So I've replaced the box and yet again, it leaks. Is there anyway to rebuild the box itself? Or does anyone have any tricks for getting these to stop leaking? Looks like it's out the back.

 

Ok now, Fess up, which gear are we referring to the Bendix, or Saginaw? Where did it come from?




John

 

The Power Steering Gear Box. I had a second parts truck, I pulled it out of that, and it did okay for a little while, and now leaks again. I believe it leaks out of the shaft, but I'm not sure. I know the old one did.

 

Which P/S gearbox? There are two different types. Your 1972 F250 would have come with Ford (Saginaw) P/S.

Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.

Ford P/S: 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 from serial number D96,001 / 1970/79 F100/250 2WD & F350 / 1976/79 F100/150 4WD / 1977 F250 4WD from serial number Y20,001 (not a High Boy) / 1978/79 F250 4WD, all 1980 and later.

Ford P/S has a built in flaw: There are no bearings on the sector shaft. The so-called "rebuilt" gearboxes sold by autoparts stores are nothing more than resealed gearboxes.

There are two seal kits, input and sector shaft, both are available from Ford/autoparts stores. But before too long, fluid begins leaking from the sector shaft due to the lack of bearings.

redheadsteeringgears.com (Seattle WA) machines the case, installs the sector shaft bearings that Ford left out...on purpose...so they could sell a gazillion seal kits!

Pitman Arm attaches to the sector shaft.

 

Hey Cuz, you be playin wid me. How the hello am I supposed to know what year your parts truck is.

Help the old man out here.



John

 

On a Saginaw box: if it's the pitman shaft leaking, that's an easy fix. Center the steering, take the 2 bolts out of the top cap where the slack adjuster is. Then remove the pitman arem and tap the shaft and holder up out of the box. Now there will be a big snap ring holding the seal stack in the bottom.
If it's the top, don't mess with it, there's things in there that you just shouldn't mess with.
I have no experience taking a Bendix box apart but I'm guessing the pitman shaft seal is a similar process, most boxes are.

 

Jo, sorry, I wasn't aware there was two different boxes, as for which one I have I'm not sure. I'll have to try and locate a part number on it. And it looks like it's actually the input shaft where it connects to the steering wheel is leaking. I've seen they sell the kit for that, is it worth it?

I don't seem to recall seeing the top bolts y'all were talking about on the Saginaw, so I'll take a look at lunch, but if not, that does make it a Bendix Unit?

 

You won't find a part number, there may be a ID number on the sector shaft cover, the original ID tag may still be present.

Bendix P/S was installed in 1966/68 and some 1969's, but not later. The box is huge and has 4 places it can be opened up: upper/lower, right/left sides.

Ford/Saginaw P/S has 3 openings: Upper/lower, one side.

Ford/Saginaw P/S: Both these seal kits were used in myriad 1965/2002 FoMoCo Passenger Cars, 1966/96 trucks/Econolines/Bronco's and etc / Available from Ford/autoparts stores.

D7AZ-3E501-B (replaced D3AZ-3E501-A & C5AZ-3C538-A) .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit.

F3AZ-3E502-A (replaced D7AZ-3E502-A, D3AZ-3E502-A & C5AZ-3C538-A) .. Input Shaft Seal Kit.

Bendix P/S: C6TZ-3E500-A .. Master Gearbox Seal Kit / Obsolete / 348 available NOS

Where in SoCal are you located? If not too far away from Hacienda Heights, I could swing on by, take a look-see.

 

I'll take a look at it, I don't think I have a Bendix unit then. I'm actually in North County San Diego.

 

Okay, so I just went out to my truck. There is a top a bottom (assuming that's the pitman arm seal, and the input shaft area. Those are the only three that I can pull apart. It's leaking out of the input shaft. Are the seal kits worth anything? Or can I just liquid gasket it?

 

I wouldn't 'liquid gasket' the input shaft.

F3AZ-3E502-A .. Input Shaft Seal Kit / Available from Ford/autoparts stores.

MSRP: $26.42 // FTE sponsor horizonpartsguy.com price: $19.02 / Horizon Ford in Seattle (Tukwila) WA

 

I think Autozone has one too for eight bucks. How difficult is it to change this out? I've got nothing to lose at this point, so I'm willing to give it a shot.

 

I think every time I ever tried to take the top apart, all the ***** fall out inside, it's been a decade or three so don't hit me with a rubber chicken here.
Well, anyway, that in itself isn't such a huge deal once you know how to put it all back together but you really need a good service manual if you are going to tackle it.
The system is what is known as a recirculating ball. It is full of steel ***** and they have to be fed into the piston housing with the input shaft in it. Half go to one side and half to the other and they all have to go back in, don't loose any. Don't try to do it with the box in the truck, disassemble it in a big pan so you catch all the *****. It will take multiple attempts to get all the ***** to go in because the input shaft has to be in exactly the right position when you start inserting ***** through the port and if you let it ride up just a little, ***** fall inside IIRC.
It will test your constitution if you've never done it before.
Also don't try and mix parts from different boxes. I did that once and had a box with a mind of it's own. Inside that upper shaft assembly is a torque sensing rod and it has to be shimmed perfectly, don't even go there because the shims are made of unobtainium and you will end up looking for a different steering box.
Scared yet?

 

Mine was leaking bottom a few years ago and only replaced one seal. Mine is leaking again so got to replace seals again here is a video I found on utube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBW2e...eature=related

Not the same box but a good idea on how to get the second seal out.

 

Nope, I'm not scared, I have two boxes, so worse that is gonna happen is I'll break the one out of the truck, and then I'll know how to fix the one in the truck, best case, I'll get it situated. either way, I'll get it fixed. Thanks for all the input.

And thanks for the video FE. Appreciate it.