I'm helping my friend get his truck on the road and his steering box is leaking. i have a parts truck and we are just going to pull it from that but before we get into it i was wondering if anyone has done this, has tips, blow ups of or anything. anything will be a help. thanks

 

Undo steering shaft, and lines. Then unbolt drag link. then unbolt the box. Once it is on the ground it is easier to pull the pitman arm.

I just had to do 2 boxes in my brothers truck. I got it down to a 15 min job

 

Check this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...x-rebuild.html

 

It's a pretty basic job, just to swap them out. But be prepared- they are deceivingly heavy. The steering box on my 91 nearly left a dent in my forehead because I wasn't prepared for the weight of it.

I would also advise doing a good cleaning job on the replacement box before installing it. A strong wire brush and some brake parts cleaner work well. Cleaning the exterior only, that is. If you don't have to get inside the gear box, don't do it.

Finally, when I replaced mine, it was a real PITA to bleed the air out of the system. What happened was that air got trapped in the gear box, and I ended up removing the return line [I think it was the return line- whichever line is closest to the cab] to let the air escape. I don't know why but it just wouldn't bleed out on its own. I would recommend filling the gear box with fluid after installation, before hooking up the return line so as to remove as much air as possible.

 

Easiest and MESS FREE way to bleed the system once it's back together is:

1: top off p/s fluid res (should be using MerconV ATF if it's a stock Ford pump).

2: jack front end off the ground.

3: slowly turn the wheel stop to stop (pausing for 1-2 seconds at stops) about 10 times with engine OFF.

4: top off fluid level in p/s res.

5: slowly turn stop to stop another 10 times and periodically check fluid level topping off as necessary once again with engine OFF.

6: once you've got it properly bled you will not see any bubbles in the res. Make sure she's topped off one last time.

7: lower the front end back onto the ground, fire it up and test steering checking for leaks and double checking fluid level. Should be good to go at this point.

All said and done, I'll typically go stop to stop w/ the engine OFF and front end raised about 30-50 times to push all the air out of the system.