I recently did a bunch of work to my 96 F350. Thread here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...k-dilemma.html , but basically a PMF RSK, steering stabilizer, and a new RedHead steering box.

Everything has been working fine and the truck rides so nice I've been driving it more and more. The last 2 weeks or so, I've been thinking the steering is getting harder and harder to turn. I thought I may just be used to my other newer truck, since the steering on this one was noticeably more difficult as soon as the RedHead and PMF stabilizer went in. Last weekend, it was getting pretty tough to steer while towing, so I started thinking my PS pump was on it's way out. Today, while turning in to the Home Depot parking lot, I completely LOST power steering while turning right, almost T-Boning the truck pulling out of the lot... I got a wrangle on the wheel and put some muscle in it just in time.

I got out, checked the PS fluid and checked for any obvious signs of interference with the new stuff I put on, it all looked fine. Took a couple practice laps around the parking lot, noticed it worked fine to the left, calculated that I only needed to make ONE right turn on the 40 mile drive home, double checked everything, and carefully hit the road back. I jacked it up and checked again for interference and found nothing. Turned the wheel side to side to try to bypass any air, nothing. No leaks, everything is torqued to spec under there.

It works perfectly fine turning left, one finger on the wheel with 35s at a dead stop, so I am assuming that the pump is fine. Did some googling, poking, and prodding on the truck, and all signs are pointing at the RedHead. Is there something I'm missing? Any other tests I can run before I call RedHead after the holiday weekend? I'd assume RedHead would cover the box, but shipping a new one, taking it back to the shop (I don't have time in the next few weeks to swap it myself), paying for the repair, and shipping the other one back is still not a cheap option.

Thank goodness we scrapped our plans for camping this weekend. If I went to take a right turn loaded down with a camper and gear while towing the horses and lost power steering, things could have been a lot worse.

 

Usually loosing power one way indicates the seals in the gear box have crapped out. Not what you wanted to hear, but I'd be calling about the box.

 

Any updates on your issues?

 

Sure. I muscled the truck back to my local shop that installed the Redhead, they poked around and turned the wheel back and forth and said yep, box is toast. I don't know specifically what went wrong other than them saying the internal seals went bad. They offered to tear it down, find and fix the problem, and put it back in, but I hadn't talked to Redhead yet so I told them to hold off.

Called Redhead, talked to a guy named Trevor that seemed pretty surprised one of their boxes failed after so few miles. He offered to drop me another one in the mail right away. Unfortunately I needed my truck that weekend, so I asked about a refund. He said probably, mail it back with a note and it shouldn't be a big deal.

Back at the shop we talked replacement options, they had a local guy who rebuilt boxes and supposedly did good work. He talked about using oversize ***** and putting a bushing on the sector shaft (like redhead), plus the shop would back the box AND the work this time, if I had back luck twice, so I went for it. Price was close enough for it not to be an issue.

In the end RedHead cut me a check for the full price of the box, PLUS shipping costs, which was VERY unexpected and appreciated. I had to pay install costs twice and eat a core charge, but that's what I get for being too busy to put it in myself. I have no issue with RedHead, things happen, lord knows I've put in a seal in crooked a time or two. They stood up and refunded my money no problem. I just wish I had the time to wait for their replacement and put it in myself, because the RedHead box did feel better than what I have now, but mine is going back to the shop for a little fine tuning before my next big trip.

 

Good to hear it all worked out in the end