed 3 qts. of Mercon V into the system turning the steering wheel and pumping the brakes while refilling the power steering reservoir. This fixed the difficult turning problem. Also I jacked the front axel up and did this with both front wheels off the ground, made the fix easier...

 

Foam is air, did that solve your brake problem also?

 

Yes, it resolved he steering issues with the power steering pump and the brake issue also. The ATF coming out of the return was very foamy at first then cleared after about 1.5 quarts of flushing and pumping the brake peddle and turning the steering wheel back and forth.

 

Good to hear you are up and running

 

Wonderful!!! Glad you got it fixed...



Dick