hey guys,

i was wondering if anyone has used the redhead rebuilt steering box? my steering in my truck is beyond sloppy. and has bump steer. i know the ford boxes wernt always considered the best thing in the world and they wear out pretty easy. i was wondering if this would help with the slop and the bump steer im experiencing. thanks for the info.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ing-boxes.html

There are several other current threads on them.

 

YES, YES, YES. Redhead Steering Gear. You'll thank yourself.
You're correct, they rebuild the boxes and correct several design flaws that Ford had designed into the unit. First, on the stock units, the sector shaft turns inside the cast iron housing, there are no bearings or bushings. Red Head bores out the housing and presses in needle bearings. On the worm gear they regrind the spiral race and selective fit oversize *****.
Deffinitely worth the money.

 

Mike, was it a Ford design in the Saginaw steering box .... or was it "Saginaw's revenge" that was responsible ?

What year and model truck do you have?

Some years and models have design flaws that are not too hard to correct with off the shelf parts.

My '77 F150 4X4 was really bad about bump steer when I got it back many years ago .... it had what I call "inverted Y" steering linkage with a solid axle so that every dip or rise saw changes in toe .... toe in to toe out and back .... by design. Dodge still uses a simular design on some trucks as I saw at a shop this week on a 3500 4WD Ram .... and it's aweful.

I swapped over to '78/'79 style steering (pittman arm / drag link / both tie rod ends and an adjustment sleeve) and killed the bump steer (likely the poly bushing kit didn't hurt)) and tires wear great ever since and even my tie rod ends are still tight as they only move now when you turn the wheel, not on bumps (drag link ball joints work at both ends even on bumps and I have replaced it once since) ....
.... but then for over 25 years I still had the excessive play and that was in there at under 40K miles. It had maybe gotten some worse, tightening adjustment saw me go too tight and then immediately back off and go too loose and finally helped a "smidgeon" (technical term for "itty bit").

I had been wanting a Red Head steering box since reading about them maybe 10 years ago .... but I just didn't drive it much and thought I could not justify the expense.
Then this December 3rd I ordered one from Red Head with a group buy. It arrived the 5th all the way from Seattle to Va., I installed it Dec 7th.

"WOW!" is what I think when I drive the old truck now .... she only has a little over 100K now and it is remarkable how well she behaves on the highway now. No oversteering, no drastic corrections as I chase the front end, no "looking like a drunk" feeling (maybe not that bad, but it seemed bad) going down the roadway.

Returns to straight on it's own, I can now actually take a look into the mirror and not find her headed for the shoulder. I find I am driving her more than I have in the last 8-10 years and enjoying the drive, ("warts and all")! On those days I feel a need or am just in the mood to drive a truck, I now have a great choice.

As to the decision "to buy or not to buy Red Head ?", all I can say is :
I should have done this years ago!



I sent my old core back on Dec 12th and my card was credited back on the 17th.

 

From what I understand it was a Ford design that was built by GM's Saginaw Division for Ford.

 

Well that explains the problem right there

I dont mean to hijack, but i have a question. Can you get redhead boxes that come drilled and fitted for hydraulic assist?

 

My 79 F150 2wd drives so much better since I bought the Red Head. Money well spent. One of the best things you can do to the driving enjoyability factor on your truck. The tiny bit of play I have in my steering is probalby from the column which could probably use a rebuild or from having a rag joint, although new, should have a universal joint instead. But anyways, I can fly down the freeway at 65 plus and not have a problem staying in my lane.

 

I might have to look into getting one of these boxes.. Driving the truck at highway speeds is a bit of a chore. At night it keeps you on your toes.

 

Don't know. Give them a call (206) 364-3333. I'd give them a call, they're kinda slow answering e-mails.

 

*Edit* Just emailed redhead my question.

 

New steering box from Redhead: $350 (total)
new tie rods, center link, drag link, rag joint, bearings in the steering column: $250 (moog parts from rock auto)
Driving your 30+ year old truck 95 miles an hour, smoothly, and with nice tight steering: Priceless

 

But don't blame Saginaw, because Ford specified the crappy design so they could sell a gazillion seal kits!

With no bearings on the sector shaft, this gearbox begins to leak from this area within a short time.

This gearbox was also used in myriad Passenger Cars from 1965 thru 2002.
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1973/75 F100 4WD, 1973/77 F250 4WD (High Boys), 1975 F150 4WD use Power Assist P/S.

With Power Assist, the MANUAL steering gearbox is used, because it has NOTHING to do with Power Assist.