Cleaning the garage tonight and found my old steering box that went out on me yrs ago. I'm wanting to take it apart, I don't know why I just do. What should I be looking for and is there anything that can be done to fix these old things as I hear they're getting harder to find. Would be nice to have a spare.
The # on it is C5TR3550 and there was a tag on it with HCD B 5A13B on it.
Under side of box has an A -365/ and the number 2 under that.

Thanks for any info

Rob

 

Rob, that box is a 65 and I believe early 66 1/2 and 2WD box...Im pretty sure it would interchange with later models but there may be different internals...
As far as what wears...theres bushings and roller bearings in the worm as I recall...its a pretty basic piece, but special tools are needed from what Ive seen to go thru it properly. I have also heard that new out of the box, these trucks steering isnt what we would call 'tight' by todays standards...we have been pampered by the rack and pinion used on many applications nowadays..
If it has slop between the sector shaft and worm it can be taken up to a point by loosening the jam nut around the allen head bolt you see on the top near the tag. you tighten it up adjusting the allen head bolt and suck up the jamb nut and thats it...you can overtighten it too which in the end would cause excessive wear which is prolly common as most want there to be no slop between the steering wheel and the wheels on the ground...but with all those moving points, its alot of places for a little slop to add up to an amount of looseness at the wheel that today we think shouldnt be there.

Another thing you have to rememeber...back when new...these were primarily farm trucks and used in rural settings and crappy roads so tight steering wasnt expected to the degree it is today...at least I wouldnt think it would have been expected back in the day...I wasnt around then, but thats my hunch.


- cs65

i would just keep it intact and get a rebuild kit when you can or have a rebuilder rebuild it....since its a spare I would put it on the back burner as theres plenty of trucks to choose from for a donor if needed in a pinch..

 

Hey Don, I got most of it apart except for th big nut? no can move that one. There are bearings on the sector shaft at each end can't find reference to them anywhere but looks like your average ball bearing the roller bearings are all there and ok but the ball bearings were torn up really bad. Everything else looks great though the shafts are fine if I could just find some bearings i'd have a spare. Funny thing while looking for a number on the bearing, the only legible marks were a N onone side and a D on the other so of course I had to E-mail ND and see what he thought. It had to be a premonition.

 

LOL....I bet he will get a kick outta that one...As for the ball bearings you are referring to...those are part of the worm and shaft assembly...there are a few to be had NOS but I would gather they would be moderate to high priced for an old manual steering box...its part of a kit...the mondo huge nut where the rag joint is is whats holding the shaft assy. in the housing...
As for tore up err *****...prolly overadjusted...aka reefed...and/or inadequate amt of lube in it...


- cs65

 

Oh no shortage of lube YUK! tons of it and now it's everywhere.

 

HCD-B = C5TZ3504D .. Steering Gearbox / (C5TZ-3504-D replaced C5TZ-3504-A).

Fits: 1965/72 F100/250 2WD / 1967/72 F350.

1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog / Text ~ Section 35.1 / Page 17 = PARTS LIST #26. /// Illustration ~ Section 35.1 / Page 2.

The caged ball bearings & races used on the steering shaft and worm were available separately, and were also used on 1960's cars: (2) C2AZ3571A .. Bearing & (2) C2AZ3552A .. Race

The sector shaft's caged needle bearings were also used on 1960's cars: (2) C1AZ3576B, as were the seal (C7OZ3591A) and gasket (C3AZ3581A).

All the internal parts are obsolete, but are available from a few Ford dealers and obsolete parts vendors.

 

You may still be able to get the bearings.... Here in CT there is a place called BDI
Bearing Distributors Inc. they are able to locate just about any kind of bearing so long as you have a set of dial calipers and can measure id/od/depth......