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I would like to start a thread here showing all the various solutions to replacing the steering box as they all get old and worn out. I am getting ready to swap mine out and haven't decided on what to buy yet.
So far I have replaced everything except the power steering pump, steering box and pitman arm. All tie rods, ball joints, wheel hubs, bushings, sway bar bushings, track bar, have been replaced.
When it comes time to replace my gear box, I'll ship it to West Texas Off Road aka Red Neck Ram and have them rebuild my box. I had them port my PSC gearbox so I could install hydro assist. They inspected it, ported it and sent it back, it's worked flawlessly since I installed it. Replacing the gearbox is one of those jobs that I only want to do once!!! https://westtexasoffroad.wixsite.com/wtor/blank
I did mine about a month ago.
Swaybar link ends , trac bar bushings, pitman arm and connecting link, power steering pump and gear box.
OEM had 290k on it.
All I can say is what a difference !!! I choose Motorcraft box and pump, energy solutions bushings, motorcraft links and moog pitman arm and connecting link.
I went OEM box and pump only due to availability and price when compared to red head or others.
Im very pleased it drives like a new truck !!!
Just note which ever route you go make sure you get new bolts for the steering box and new orings for the lines going to the box. The bolts are not commonly a stocked item at the dealer or at least in my case 5 dealers in my area did not stock them nor could the even find the orings on the parts fisch.
The bolts i would order ahead of time and the orings can be found in a generic AC oring kit .
When it comes time to replace my gear box, I'll ship it to West Texas Off Road aka Red Neck Ram and have them rebuild my box. I had them port my PSC gearbox so I could install hydro assist. They inspected it, ported it and sent it back, it's worked flawlessly since I installed it. Replacing the gearbox is one of those jobs that I only want to do once!!! https://westtexasoffroad.wixsite.com/wtor/blank
+1 on West Texas Off Road aka Red Neck Ram
There steering is amazing! Had my box rebuilt, ported and tapped etc.
When my original steering gear exploded at a campground, I had no choice but to install an AutoZone gear. I needed one that day and did not have the time to wait for a replacement in the mail.
The AutoZone gear had a very SLOW leak from the output shaft. I contemplated getting a RedHead, but because of the shipping back and forth, the core return (or lack there of because they do not accept remanned gears as cores) policy I was looking at $500-$550 for the gear. I took my chances on a second AutoZone gear because it has a lifetime replacement warranty and only cost me the couple of hours to install it.
Now, if the second AutoZone gear causes problems, I will install a MotorCraft and be done with it.
I like the idea of the ram assist like Akcooper9 has, but don't think it is required when the gear is working properly and in good shape.
Trust me sir, I know this feeling first hand and it sucks. Although, the OEM gear lasted 242K miles which is pretty good in my book. I don't have a lot of confidence in the AutoZone gear I have installed now, but if it goes then MotorCraft will go in.
Just for reference, this is a picture of my steering gear that sheared the head of the bolt off which blew the fluid out the side within seconds. As you can see, it was the original 2 bolt cap design instead of the newer 4 bolt cap design. A month or two before this bolt head sheared off, I had tightened the adjustment nut 1/8 a turn and installed a steering stabilizer. It sheared off just as I was parking the truck at the campsite after getting the trailer unhooked and set up. Crap happens... It is a 18 year old truck... At least now I know how to change the gear in a short period of time, so if/when it goes again I will know how to get'er'dun.
Trust me sir, I know this feeling first hand and it sucks. Although, the OEM gear lasted 242K miles which is pretty good in my book. I don't have a lot of confidence in the AutoZone gear I have installed now, but if it goes then MotorCraft will go in.
Just for reference, this is a picture of my steering gear that sheared the head of the bolt off which blew the fluid out the side within seconds. As you can see, it was the original 2 bolt cap design instead of the newer 4 bolt cap design. A month or two before this bolt head sheared off, I had tightened the adjustment nut 1/8 a turn and installed a steering stabilizer. It sheared off just as I was parking the truck at the campsite after getting the trailer unhooked and set up. Crap happens... It is a 18 year old truck... At least now I know how to change the gear in a short period of time, so if/when it goes again I will know how to get'er'dun.
So she is wandering like a drunk bum again..... i just put new Moog wheel hubs (the ones with 3yr warranty) on last weekend hoping to fix the wandering... did not fix the problem... So what is it????
1. ball joints? (there is no popping sounds)
2. tie rods,
3. bushings?
She seems to steer straight and then all the sudden just going to the left or to the right for no reason...
So she is wandering like a drunk bum again..... i just put new Moog wheel hubs (the ones with 3yr warranty) on last weekend hoping to fix the wandering... did not fix the problem... So what is it????
1. ball joints? (there is no popping sounds)
2. tie rods,
3. bushings?
She seems to steer straight and then all the sudden just going to the left or to the right for no reason...
Andy
my ball joints tested fine in normal tests for distraction and compression. They failed the friction test (not sure if that is what you call it I will have to find a video or the TSB I found on it back then).
Anytime I would hit a bump or the contour would change the truck wanted to follow. Could be all you listed coming into play honestly. I had to replace it all and it gradually got better. Ball joints were last. But besides the box where the problem.
