steering
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Elder User
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From: AL
I started to just adjust the box like Orich said but thought I'd call Red Head. They couldn't believe that their box could still be that tight after a year so they suggested I disconnect the linkage to isolate the box. I called them back and told them that it was in their box and I'd test it after adjustment. If you adjust their box inside of the year warranty it voids the warranty. I'm past a year though.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Yrs ago put in new seals in my manual steering box. May be 10 plus yrs later needed to get about 4" of play of out of the steering system.
Mind is 4wd so it has the mid shaft with a coupler & a u-joint. Took it all in shaft & box. Well they did not fix up the mid shaft, only messed with steering box. Three weeks later box started leaking gear oil 90 wt. and it did not leak when, I took it into them. So took it back to them and follow the guy into back shop area and finds another used side cover plate and installs it. Ha no gaskets used just thick red sealer.
So, I see they just switch out your old parts with someone's old used parts that are not as bad as yours..
It started leaking again about 2 months later so pulled it apart and put in a side cover gasket.. Now don't drip like it did but it still forms a droplet of oil once in a while bottom..
But over all they did get most all the play out of the box.
I did later find mid shaft u-joint & coupler dust boot..
Where as got the steeling back to zero play in the steering.
Orich
Mind is 4wd so it has the mid shaft with a coupler & a u-joint. Took it all in shaft & box. Well they did not fix up the mid shaft, only messed with steering box. Three weeks later box started leaking gear oil 90 wt. and it did not leak when, I took it into them. So took it back to them and follow the guy into back shop area and finds another used side cover plate and installs it. Ha no gaskets used just thick red sealer.
So, I see they just switch out your old parts with someone's old used parts that are not as bad as yours..
It started leaking again about 2 months later so pulled it apart and put in a side cover gasket.. Now don't drip like it did but it still forms a droplet of oil once in a while bottom..
But over all they did get most all the play out of the box.
I did later find mid shaft u-joint & coupler dust boot..
Where as got the steeling back to zero play in the steering.
Orich
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From: AL
Disappointed.
I tested the truck after adjusting gear box. Not good, now it's darty and has play and it still will not return to center. When you change lanes you have to be ready to turn it back quick or you'll end up in the ditch. I've had a long conversation with Red Head and they are stumped. My shop and I are convinced it's something inside the box causing the binding over center. I'm waiting on a call back from Red Head to discuss replacing it.
I tested the truck after adjusting gear box. Not good, now it's darty and has play and it still will not return to center. When you change lanes you have to be ready to turn it back quick or you'll end up in the ditch. I've had a long conversation with Red Head and they are stumped. My shop and I are convinced it's something inside the box causing the binding over center. I'm waiting on a call back from Red Head to discuss replacing it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,592
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From: **** hole San Jose ca.
These steering boxes are pretty simple units. Not really much to go wrong.
Ball bearings, worm gear & sector shaft with adjustment screw.
A few shims here & there. So hope they send you a good unit..
Could have be one of those blue red eye Monday employees put it together.
We've all had those days at one time or another as a young man just doing a job
And not making much money but enough to party.
Orich
Ball bearings, worm gear & sector shaft with adjustment screw.
A few shims here & there. So hope they send you a good unit..
Could have be one of those blue red eye Monday employees put it together.
We've all had those days at one time or another as a young man just doing a job
And not making much money but enough to party.
Orich
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From: AL
I'm usually the one that gets those products. When I was building my '55 Chevy I ordered a 700r4 from Bowtie Overdrives. Even Hot Rod magazine said they are one of the best, all their feature cars have one. Well on the test drive the front pump went out and left me stranded. They sent a replacement overnight. I had to remove tranny, replace pump and reinstall tranny. Thankfully it's been great now for 9 years. Bowtie rebuilds their own pumps. I asked them how many a year fail they say maybe 1 and they sell a lot of trannys.
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From: AL
I've been thinking the same thing but I also keep thinking I've heard of guys doing this several times with a local parts store box before getting one that was better than the one they replaced. It's just a toss up either way I think.
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From: PA
interesting to hear some bad things about redhead very rare that there's issues with them from all my readings. but like with any place for parts your bound to have one defective one. wonder if they over tighened it and now its jammed up and the tension adjustment wont do as it should? how was there customer service? sounds like they are working with you to get things straightened out? i'd like to see how the new box turns out as ive been wanting to have them redo my box for years but still not there yet on my build.
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From: AL
That's why I bought from Redhead. I've even heard mechanics talk about trying 3 or 4 boxes from the parts store to get a good one. I'm sure my issue is a rare fluke, that's typical with my stuff.
Redhead has been very good to deal with. They were very helpful in diagnosing the problem. It's still a mystery to them but they stood behind their products.
I'll post results of replacement box when it gets here next week.
Redhead has been very good to deal with. They were very helpful in diagnosing the problem. It's still a mystery to them but they stood behind their products.
I'll post results of replacement box when it gets here next week.
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From: AL
Shop called and they are happy with the new steering box. I'll pick it this afternoon and see for my self.
Question, when I put power steering on my car I swapped the stock 18" wheel for a 16" wheel and it drove much better. That got ride of the twicheness. Would that help our old trucks with power steering when we drive on the highway? I know Ford decreased the diameter in the 70's. I see a lot guys with the 15" grant wheels. Do they drive better at highway speeds?
Question, when I put power steering on my car I swapped the stock 18" wheel for a 16" wheel and it drove much better. That got ride of the twicheness. Would that help our old trucks with power steering when we drive on the highway? I know Ford decreased the diameter in the 70's. I see a lot guys with the 15" grant wheels. Do they drive better at highway speeds?
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: **** hole San Jose ca.
I heard that if you had on hand cuffs easer with the smaller wheel tho!.
I say the younger age group like the smaller wheels at one time.
But now in the real world today the older group seem to have a liking
for the smaller wheel due to the size of their big gut that rubs the larger wheels..
Orich
I say the younger age group like the smaller wheels at one time.
But now in the real world today the older group seem to have a liking
for the smaller wheel due to the size of their big gut that rubs the larger wheels..
Orich
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From: AL
Your probably right Orich.
I drove it home tonight and it drives good to me. I'll have my wife test drive it again in a few days and see what she thinks. It certainly doesn't feel like her Expedition.
I drove it home tonight and it drives good to me. I'll have my wife test drive it again in a few days and see what she thinks. It certainly doesn't feel like her Expedition.
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Sounds to me like you could use more caster. Did the alignment shop give you a printout, and what did they set the caster at? I believe the specs for these trucks call for 3.5-4.5 degrees of positive caster, you definitely want to be on the high end of that but I've found they handle better with 5, 6, or even 7 degrees of positive caster.