Highboy steering control valve question
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 446
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From: South Bend, IN
Highboy steering control valve question
I'm trying to remove some of the play from the steering in my '76 Highboy. The play is obviously in the control valve, at the front where the control valve stud enters the outer sleeve and flange assembly.
I have the service manual, and it shows that there is a ball stud plug where you get access to this end of the unit, and what you tighten up till the spring is compressed and the play removed. It looks like mine doesn't have that plug, though, and the front end just has a sealed end on it. How do I get it apart? I don't want to start beating on things ignorantly, cause I know these things are expensive. Is there a steel dust cap or something on the front that I have to drill or chisel out to get to the plug screw? Or is there a later series of these that are non-adjustable? (That would be my luck
)
I have the service manual, and it shows that there is a ball stud plug where you get access to this end of the unit, and what you tighten up till the spring is compressed and the play removed. It looks like mine doesn't have that plug, though, and the front end just has a sealed end on it. How do I get it apart? I don't want to start beating on things ignorantly, cause I know these things are expensive. Is there a steel dust cap or something on the front that I have to drill or chisel out to get to the plug screw? Or is there a later series of these that are non-adjustable? (That would be my luck
)
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2006
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Bendix Control Valve
The Bendix valves I have rebuilt all had a sealed end on them. Even if you did get the end plug out, it wouldn't do any good. One of the seats for the ball stud sits up against the end plug, so all it really is, is a stop.
To tighten up the ball stud area, you would have to disassemble most of the valve just to get to the parts. The ball stud end of the valve doesn't just unbolt and come off of the valve housing. You would have to remove the tie rod assembly on the other end of the housing and disconnect pieces under there to get the whole assembly apart.
If you are going to do this, you might as well rebuild the whole unit. Unfortunately, the Ford shop manuals do not provide good and accurate descriptions and pictures to rebuild this unit.
To tighten up the ball stud area, you would have to disassemble most of the valve just to get to the parts. The ball stud end of the valve doesn't just unbolt and come off of the valve housing. You would have to remove the tie rod assembly on the other end of the housing and disconnect pieces under there to get the whole assembly apart.
If you are going to do this, you might as well rebuild the whole unit. Unfortunately, the Ford shop manuals do not provide good and accurate descriptions and pictures to rebuild this unit.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: South Bend, IN
Well I was afraid of that. Had hoped that this was going to be a 5 minute, 25 cent fix (cost of a cotter pin). Oh well. I am disappointed that the Ford shop manual was so misleading.
Does any rebuild shop exchange these? I see LMC (bad word) has them for $250 exchange, but I wonder about the quality. Dennis Carpenter has the stud and seat kits for $50 if I want to try it myself.
What have the rest of you guys done? The power steering in this truck works really well other than the slop, you can steer it with one finger.
Does any rebuild shop exchange these? I see LMC (bad word) has them for $250 exchange, but I wonder about the quality. Dennis Carpenter has the stud and seat kits for $50 if I want to try it myself.
What have the rest of you guys done? The power steering in this truck works really well other than the slop, you can steer it with one finger.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
1974-1977 F250 4X4 Bendix Control Valve Repair Kits
D4TZ-3A533-A .. Ball Stud Repair Kit
D4TZ-3A650-A .. P/S Hydraulic Control Valve Repair Kit
D4TZ-3A675-A .. P/S Control Valve Spring Centering Kit
D4TZ-3783-A .. P/S Control Valve Actuator Repair Kit
------------------------------------------------------
1974-1977 F250 4x4 P/S Ram Cylinder Repair Kits
D3TZ-3C590-A .. P/S Ram Cylinder End Bushing Repair Kit (Mount Bushings)
D4TZ-3A764-A .. P/S Ram Cylinder Seal Kit
D4TZ-3A533-A .. Ball Stud Repair Kit
D4TZ-3A650-A .. P/S Hydraulic Control Valve Repair Kit
D4TZ-3A675-A .. P/S Control Valve Spring Centering Kit
D4TZ-3783-A .. P/S Control Valve Actuator Repair Kit
------------------------------------------------------
1974-1977 F250 4x4 P/S Ram Cylinder Repair Kits
D3TZ-3C590-A .. P/S Ram Cylinder End Bushing Repair Kit (Mount Bushings)
D4TZ-3A764-A .. P/S Ram Cylinder Seal Kit
Last edited by NumberDummy; Apr 25, 2007 at 10:06 AM.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2006
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Yea, the picture in most of the Ford manuals shows a removable plug, but I think that came on a similar valve used on C- series trucks. Even the later model manuals that actually show a cut-away picture of the valve have pictures where the spool is installed in the wrong direction.
If you want to try and rebuild your own unit, I can help with some of my own pictures. I haven't gotten around to making my own instructions yet, but I can help you out if you need it.
If you want to try and rebuild your own unit, I can help with some of my own pictures. I haven't gotten around to making my own instructions yet, but I can help you out if you need it.
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
Yea, the picture in most of the Ford manuals shows a removable plug, but I think that came on a similar valve used on C- series trucks. Even the later model manuals that actually show a cut-away picture of the valve have pictures where the spool is installed in the wrong direction.
If you want to try and rebuild your own unit, I can help with some of my own pictures. I haven't gotten around to making my own instructions yet, but I can help you out if you need it.
If you want to try and rebuild your own unit, I can help with some of my own pictures. I haven't gotten around to making my own instructions yet, but I can help you out if you need it.
THanks for any help.
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