inside is that the needle bearing you’re talking about?
Pitman shaft seal
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4wd High
Joined: Nov 2019
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Pitman shaft seal
Hey guys I'm new here. I have a few questions about the pitman shaft seal due to a power steering leak. I replaced it a couple months ago and everything was all good with no leaks. Except now I think it's leaking power steering fluid again from the seal. I'm not sure if I did something wrong when putting the new one in. I did however manage to tear the outer seal a little bit with a screw driver, so maybe that's why it's leaking? And is there supposed to be washers that go on the pitman shaft? I've read elsewhere and seen online that there is but mine didn't have washers on it when i took the old one off and the kit didn't come with any. Just the pressure seal which I think is the one with the spring inside of it the dust seal which I think is the one with the lip on it and the C clip. I have a 1989 Ford F-250 with the 460. Thanks in advance.
The Southernmost Mod
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,902
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From: Caracas, Venezuela
Yes, that's the sector shaft seal, you need to take the steering box down and use a good quality seal if you wish to avoid repeating that procedure yearly. Check the link in my signature for a very complete write-up about this issue.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Ford/Saginaw 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 in Seattle WA takes the housing, machines it to install the needle bearings that FoMoCo omitted...on purpose, so they could sell a gazillion sector shaft seal kits.
So called auto parts store "rebuilt" gearboxes are nothing more than resealed gearboxes.
Ford/Saginaw P/S gearbox introduced in 1965 Galaxie/LTD, 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 mid-year 1969. Today it's used in just about everything.
Red Head Steering Gears in Seattle WA takes the housing, machines it to install the needle bearings that FoMoCo omitted...on purpose, so they could sell a gazillion sector shaft seal kits.
So called auto parts store "rebuilt" gearboxes are nothing more than resealed gearboxes.
Ford/Saginaw P/S gearbox introduced in 1965 Galaxie/LTD, 1969 F100/250 2WD & F350 mid-year 1969. Today it's used in just about everything.
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4wd High
Joined: Nov 2019
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Ah, I see. So is there anything I can do to prevent it from leaking? When I replaced my seal there was a bearing inside is that the needle bearing you’re talking about? That’s weird that there isn’t any beatings on the shaft
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Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Pic: 3575 is the sector shaft, 3548 is the housing, 5 parts shown with black square is the sector shaft seal kit. Where are the sector shaft bearings? No see um.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
bearings unless the housing was machined after the fact. This was usually performed by redheadsteeringgears.comConsidering that you live in Oregon, a previous owner may have sent it there. Red Head is in Seattle.
1981/89 F100/350 & 1988/89 F(Super Duty): This is the only pic there is. Plus, there's only one gearbox for these trucks:
F3TZ-3504-A (replaced E1TZ-3504-A) .. Ford/Saginaw P/S Gearbox / Obsolete
1981/83 F100 // 1981/96 F150/350 // 1988/97 F(Super Duty) // 1997 F250 H/D & F350.
1965 thru 1972: The input shaft & sector shaft seal kits were only sold as a master seal kit. In 1973, Ford replaced the master kit with two individual kits.
D7AZ-3E501-B (replaced D3AZ-3E501-A) .. Input Shaft Seat Kit // F3AZ-3E502-A (replaced D3AZ-3E502-A & D7AZ-3E502-A) .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit
Myriad 1965/2000's FoMoCo vehicles. So if you went to Ford dealers and asked for a sector shaft seal kit for your truck, this is the one you'd get.
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4wd High
Joined: Nov 2019
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I see what you're talking about now, that makes more sense. So then maybe the housing was machined for the bearings. So if that's the case what would be the best sector shaft seals to get? I got my replacement seals from O'reillys. That's if that's where the leak is coming from again. Also is there supposed to be washers in the housing with the seals? I've seen a few videos and other articles that show there are washers. I feel that might be part of why it's leaking again. That or the dust seal I torn is why it's leaking again. I remember hitting the bearing with a socket to push the old seal out when i replaced it. I replaced it with the steering box still on the truck. Would it be better to take it out and do the seals again that way or do it again with it on the truck?
New User
Joined: Aug 2021
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There's no bearings unless the housing was machined after the fact. This was usually performed by redheadsteeringgears.com
Considering that you live in Oregon, a previous owner may have sent it there. Red Head is in Seattle.
1981/89 F100/350 & 1988/89 F(Super Duty): This is the only pic there is. Plus, there's only one gearbox for these trucks:
F3TZ-3504-A (replaced E1TZ-3504-A) .. Ford/Saginaw P/S Gearbox / Obsolete
1981/83 F100 // 1981/96 F150/350 // 1988/97 F(Super Duty) // 1997 F250 H/D & F350.
1965 thru 1972: The input shaft & sector shaft seal kits were only sold as a master seal kit. In 1973, Ford replaced the master kit with two individual kits.
D7AZ-3E501-B (replaced D3AZ-3E501-A) .. Input Shaft Seat Kit // F3AZ-3E502-A (replaced D3AZ-3E502-A & D7AZ-3E502-A) .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit
Myriad 1965/2000's FoMoCo vehicles. So if you went to Ford dealers and asked for a sector shaft seal kit for your truck, this is the one you'd get.
bearings unless the housing was machined after the fact. This was usually performed by redheadsteeringgears.comConsidering that you live in Oregon, a previous owner may have sent it there. Red Head is in Seattle.
1981/89 F100/350 & 1988/89 F(Super Duty): This is the only pic there is. Plus, there's only one gearbox for these trucks:
F3TZ-3504-A (replaced E1TZ-3504-A) .. Ford/Saginaw P/S Gearbox / Obsolete
1981/83 F100 // 1981/96 F150/350 // 1988/97 F(Super Duty) // 1997 F250 H/D & F350.
1965 thru 1972: The input shaft & sector shaft seal kits were only sold as a master seal kit. In 1973, Ford replaced the master kit with two individual kits.
D7AZ-3E501-B (replaced D3AZ-3E501-A) .. Input Shaft Seat Kit // F3AZ-3E502-A (replaced D3AZ-3E502-A & D7AZ-3E502-A) .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit
Myriad 1965/2000's FoMoCo vehicles. So if you went to Ford dealers and asked for a sector shaft seal kit for your truck, this is the one you'd get.
New User
Joined: Aug 2021
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Also to add to the original post these boxes did not have the metal spacer. Just two seals behind the snap ring against the bearings. The vid above is pretty good but on these old trucks its quicker to leave the box in and pull the sector shaft from the box its self. No messing around with drilling seals. Just unbolt the fan shroud and pump to make some room.
Trailering
Joined: Feb 2024
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Pitman shaft seal. No spacer.
Also to add to the original post these boxes did not have the metal spacer. Just two seals behind the snap ring against the bearings. The vid above is pretty good but on these old trucks its quicker to leave the box in and pull the sector shaft from the box its self. No messing around with drilling seals. Just unbolt the fan shroud and pump to make some room.
The video in the earlier post showing the guy remove his seals, I didn't have that spacer
Trailering
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 17
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No spacer
I have an 87 f 150. I didn't have a spacer on the pitman arm shaft. I have a seal kit to install. I'm trying to remember/figure out how they go in. Does the dust seal go on the outside? Which side up? If I install the oil seal there is a lot of space between it and where the c clip would land. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
The video in the earlier post showing the guy remove his seals, I didn't have that spacer
The video in the earlier post showing the guy remove his seals, I didn't have that spacer
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