I own a 1967 Classic Ford 2WD F-250 Crew Cab with a 390 and power steering. The gearbox is the original oddball Bendix design. I have replaced the thing twice already in the past year. Last night, I blew out the output shaft seal after less than 12 hours operation. In its final moments of operation, it felt like there was no power steering at slow speed maneuvering, just before the output seal blew out. This latest gearbox also had oil weeping from under the top cover.

I replaced the P/S pump and hoses after the first box failure in Sept/02. The second NAPA gearbox was changed out in July/03 after it was leaking profusely from under the top cover. I have been buying the NAPA gearbox which is remanufactured by A1 Cardone and carries a lifetime warrantee.

Frankly, I am tired of having to go through the labor of pulling the gearbox. I have almost convinced myself to replace the power steering box with a manual box. The truck is useless now because it is so hard to turn the wheel with the power steering pump disconnected.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Sincerely,


Dan Harris
163 Oakland St.
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 375-8662

 

I thought that I had read that Cardone did not have a good reputation. Try a search here on FTE.

 

Thanks Mike and Kieth for your replies thus far. I was told that the power steering pumps were all identical for trucks 67-76 or thereabouts. But, I also have heard that there are different relief settings too, depending on relief spring installed by the rebuilder. As for Cardone rebuilders having quality problems, I haven't read anything. I would be interested to know about others' experiences with Cardone.

In my research lately, I read that Bendix gearboxes are more prone to heat generation than the Ford Saginaw box.

What I failed to mention earlier was that I was backing my 32' fifth wheel doing tight lock-to-lock maneuvers for at least 30 minutes. The power steering system may have overheated due to this and caused the seal to blow. I have a stock P/S cooler in the return line, but it is just under the hood off to the side (not in front of the radiator) When I touched the power steering pump, it seemed very hot, but I don't know just how hot (I couldn't keep my hand on it without pain!).

My plans so far are to check the output pressure of my P/S pump
and install a small tranny cooler in front of the radiator to dissipate the heat generated by the P/S Bendix Gearbox. If anyone has any other suggestions, I am all ears....

Thanks,
Dan

 

Dan, I'm in the process of replacing seals on my "Bendix" steering box and "Thompson" pump. The truck is a 68 F-250 Camper Special, 69,000 miles. I've changed the fluid many times and it's always smelled burnt and dark brown. On the new Ford P/U's 1999 up they have a pump cooler under the front bumper. 6 1/4"x4"x 3/4", Ford part# YC3Z*3D746*AC, Cool Asy-P. List $57.25,Net $45.80. This is far better than the short loop cooler at the pump. Install a 1 1/4" thin angle between the frame rails on the lower frame flange, cooler will be just under the bumper in the air stream. I'm in the process if installing cooler, rebuild of pump and box, headers, custom 24-degree crossover, mufflers, on back to 4 1/2" pipes. 454ci (all Ford FE) 427 med.riser heads, 3.54 rear with 32.5x16.5. This gal has long legs, 130+ mph.
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Dan: The solution to this is really easier than it appears:
The later Ford PS box (made by Saginaw) is a bolt-in replacement to the steering linkage; it was used up to '79. (Except the pitman arm. You'll need a pitman arm from a donor PS box.)
To learn more about the Bendix and Saginaw boxes, I suggest you search on the Bendix term. Also, search on my name, banjopicker66. I made the manual to PS swap in my '66 F-100, and posted much of the information here on FTE.
Essentially, you can use the Ford box if you use a shorter steering column about 2.5 inches shorter. If you current shifter is on the floor, you can probably easily shorten the existing steering column the requisite 2.5 inches to allow it to bolt right back up up to the Ford PS box and no other alterations.
If you can find a '67 - '72 F-series with the Ford PS box and the same steering column you have, everything will be a direct replacement. My son's '72 for example, has the Ford PS with automatic transmission. You could replace the PS box, pitman arm, and steering column (if you have an automatic) and it will all bolt and wire right up.
If you find a '73 to '79 truck with PS and the same type column you have (that is, 3 on the tree, automatic on the tree, or plain column with the shifter on the floor), you can make the steering column bolt up with minimal alterations.
Hope this helps, and let me know what you decide to do!

 

i too went thru three steering boxes last year, finally i got this one in and i think i have solved my problem, the seals kept blowing on them and i thought i just got unlucky with them but what was causeing this was the fact that i didnt align my gear box perfectly.once you have it all bolted up and in and think your done, lossen up the bolts on the frame rails, then with the truck running, have someone or you slowly rock the steering wheel back and forth til the gear box seats itself in the perfect alignment with the steering shaft. then carefully start tighting the bolts again making sure you do it in a even matter so that it stays in the position it settled in. check your shaft and make sure it is straight, rotate it to make sure no binding in occuring. this was my problem because i was getting good at changing them and got in too big of a hurry to double check the alighment. i got mine out of the local salvage yard too for 25 bucks, alot cheaper then blowing the seals on new ones. usually the trucks you find in the local yards are not there because of the steering box so you can get lucky alot. hope this helps