I got a reman from NAPA for $177 with lifetime warranty. Not too bad to change. Watch, it's a little heavy.

 

Summit has a remanufactured AGR steering box for $290 (kind of steep) for the F150/F250/F350.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

It is supposed to have a ratio of 14:1. Is this different than the ratio of the stock steering box? Turning the wheel less could definately be a bonus...but maybe not a $290 bonus.

 

I have a 96 150 and then whole front end was redone except for the SB which is definitely sloppy, looks tough and needs changing. I'm still deciding whether to do it myself or get it done. Looks like a hassell. I never changed one before and I got a pretty OK price of around 425 to put in an RB and set it up. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM................
Too many big decisions

 

Just a quick note...and something to be careful of, my dads 1992 f150 had some steering problems, it always had a bit of slack as most old fords do, adn it just kept getting worst! to make a long story alittle shorter, the bolts all cut off where the steering box bolted to the frame! Its not like he drove it hard ( he babys everything ) and I wasnt allowed to touch the truck that much so that i would have done it... anyway, I guess what I am trying to say, is that you should inspect that, have someone turn your steering wheel back and forth, and you take a look at the steering box, if its moving, get it fixed!!!!

 

I had the same thing on a 79 I recently bought. It got parked because the steering was loose. The four bolts with nuts(newer has 3 bolts threaded into the box) that bolt the box to the frame were loose and would rock up in down to the point that the power steering pully would cut into the box.

 

Here's the best steering box on the market. For just a fraction more.

http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/

Peeps and their f'in around with the adjustment screw... don't get me started.

If you don't know what your doing, don't touch the dang thing! You'll just put yourself, and anyone else on the road at risk!

 

<i>Peeps and their f'in around with the adjustment screw... don't get me started.

If you don't know what your doing, don't touch the dang thing! You'll just put yourself, and anyone else on the road at risk!</i>

Amen to that!

I put new bearings and seals in but I did not mess with the <u>preload</u> adjustment.

 

Is it "just a fraction more" than $177 or $290? I would much rather deal with a small firm like that. They also have options for steering ratios. Does anyone know what the stock ratio is? I think I have to turn the wheel about fifty revolutions to go lock to lock.

 

I just replaced the box on my dads 91 f-250 sunday. I think it was like 200 dollars at advance, I wasnt to fond of a rebuild from there but it was the only one in stock and his box had practically locked up. The trucks ready for the junkyard anyhow LOL. Anyway I think its 4 turns from lock to lock when i centered his up the other day. Could be wrong though......

 

Well, I broke down and replaced the box. Carquest had it for $180.00 with a lifetime waranty so I guess that wasn't too bad. I had my local wrench do the work since my back would not handle the weight and position. He said that the shaft almost fell out of the old box so there was not much left of it. Now the thing steers like a sports car, it is so tight. Thank you all for your help. I'm a happy camper again.

 

I replaced mine with the best...no doubt about it.

http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/

fonefiddy is correct. Why play steering box roulette until you find one without slack in the center? Replace it one time only.

 

Does this get rid of the typical "whine" noise as well?

 

I replaced my leaking steering gear witha reman from Advance. Box said it was an ARI (OEM), my receipt said it was Lares. The box was terrible and moved from 10 to 2 oclock. I took it back and it was replaced by a Lares box. It was great. A search indicated that ARI was bankrupt and out of business. First box must have been on shelf a while. Nothing like having to do job twice.
Guy at Advance said they get alot of bad reman boxes.

 

My new box works great but now I have the whine as well (which I did not have before replacing the box). This is coming from the pump, which I did not replace. Now that I have a nice tight steering box, the pump is having to work harder to keep up with it. I will probably replace the pump this summer, unless it dies first.
It is actually a hydraulic whine so it is not the belt. I think I remember something about an additive that you can put in the fluid to stop the whine but I am not too clear on that. I will do some looking.

 

Is air in the system? Before reconnecting the hoses I flushed the hoses with a store brand power steering fluid then with synthetic power steering fluid. With it up on jack stands Ii turned the wheel stop to stop and added fluid as it burped. Then did the same, turning the motor over with coil wire off. Again with the engine running I turned the wheel just a little at a time and added fluid when needed. My pump is not totally quiet but must be very quiet compared to most of them.