Hi,
I have Bendix power steering in my '69 f250, and it's leaking all over the place. Actually stopped working completely the other day. It's not a daily driver, so I'm sticking with the Bendix system, which leaves me with a few questions:

Can new seals (assuming I can find them) be put in the Bendix box by a non-professional like myself?

Or am I better off shelling out the $250 for a reman unit?

Will it hurt the pump or the box to drive it with the power steering not working? Should I disconnect the belt to the pump?

Thanks!
--Mark

 

yes it will hurt the pump and box to run it with no fluid. if you want powersteering, and the box is only 250 bucks with a warranty, i would get the box. if you seal it and it still leaks, you are out the price of the seals and the labor.

if you dont want or care about powersteering, get a manual box and replace yours. bolts right on. remove the pump and brackets from the motor and sell them to somebody.

 

Why replace it? I have the bendix and it has been used manually for at least 10 years without a PS pump. I would like to get it working but i too am having trouble finding parts. Is this Reman box better and a direct bolt up?

 

How Can you tell the two types apart? I have a 71 F250 7500LB if that helps. Thanks

 

http://www.*************.com/images/...vs-Saginaw.jpg

 

I think the *'s are causing an error. thank you though

 

69 GasHog. I have a Bendix box from my 68 CS that has 43,000 original miles, it started to weep at the input shaft after 36 years. I located two seal kits from Ford 4 years ago, one missing the input seal and was told the kits will be obsolete in the future, which it is now, i paid $135 for them as a spare. The kits had a date manufactured in 4-96. I had a bushing manufacture make three bearing bronze bushings and i line bored with .0007" clearance, original was .0025". Replaced the input needle bearing, old bearing had a tighter fit, reinstalled old needle bearing. Inside worm and roller are like mint new, zero wear,shaft seal areas are clean, installed seal kit, added a 4"x 6" oil cooler under the front bumper like the 2002 F250 super duty have. Ten months and 4,000 miles later it started to leak again. Today i just finished installing a Ford box, rebuilt and painted a 71 steering column. Pick your parts boxes are worn out 8 of 10 times (been there done that) besides they need a rebuild kit. You can go cheap with Kragen and others with one year warranty, have seen what they do or not do inside, worn parts, bushings and pitted or worn seal area on the shafts. Yes if they are lucky you will not return the box until after the one year warranty is up. I went to Meridian in San Diego Ca., they have high standards and replace any part that shows wear. Ordered a Ford box for $195 plus $50 core, $19 tax and $15 shipping. For a Bendix box they want $395 plus $150 core, $19 tax and $15 shipping. That's $564 for a Bendix box, $279 for a Ford box. I have had it with the Bendix box, it's available with pitman arm, two complete seal kits less the input shaft seal and a spare bushing for $ 200 plus app $20 shipping. Rebuilders want $150 alone fore core.
Carl.........o&o>.............

 

get one from a junkyard, they usually go about 25 bucks. most yards will allow you exchange if it doesnt work right. i went thru three of them til i got the one i have in now and it working great. why buy new when you can find a used one cheap

 

Hey Fordlover, i had to chime in, it's a rare find to just locate a power Bendix box in general. In Kalifornia the cost would be 150 dollars plus a core fee from a wrecker. So what if it's bad, they won't have another to exchange anyway as they are so rare. What's your time worth? Do you trust this used box to not fail you way far from home? What they call "good condition" vs what it is in real life is a vast difference. What's your life worth running on used parts from "Luther's Wreckers"? I've seen their steering column specialists rebuilding columns, yup WD and it's like new! I must have higher standards as i'm in the aviation business, failure means death in my Bible. Carl......o&o>.............

 

well do i trust my truck, uh nope. i rarely drive it further then the 15 miles to work. i have had two gearboxes blow fluid at me already on the way home from work or going to work and believe me it anit no fun driving like that. i run alot of used parts on my truck, the tranny came from dougs in pella, and although it is far from perfect it does a fine job. my steering box is used as well as my radiator my carb my dizzy my tires and rims, and my stero. so yeah i trust used parts, cause back then they knew how to build them so they would last. granted i love to go and order a brand new tranny and a brand new this and that, but money seems to flow outa my wallet and pay the bills , so my truck is a budget project at best, and that is only when the kids dont need shoes or the schwanns man forgot to stop by. iowa is thick with old ford trucks, every parts yard has many to choose from, i know at mikes auto south of town there were at least 15 that had the bendix boxs instead of the saginaw ones. sadly these found there way to the crusher last month when steel prices went up a hair. but i am sure i could dig up a few of them around here in a afternoon. and most places around here give a yard warrenty on the parts. usually like 12 days or on engines and trans it like 90 days. and i fly too and i dont use used parts on that. cause my glide ratio is about that of a brick.

 

Fordlover, i like your glide ratio. I'm an A&P mechanic. I just went thru my rebuilt Ford box from Meridian and did a little detail work inside, now i know what the box condition is inside. It was like mint new inside, i got lucky now i can sleep at night. Carl......o&o>..........

 

anyone have the proper link to this jpg?