I’m sure this has been asked but what is everyone’s opinion on oem vs a blue top steering box. Thank you in advance

 

I would buy a new box from BBB or Lares.

 

Blue top here. Excellent product.

 

I put a redhead on mine just because it was less than the blue top.
I have been very pleased with the redhead.

 

BlueTop or Redhead for a rebuilt box.

 

RED AND BLUE tops are OEM boxes that are remanufactured. nobody, not even Motorcraft has a new OEM steer gear available.

the botique rebuilders like red and blue exisist because they can rebuilt fewer boxes to a higher tolerance and offer custom options that motorcraft can not.

the big draw back is the red and blue guys can not get new sector shafts and have to reuse the most failure prone part of the box.

so the choice becomes, motorcraft rebuilt box with lower tolerances but new sector shaft
or a red or blue remanufactured with your desired options to a tighter tolerance but a used sector shaft.

if you want the best, buy a remanufactured Motorcraft box and have it sent to red company to get a #3 torsion spring.

 

If send that reman box to red company do they just put the spring in or do they go thru it again and put the spring in??

 

Since when do the Motorcraft rebuilds automatically include a new sector shaft? That has not been my experience with them. The redhead and Bluetop boxes are also machined for a lower bearing. I would check with both rebuilders on the sector shaft availability as last I knew there were new ones available from Crown.

 

more like do they still install new sector shafts ? very likely the supply dried up when Visteon shuttered the steering plant in 2008-9 ish
for sure the rebuilds were using new sectors up until this time frame, I can not say 100% if they are now.

 

I have no complaints about my Blue Top. The whole experience and performance has been great.

 

How long have you had your blue top??

 

Quick Queston on the Steering Boxes.....
I have an 04 6L.....4X
My steering wheel kind of does a no effort 1" sag to driver side.......
and when i am holding the wheel dead center it's got like 3" of play in it in terms of like Left to Right.......for example if i was going to "Turn Right" there is 1" or so of steering wheel turn with no wheel movement......
Additionaly, about 2 of the 3" of "play" is when i turn left and then only an 1" when i turn right......
any insight? would a steering box possibly help with this issues?
Thanks!

 

Assuming you’ve looked the many posts in the tech folder under ‘steering’?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-steering.html

The steering box on mine benefitted from an adjustment. Assuming you have your original steering box?

 

I believe around 30,000 miles