77 F350 power steering 4x2

So I've been driving the truck more than usual (300+ miles last two days) and now the power steering system leaks fluid. I was in Mexico for a funeral, and couldn't really troubleshoot the system, but I was adding a pint bottle to the empty reservoir every time I added gas...

Anyway, got back home and had a looksie. Fluid is dripping out the bottom of the steering gear box where it connects to the pitman arm. Drips slowly at idle, drips a little more when turning the steering wheel

So! Am I:

• Replacing the gearbox
• Rebuilding the existing gearbox
• Replacing the end seals
• Throwing in some brake fluid and hoping for the best

As always, I look forward to your suggestions and advice.

Ps the steering is smooth and tight when it has fluid...it's actually the most stable/tightest/best steering of the three trucks

 

Given the satisfactory performance, I'd recommend resealing it. Buy both lower and upper kits or a combo kit.

 

Quoted from NumberDummy in about a billion different threads, in the event you weren't aware:

"The Ford P/S gearbox has a flaw, there are no bearings on the sector shaft, it rides directly on the housing. So before too long, fluid begins leaking from the sector shaft seal.

Red Head Steering Gears (Seattle WA) takes the housing, machines it to install the sector shaft bearings that Ford omitted, probably on purpose so they could sell a gazillion sector shaft seal kits."

 

Been here all this time. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14696828

Red Head has a great rep. 2 birds one barrel, replace the steering box and that will eliminate the 2 leaking seals and any worn out/ excessive slack steering issues.

Also while you are at it replace the steering coupler "rag" joint.

 

Thought only the F150 had the rag joint...

 

2wd='s rag joint no matter the F100-F150-F250-F350. But I could be wrong.

 

x2 on the redhead (I've got one coming in the mail). (alternative: Bluetop steering gears is an ex-redhead guys business, little cheaper but looks like they do similar work)

 

No doubt....bite the bullet and order a Redhead......I put one on my '97 F-Superduty Quigley and it's the best money I have spent on it so far..........No regrets......I have heard good things about the Bluetops too........They use the same process as Redhead........Not only an ex Redhead employee but a relative as well.......A tad cheaper........But I have no personal experience......I put an Oreileys rebuild in my '78 due to a leaking original.......the rebuilt that I installed had more slop than the leaker I took out........a waste of money.....It will be getting either a Redhead or a Bluetop when I get to that point.......

 

Thanks guys!

I ordered a seal kit, and will try that first.

If the seal kit doesn't work, or if I can't do it, I'll look at a new steering gearbox. The RedHead is over 300 bucks. I'm sure it's worth it, but the "inferior design" of the original has been good-enough for 40 years!

 

PapaBear,

I went W/Blue Top owned by Ryan whose a cousin of Red Head and actually started out working for Red Head and then branched out on his own. Anyway I ordered from Ryan (Blue Top) and it was delivered in six days. Two weekends later when I was off the Island I changed the steering gear along with installing a saginaw power steering pump from "Wild Horses" out of Sacramento, CA from the OEM Ford Thompson pumkin power steering pump.

Anyway, I'm very pleased with the steering improvement using "Blue Top". I will say that my former OEM steering wasn't to bad (lose) after I adjusted it last Fall, but the reason I changed the steering gear is mainly because I could not get the high pressure line going into the steering gear from leaking even after 3 new lines. One evening after being frustrated I re-read my OEM service manual and discovered there are seats inside the steering gear where the high pressure and return lines go into it. Those seats part numbers are obsolete and is essentially why I conceded and purchased the Blue Top. Ryan communicated with me via E-mail and by phone, top notch customer service and this past week he called me letting me know he received my old steering gear and was processing my Core charge. It cost me $62. from 93033 Zip Code to ship via UPS my old steering gear to Ryan at Blue Top. I utilized the high pressure line provided by Wild Horses W/the saginaw power steering pump along W/PERMATEX high pressure sealant. I really wanted to do everything possible to prevent a x4 leak.

I mocked up the saginaw mounts, then cleaned / chased all mounting block and head holes. Raised the front axle (tires) off the ground to bleed air and no issue bleeding. Had to purchase a new (larger) power steering belt because the saginaw pump sits ~ 3" further compared to the OEM Ford Thompson pump. Reason I went to the saginaw pump was becasue I had too much heat transfer from the left header to the back of the OEM Ford Thompson power steering pump which was about 3/4", and now I got between 3" and 4" clearance. I didn't actually measure the distance, just looking at it clearly shows the the vast 3" to 4" distance improvement. However the only thing I didn't check was to ensure the pulley equipped on the saginaw pump was the same width size that was on my Ford Thompson pump before I mounted it, and it's not. The width is slightly smaller. I still have my original power steering pulley and plan to swap them next weekend. This weekend wife and I are out of town (Vegas) visiting Auntie and Uncle for there 50th anniversary. Had some time this morning and wanted to check our forum before heading over to the celebration. Although it's 90 plus degrees here in Vegas not yet the warmest time of year, it still too hot for me. We live ~ 1 1/2 off the tempered coast where it doesn't really get warmer than 72 during the height of Summer unless we're experiencing a few days of Santa Anna winds coming off the Desert SW. Realized I rattled on probably too long already. In closing consider contacting Ryan at Blue Top and have him give you a quote. I'm pretty sure you'll be happy.

 

Thanks, EQMCAT, 78 PEB and Kegger66 for the BlueTop suggestions. If I'm not happy with the seal kit, I'll look into the BlueTop.

Thanks, Rich, for reminding me of the tips section without yelling at me! I do actually read those notes from time-to-time, and had forgotten about the write-up.

 

Papa bear. The seal kit is easy to do. I did it in a couple hours. I do recommend following the how to with the seal removal for the Pittman arm shaft seal. It makes it very easy but messy. As for the input seal where the steering column attached. Saying it can be done in the truck. I'm a large guy and made it hard to work on the seals I I had to remove the box. So if are a bigger guy that may be something to think about. Other than that it was a very easy fix