Steering Box compatibility range?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 69
From: New Zealand
How much work was required to replace this bearing? Can it be done in situ or does the column need to come out?
Either way, can the old bearing be inspected without any major disassembly? Can you get a good visual on it with a mirror or similar? Or maybe have a helper turn the wheel while you watch for side movement at the rag joint?
Either way, can the old bearing be inspected without any major disassembly? Can you get a good visual on it with a mirror or similar? Or maybe have a helper turn the wheel while you watch for side movement at the rag joint?
I took the whole column out to both repaint it & do the bearing together, but that's not necessary....you can just remove the cross bolt & telescope the lower part of the column down & out of the way.
Three small self-tapping screws hold the plastic housing & bearing into the end of the column; starting the replacement screws in situ will be awkward but doable.
Also, because the I.D. of the new bearing is a close fit on the tube, you might have to do a little contortionist filing for it to slip on, but no big deal.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 69
From: New Zealand
I had an '88 F150 with 89,000 miles on it......all stock steering parts & it drove/steered perfectly, virtually like rack & pinion precision.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 211
Likes: 16
Yeah, maybe the 114k miles might be 214k. Who knows.
Yeah.then again, coming from the Nevada, maybe the innerds were cooked.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,965
Likes: 2,725
From: Virginia
I put a reman store steering box in my 89. It's been a good one.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 211
Likes: 16
No more screwing around.
When it's done I will post.
Thanks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,261
Likes: 1,226
My F250 HD 4x4 went 400K miles on the original steering gear. It might have had about 2 inches of play at the wheel when replaced. Since the original Ford gear box lasted so long I was happy to find a new replacement. The play started to get progessively worse near the end. Once you get play then you get slop bang which speeds up the wear. I had read here that reman gear boxes were not performing well for folks. I think you'll be happy with the blue top. My steering is like new now, 15k miles on the new box so far.
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