I have had a leaky steering box since I got the truck but it was minor so I put off fixing it. Well...as you can guess...my small leak is now a big leak. Here are all the numbers I can find on the steering box:
D1TR3550BA on the side, visible from the ground looking behind the front wheel
C5-AR-3580-A in a circular spot viewed from engine compartment
SPA AB 72J 7. C. On a tag near the circular numbers
3A587A. On the part where the ps lines come into the gear box

So, it looks like seal kits are made. Is it a fairly straightforward job or a disaster waiting to happen?

Can someone tell what that gear box fits so I can order the right parts?

Any special tools needed?

Thanks for any help.

 

Input shaft (F3AZ-3E502-A) and sector shaft (D7AZ-3E501-A) seal kits available from Ford and every auto parts store. These fit multiple year passenger cars/trucks.

 

Thank you, sir.

Anyone know how hard it is to re-seal that puppy?

 

The hardest part will be removing the pittman arm, sometimes it takes a good quality puller and heat. After removing the arm, remove the lock nut from the sector adjusting bolt, then remove the 2 bolts that retain the cover, screw the adjusting bolt down to raise the cover from the housing. Pull the sector out and remove the snap ring and seals from the bottom of the housing and replace them. On the worm shaft end remove the snap ring and replace the seal. It is usually not needed to remove the 4 bolts that hold the valve body in place because the "O" ring rarely leaks. If just the lower seals are leaking this can be done without removing the steering box from the frame. Make sure the steering box is in the "straight ahead" position when adjusting the worm to sector adjusting bolt, too loose and and you will get a shimmy, too tight and steering wheel will not return when making a turn. Have fun

 

Thanks for the details. It appears to be leaking from the top. The fluid is dripping all over the unit and so if it was coming from the bottom I would think that would not be so. Am I crazy to just replace the input shaft seal? My local parts stores don't carry thw whole kit or the lower.

 

If you only want to do it once, get one from Redhead Steering, and be done with working on it. As recommended by ND.

 

2X on the Readhead amigo.. Couple of bones, but done right.. If you just go after a seal, then you will revisit this headache again soon. Go for a whole step amigo, not a half step. Same with your rear end, if you have seepage... know what I mean?

Baja