I've also heard it being called a sector shaft seal.

Is that what's going on here?

Kind of hard to see in the pic but it's leaking from inside the steering box, down and onto the pitman arm.



Thanks

 

These Ford/Saginaw gearboxes have a built in flaw .. there are no bearings on the sector shaft, it rides directly on the housing. Before too long, fluid begins to leak from the sector shaft seal.

The input shaft (F3AZ-3E502-A) & sector shaft (D7AZ-3E501-A) seal kits are available from Ford and auto parts stores. Cost about 20 bucks each.

Auto parts stores also sell a "rebuilt" gearbox, but in fact, it's only a resealed gearbox.

Red Head Steering Gears (Seattle WA) takes the housing, machines it and installs the needle bearings that FoMoCo omitted...on purpose, so they could sell a gazillion sector seal kits!

 

yes that seal is leaking and you can buy it from the autoparts stores for a few bucks.

 

After thinking my pitman shaft seal was leaking and having to order it, I found the input shaft seal is actually leaking worse. I would change both, especially if you have to order them. Or, buy a red head. Future upgrade.

 

Red Head do it once, be done with it and never worry again, Sector shaft seals are easy, pull pitman arm, remove snap ring, start truck fill with fluid turn left to right hard, make sure you have a bucket under shaft, you will know when she spits it out. Make sure all the seals and spacers are out, reasemble.

 

Thanks for the part numbers ND.

A Red-head would be nice but that's out of budget for now.

Looks like it's leaking where the steering shaft goes into the steering box as well. Would that be the input shaft seal?

 

Ford/Saginaw P/S seal kit applications: 1965/2002 misc FoMoCo Passenger Cars / 1969/91 F100/350 2WD / 1976/91 F100/150 4WD / 1977/91 F250 4WD / 1979/91 F350 4WD / 1973/91 Bronco.

 

Oreillys has a complete kit with both sets for less than what I paid for just the lower shaft seal kit.

 

If you do end up replacing the seals, it's fairly easy to do. Been done before with the gear on the bench but I think it can be done on vehicle.
Remove the pitman arm from the sector shaft, then there's a snap ring that needs to be removed. Once that's out of the way there is a washer, then a seal, then another washer and another seal.
Remove the first washer exposing the first seal. Take a sharp center punch and pierce the seal, screw in a sheet metal screw and pry the seal out. You can do two screws 180 degrees apart too.
Once the first seal is out, remove the second washer and repeat the process.
To replace the seals, apply a thin coating of grease to the inner lip of the seal and a thin coat of sealer to the outside diameter of the seal (I like No. 2 Permatex non-hardening).
Slide the seal over the shaft and take a deep socket thats just slightly smaller than the OD of the seal and drive the seal in until it seats. Replace the washer then the next seal, washer then snap ring.
Reinstall the pitman arm, hook up the steering linkage and that's it.
If you don't have a socket that's deep enough you can use a piece of pipe or tubing too.
Here's an illustration from the Ford parts catalog showing all the parts involved in the steering gear. The killer on these is getting everything centered. With the exception of the sector shaft Ford basically only sold the internals as an assembly.

Seal kit, steering gear sector shaft
Parts list #64, With gear ID SPA-AB, AJ, AN, BN, BS, BX, CC, CN
Basically this covers all 73-79 2WD F100-350 w/ power steering
D7AZ-3E501-A .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit
Last dealer cost $29.41 List $43.71

Parts International, Farmers Branch, TX has 50 (972) 241-8730
Green Sales, Cincinnati, OH has 19 (800) 543-4959
Manderbach Ford, Temple, PA has 5 (610) 929-3683
Freese Motor Inc., Monticello, IA has 4 (319) 465-3541
Herb Chambers Ford, Westboro, MA has 2 (508) 366-8311

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...+steering+seal

Steering box input seal…piece of cake 30 minutes 78 F250 Autozone part # 8520 $8.99 in stock Ford part # F3AZ-3E502-A .. Input Shaft Seal Kit
undue bolt at rag joint
remove plastic cover on steering column(in cab) loosen steering column bolts(2 bolts to dash)
pull up on column and disconnect rag joint from steering box
drill small hole in dust seal on steering box & screw a screw in and remove seal
remove snap ring
drill hole in seal remove with screw
replace seal,snap ring,dust seal and reconnect steering column

 

Thanks for the detailed instructions Rich! Now I'm feeling confident about it.

 

No thanks due to me, I am only the copy and past the info guy. More like thanks guys like mikeo0o0o0 and ND for posting the parts #'s and some other fellow FTE member for the instructions.

So make sure to post up anything that is incorrect info you find along the way, so I can update my tech sheet...lol

I have a ton of stuff like that saved in a doc sheet, all the good hard to remember or locate stuff. You should see my pic/PDF folder, again many thanks to mikeo0o0o0 and ND and the rest of the FTE clan.

 

This seal kit is also available from Ford, MSRP: $29.50 / Available from FTE Ford dealer parts dept sponsors with circa 23% - 25% discount off the MSRP.

 

ND I got those pt #'s and locations from you or mikeo0o0o0. I merely copy and pasted it right off the reply one of you guys posted on a different thread.

Just trying to help and there you go red lettering me, at least you did not me.

I type, I think about it, I back space, but some day I will hit "post quick reply".

Some day.....

 

Great info here...thanks to all who contribute. Btw I changed mine on the truck....not difficult.