F350 steering box
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 611
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From: Smokey Mountains TN
F350 steering box
The steering Box on my 2wd F350 has some play and I was wondering , If there is a particular one you guys recommend or any certain mod. I plan to replace most wore out bushings as well while I'm at it . Any idea or suggestion as to parts ?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,505
Likes: 18
From: Livoina,La
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 118
Likes: 4
From: glendale,az
I gotta add my experience with redhead boxes, when i redid my front end, i ordered one of these, after installing it, it had way more play than my $100 auto zone box, i called them and asked for the owner, wich everyone has said is so helpfull but they flatout refused to let me talk to him, they told me its supposed to have slop being a lifted truck. Thats always pissed me off telling me how the truck ive driven for 15 years is supposed to drive. So after a long argument they said fine well send you another box but youre paying the shipping again! I asked them if this next one they could double check it and make sure its tight.
Few days later i got the new one, there was no paint on the adjustment screw so i knew they double checked it. After the hassle of taking it out and installing the new one, now this one is too tight, driving down the freeway, i can now feel it reach a high spot and i have to overcorrect the oppisite way to stay straight. At first i thought it was good. I called back and asked for the owner and they refused to let me talk to him. Theyre now claiming its my truck. They said you wanted the new box tightened up and now you got it. I told them i didnt want it so tight it would bind, your supposed to be the steering box experts. Then i told them this is an over priced peice of junk and i just want my money back, now they tell me they want 30% restocking fee and i have to pay shipping again! Who knows how i would get my original core back.I told them theyre setting a bad example for american parts store, not standing behind their product and having the worst customer service!
Ive never had a problem returning parts to checker or napa, im still driving with it hoping it will loosen up, if not im using it as a core to get a $100 box at checker.
sorry about the rant just had to share my terrible experience, whole front end is rebuilt but have a ****ty overpriced, tight steering box!
Few days later i got the new one, there was no paint on the adjustment screw so i knew they double checked it. After the hassle of taking it out and installing the new one, now this one is too tight, driving down the freeway, i can now feel it reach a high spot and i have to overcorrect the oppisite way to stay straight. At first i thought it was good. I called back and asked for the owner and they refused to let me talk to him. Theyre now claiming its my truck. They said you wanted the new box tightened up and now you got it. I told them i didnt want it so tight it would bind, your supposed to be the steering box experts. Then i told them this is an over priced peice of junk and i just want my money back, now they tell me they want 30% restocking fee and i have to pay shipping again! Who knows how i would get my original core back.I told them theyre setting a bad example for american parts store, not standing behind their product and having the worst customer service!
Ive never had a problem returning parts to checker or napa, im still driving with it hoping it will loosen up, if not im using it as a core to get a $100 box at checker.
sorry about the rant just had to share my terrible experience, whole front end is rebuilt but have a ****ty overpriced, tight steering box!
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 819
Likes: 1
From: Denver, CO
I gotta add my experience with redhead boxes, when i redid my front end, i ordered one of these, after installing it, it had way more play than my $100 auto zone box, i called them and asked for the owner, wich everyone has said is so helpfull but they flatout refused to let me talk to him, they told me its supposed to have slop being a lifted truck. Thats always pissed me off telling me how the truck ive driven for 15 years is supposed to drive. So after a long argument they said fine well send you another box but youre paying the shipping again! I asked them if this next one they could double check it and make sure its tight.
Few days later i got the new one, there was no paint on the adjustment screw so i knew they double checked it. After the hassle of taking it out and installing the new one, now this one is too tight, driving down the freeway, i can now feel it reach a high spot and i have to overcorrect the oppisite way to stay straight. At first i thought it was good. I called back and asked for the owner and they refused to let me talk to him. Theyre now claiming its my truck. They said you wanted the new box tightened up and now you got it. I told them i didnt want it so tight it would bind, your supposed to be the steering box experts. Then i told them this is an over priced peice of junk and i just want my money back, now they tell me they want 30% restocking fee and i have to pay shipping again! Who knows how i would get my original core back.I told them theyre setting a bad example for american parts store, not standing behind their product and having the worst customer service!
Ive never had a problem returning parts to checker or napa, im still driving with it hoping it will loosen up, if not im using it as a core to get a $100 box at checker.
sorry about the rant just had to share my terrible experience, whole front end is rebuilt but have a ****ty overpriced, tight steering box!
Few days later i got the new one, there was no paint on the adjustment screw so i knew they double checked it. After the hassle of taking it out and installing the new one, now this one is too tight, driving down the freeway, i can now feel it reach a high spot and i have to overcorrect the oppisite way to stay straight. At first i thought it was good. I called back and asked for the owner and they refused to let me talk to him. Theyre now claiming its my truck. They said you wanted the new box tightened up and now you got it. I told them i didnt want it so tight it would bind, your supposed to be the steering box experts. Then i told them this is an over priced peice of junk and i just want my money back, now they tell me they want 30% restocking fee and i have to pay shipping again! Who knows how i would get my original core back.I told them theyre setting a bad example for american parts store, not standing behind their product and having the worst customer service!
Ive never had a problem returning parts to checker or napa, im still driving with it hoping it will loosen up, if not im using it as a core to get a $100 box at checker.
sorry about the rant just had to share my terrible experience, whole front end is rebuilt but have a ****ty overpriced, tight steering box!
Sorry to hear that, good to know. Maybe Ill just go streight to the checker one cuz, I like the way these things drive stock anyhow
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
For what it's worth you can adjust the steering gear lash carefully and take a lot of slop out of a badly worn box, but you have to be careful. A little adjustment goes along way and going too far can ruin the box.
What you want to do is jack the truck up so both front wheels are off the ground, but the weight of the truck is on the front axle (support it from the axle tubes). Then you loosen the jam nut on the adjuster and take the adjustment in about a 1/4 turn at a time. Each time you take it tighter, re-tighten the jam nut and turn it lock to lock. If it's too tight you will feel it get stiff in one spot. Generally these things seem to wear most near the center (where the wheel spends most of its time) so it is rare that you can remove all the slop, because it will get too tight near the locks but you can make some progress on it, anyway. Just go slow and take your time. It's not a bad job.
And For my $.02 I've never heard anything bad about Redhead boxes either. Sorry you had a fit with them, but everyone I have talked to that has had a box from them has loved it. I guess that's not a universal truth either though.
What you want to do is jack the truck up so both front wheels are off the ground, but the weight of the truck is on the front axle (support it from the axle tubes). Then you loosen the jam nut on the adjuster and take the adjustment in about a 1/4 turn at a time. Each time you take it tighter, re-tighten the jam nut and turn it lock to lock. If it's too tight you will feel it get stiff in one spot. Generally these things seem to wear most near the center (where the wheel spends most of its time) so it is rare that you can remove all the slop, because it will get too tight near the locks but you can make some progress on it, anyway. Just go slow and take your time. It's not a bad job.
And For my $.02 I've never heard anything bad about Redhead boxes either. Sorry you had a fit with them, but everyone I have talked to that has had a box from them has loved it. I guess that's not a universal truth either though.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I just put one in my truck this past Sunday, the seal blew out. I got an advanced auto reman, pretty easy to do, steers nice and tight now
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 819
Likes: 1
From: Denver, CO
For what it's worth you can adjust the steering gear lash carefully and take a lot of slop out of a badly worn box, but you have to be careful. A little adjustment goes along way and going too far can ruin the box.
What you want to do is jack the truck up so both front wheels are off the ground, but the weight of the truck is on the front axle (support it from the axle tubes). Then you loosen the jam nut on the adjuster and take the adjustment in about a 1/4 turn at a time. Each time you take it tighter, re-tighten the jam nut and turn it lock to lock. If it's too tight you will feel it get stiff in one spot. Generally these things seem to wear most near the center (where the wheel spends most of its time) so it is rare that you can remove all the slop, because it will get too tight near the locks but you can make some progress on it, anyway. Just go slow and take your time. It's not a bad job.
And For my $.02 I've never heard anything bad about Redhead boxes either. Sorry you had a fit with them, but everyone I have talked to that has had a box from them has loved it. I guess that's not a universal truth either though.
What you want to do is jack the truck up so both front wheels are off the ground, but the weight of the truck is on the front axle (support it from the axle tubes). Then you loosen the jam nut on the adjuster and take the adjustment in about a 1/4 turn at a time. Each time you take it tighter, re-tighten the jam nut and turn it lock to lock. If it's too tight you will feel it get stiff in one spot. Generally these things seem to wear most near the center (where the wheel spends most of its time) so it is rare that you can remove all the slop, because it will get too tight near the locks but you can make some progress on it, anyway. Just go slow and take your time. It's not a bad job.
And For my $.02 I've never heard anything bad about Redhead boxes either. Sorry you had a fit with them, but everyone I have talked to that has had a box from them has loved it. I guess that's not a universal truth either though.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 605
From: evansville in
I adjusted my 328000 mile box being very cautious.I however did so with the box off while swapping a drop Pittman arm.with it on the bench I was able to really dial it in.I had to do my bronco for it being sloppy on center.both trucks were great after.I see no reason to replace ...adj for the win!
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