Bendix Power Steering Box 68 3/4 Ton
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 117
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Bendix Power Steering Box 68 3/4 Ton
A question on Power Steering Gears.
I have a 1968 Ford 3/4 Ton Camper Special with a Bendix Power Steering Box. The Box is leaking badly.
I found a guy locally (Phoenix, AZ) who will rebuild the Bendix Box for $300. He suggested going a different route and installing a Saginaw Box which he would sell me rebuilt for $260 (including the Pitman Arm) and he also offered to shorten the steering column for $40.
My question is this; Should I rebuild the Bendix Box or get rid of it entirely? Also, if I do go the Saginaw route, do you think I would be better off going to a Junk Yard and purchasing a used column & Saginaw box w/Pitman Arm? Is it worth it getting a rebuilt Saginaw Box.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Josh
I have a 1968 Ford 3/4 Ton Camper Special with a Bendix Power Steering Box. The Box is leaking badly.
I found a guy locally (Phoenix, AZ) who will rebuild the Bendix Box for $300. He suggested going a different route and installing a Saginaw Box which he would sell me rebuilt for $260 (including the Pitman Arm) and he also offered to shorten the steering column for $40.
My question is this; Should I rebuild the Bendix Box or get rid of it entirely? Also, if I do go the Saginaw route, do you think I would be better off going to a Junk Yard and purchasing a used column & Saginaw box w/Pitman Arm? Is it worth it getting a rebuilt Saginaw Box.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Josh
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
I got a rebuilt unit from Advance Auto parts for about $220 with core exchange. They were matching an autozone price. So these things are still being rebuilt and avalaible at many chain stores.
Mine seems to be working well, still some leaking but I thinkit's in the hoses/connections. Turns well with one finger on the wheel :-)
Mine seems to be working well, still some leaking but I thinkit's in the hoses/connections. Turns well with one finger on the wheel :-)
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
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From: Coal country
Josh: You would you better off to replace the Bendix wih the Ford (Saginaw) box and the steering column, than to keep the Bendix box.
Ford phased out the Bendix box because it is prone to leaking, and to early service failure.
It will take some work, though, as you mentioned, to shorten or replace the steering column. The good news is that the Ford box bolts right up! Use the pitman arm off a Saginaw box; the Bendix and Saginaw pitman arms do not interchange all the time. You can do it yourself, it isn't that hard. You already have all the other PS components in place, fortunately.
If you get a 67'-'72 PS column made for Saginaw, then it will be a bolt up also.
Finally, you MAY need to replace the driver's side engine perch, depending on which engine you have in your truck.
Just my thoughts!
All in all, I think you can replace it yourself, and you can do it much more cheaply.
Ford phased out the Bendix box because it is prone to leaking, and to early service failure.
It will take some work, though, as you mentioned, to shorten or replace the steering column. The good news is that the Ford box bolts right up! Use the pitman arm off a Saginaw box; the Bendix and Saginaw pitman arms do not interchange all the time. You can do it yourself, it isn't that hard. You already have all the other PS components in place, fortunately.
If you get a 67'-'72 PS column made for Saginaw, then it will be a bolt up also.
Finally, you MAY need to replace the driver's side engine perch, depending on which engine you have in your truck.
Just my thoughts!
All in all, I think you can replace it yourself, and you can do it much more cheaply.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 1
From: iowa
my thoughts are quite the opposite or maybe i am just cheap. i replaced mine with one i pulled off a truck in the junk yard, cost me 25 bucks. not hard to do, the box comes out fairly easy and anyone with a few tools can do it. yeah it is used but if you look around and be choosy you can usually get one that doesnt leak, the most important thing is when you are putting it back on you have to get it set right before you tighten it down. this can be done by gently moving the steering wheel once you get it all hooked up. make sure the bolts dont bind up when you are tighting them down. and make sure you alighment is correct at the firewall. my 25 dollar steering box has been in for awhile now and doesnt leak a drop. and if you do want to go new, advanced auto has them for $149 bucks with a core charge of 25 bucks last time i looked.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 1
From: iowa
i dont know about switching from one style to the other, i just meant to get what you already have and replace it cheap. yeah some of them leak and are pices of crap but some do not and work fine. most the trucks in the bone yard are not there because the power steering leaks. so if you look around you more then likely to find one that is in good shape, and if down the road you still have to replace it then you will already have the core in which to use for exchange, making the swap just a little easier. and even if the one from the boneyard leaks, it isnt a big deal to switch out with another one, and most boneyards in this area will work with you on bringing the other one back, at least they do around here anyway. good luck
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 281
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From: Bearspaw (near Calgary)
I just wish I could find a bendix box up here in Canada. I can't even find a rebuild kit for my 69 manual box. I get that blank stare from the parts guys and they just say "huh?". I'm seriously considering trying to get a box shipped up from the states but Advanced auto doesn't ship up here. If any of you guys have any suggestions I'd love to hear them.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 1
From: iowa
cant you just drive down to montana and buy it there ? by the way he last time i was in calagary it was beautiful is it still that way ?
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From: Bearspaw (near Calgary)
I could drive to Kalispell but it's been a few years since I've been there. I was actually thinking of getting it shipped there and driving down to pick it up. What parts stores in Kalispell would carry the bendix box? It would just be easier though if I could get it shipped to Calgary. Yeah Calgary is still a really, really beautiful city. It's heading towards a million people but it still has a really friendly atmosphere. We still have our problems but just about everybody that visits here is blown away by how friendly everybody is. You can still walk down the street and strike up a conversation with anyone, anytime. It's pretty cool.
Last edited by rrawlins; Nov 24, 2003 at 01:12 PM.
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