Hey all,

This is my first post to the boards.

I have a 92 Bronco that I recently picked up, the body is perfect, the engine is strong as is the transmission. Last night I got done polishing it completly with McGuirers ColorX wax -- UNBELIEVABLE

I decided to be nice, swap my wifes van while she was at work and do hers.. On her way home last night, the power steering pump started making a noise.. Typical Ford, steering pump leaks a little. I grabbed a bottle of fluid, poured it in and Voila, the noise was worse than ever!!!

Crawled under the truck only to notice that there is PS fluid sprayed all over the undercarriage and litterally pouring out of the sector shaft at the head of the pitman arm.

I have never seen one do this before. There is no grinding noise within the steering box, just fluid pouring through as fast as I can put it in.

I am wondering a few different things on this issue.

1: Is this normal to have the PS fluid lubricating the steering box?
2: Is the Steering box gone, or can I rebuild the seals in it?
3: Will the steering box from a 1989 F-250 fit into the Bronco (I happen to have one of those lying around.)

Any information would be greatly appreciated..


Thanks
Glenn May
Shrewsbury, MA

 

The steering box uses the steering fluid for power assisted turning, ergo the term:"power steering"

Yes there are replaceable seals in it. It can be done, but don't count on it not leaking later. It's worth a try. Make sure you mark the pitman before removing it unless it's indexed already for that position.

 

You can use your spare gearbox. They work from 80-96 FSeries and even 83-93 Rangers and 91-4 Explorers. The only difference is the design of the pitman arms and some of the early ones require different steering lines. I swapped the one in my 82 F150 with a later box and found the pressure line didn't match. After some searching I found one in Ranger that fit the bill. Since 89 and 92 are very close, you shouldn't run into such a problem.
Most folks seem to have little luck with replacing the lower seal, it's much easier to just swap the entire box.
Power steering fluid is essential to the function of the entire steering box.

 

WOW, you guys are quick..


Since my last message I did a little more research on the steering box that I have. It did NOT come out of my 89 F-250, but out of an 85 Bronco. I had bought one for parts YEARS ago and forgot all about it. My wife reminded me that we stripped the truck before we junked it, and still had some parts lying around <GRIN>

I am assuming that it is the same box, and should work fine, with the exception of the lines, I did not try that..

So my assumption is correct that this is likely just a seal issue?

Any idea what a rebuilt box will cost at the local parts store??


Thanks again

Glenn May

 

300 to 500 bucks.

 

Well,

That puts a little more reality on trying the one I have, and possibly rebuilding the one that is in the truck now.

Think I will do the swap tommorow, then when I have the old one out of the truck, I will bench it and re-build it completely. This well may be my best bet and most cost effective option.

Since I have never performed such a surgery before, does anyone have any words of advice???


Thanks once again.


Glenn May

 

couple hundred for the box. Try Napa.

 

idk about you gu`ys but napa always seems to screw me over on the price and they can never give me the right parts. i asked for 84 tie rod ends and the threaded shaft is way to small.

 

I've had good luck with my local NAPA. They mark down the prices a bit and the parts are likely to fit as they should. Auto Zone parts are kinda like one size fits all. The overall quality of the NAPA stuff seems better to me.

 

I just replaced mine literally 4 days ago.. and it was quite easy... kinda?

But I had to pull the sector shaft (becare when you do this) and the old seal took a **** so the spring inside of it chew my sector shaft a new one.... I REALLY had to polish that thing.. it'll prob leak again in a year or so, but it was a quick fix.... I also drove mine for about 2 weeks while leaking, so if you get to yours quick enough, it shouldnt score too bad.

Good luck!

Adam