Considering a Red Head steering gear
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Junior User
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Considering a Red Head steering gear
so I'm thinking i need to get one of these "red head" steering boxes, my truck has a very bad wonder! And seems to be extremely bad at low speeds some times!! Almost like it wants to pull ya off the road! I just had all new ball joints, and all new tie rods installed yesturday, and still pulls and wonders VERY BAD!!
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From: Isanti, MN
Hi catzr440,
I split your post off into its own thread, you bumped a 3-year-old thread that was about a different issue. It sounds to me like your first stop need to be for an alignment. Pulling and wandering are both typically alignment issues, and if you installed new tie rods without an alignment you may well have made the issue worse.
I really liked the improvement the Red Head steering gear gave my Excursion, but you should track down your issue first before spending the money on one. Pretty confident you have an alignment issue.
I split your post off into its own thread, you bumped a 3-year-old thread that was about a different issue. It sounds to me like your first stop need to be for an alignment. Pulling and wandering are both typically alignment issues, and if you installed new tie rods without an alignment you may well have made the issue worse.
I really liked the improvement the Red Head steering gear gave my Excursion, but you should track down your issue first before spending the money on one. Pretty confident you have an alignment issue.
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thanx for the tip!!! I took some good advice from a friend and made an adjustment on the steering box, it seems to not wonder, and much better steering response!! But yeah, Monday I will call for an alignment! Thanx!!
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Mine had fairly terrible wander when I first got it. The adjustment screw for the gearbox was as tight as it would go, so replaced the gearbox. The best deal I found was on a Motorcraft Gearbox from Rockauto.com. I've been happy with that. Replacement at the local auto hobby shop took me about 3 hours. The steering tightened up a bit with mine, but didn't go all the way away until I replaced all the front end bushings, springs, shocks, and got an alignment. Rides smooth and tracks straight now.
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Joined: Jul 2013
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Anybody know what those run dollar wise? I've had my mechanic going over my new to me truck and he tells me most of my play is in the box. I'll have a better assessment myself after alignment and new tires, but boy coming down hwy 75 home with it was lil hairy.
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Junior User
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I'm tellin ya, I'm having the same issue!! Trying to keep it in my lane going 70!! I dropped it back to 60, to try n be a lil safer! I should mention that my truck had the pulling and wondering BEFORE I had the front end worked on, but Monday hopefully I can get the alignment done!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: SC
Mine was doing the same as you all...aligned front end all components good. Adjusted nut on top of stock box, it helped, for a while.
Last week bought and installed red head box...truck is soooooo much better! No more issues.
I paid $355.00 for mine.
Last week bought and installed red head box...truck is soooooo much better! No more issues.
I paid $355.00 for mine.
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2011
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once it gets all slopped out, tightening the adjuster is a temporary fix. I put in a red head box a few months ago and wouldn't ever own another truck without one.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2013
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well after getting an alignment done on my truck, it still has the same problem!! I just ordered the red head box, I have the 36 spline gear box. It runs 336.00 with a 200.00 core charge, I hope its worth every penny!
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Joined: Jul 2013
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I don't have my truck back yet but I did stop by the shop and got a test drive in on the new brakes yesterday. They were ate up with problems, had to replace all pads, 3 rotors, and two calipers due to seized up slider pins. He said not a single steering joint had any grease so he greased everything good and adjusted the worm gear on the stock box a hair. It drove like a totally different truck, like new almost. Still haven't even gotten the alignment and tires, that should help more as well, unfortunately the E Brake wasn't working so that's still being addressed and I like you think it's just a matter of time before I have to change that steering box. Tightening that worm gear really is just putting a band aid on a worn out box.
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Junior User
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well I just got back from a good long test run, highway and 2 tracks...........this redhead box is worth its weight in gold!!! Not even as much of an inch of wandering, no more sloppy wheel play, no tugging to one side of the road or the other!!!! Let me say this.....them boys know how to rework a gear box!!! Very VERY impressed!!!!
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Junior User
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I would highly recommend one, I'm not sure on everyone elses front end issues, but in my case that was the problem from the start! Guess it didn't hurt any by having my front end all rebuilt! Just my wallet! But well worth the money in my book!
