Picked up a Redhead steering box and I am glad I did so are 1000's of other FTE members.

But to give you more info here is some talk about one with issues as with anything you get they will not all be perfect.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...iscussion.html
Tim M

 

My idea to get a new pitman arm instead of taking the old one off is not panning out. I've checked Napa, O'Reilly, and a couple of online places; no joy.

Ford dealer wants $175 for one. *sigh* 4Wheel Parts wants $100 to swap one out.

I just might be renting me an electric, 1" drive impact wrench after all!

 

dont make them any beter

 

You need a heavy duty 2 jaw puller, the kind that pulls the two jaws together first. This will pull the arm off the shaft.


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Along this line? Not sure if I can rent one like that or not, but I'll try.

 

Well I was going to say that one is too small, but after reading the description it says that will work. I don't have any experience with it though. Nice find.

I do have one similar that I used to remove the drag link from the pitman arm, and the tie rods from the knuckle.

Here it is if you want to purchase.



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Here's the one I got:


Did the job quickly and easily with my 1/2" impact wrench.

 

Not sure it would fit the 2005. I think it is a different size pitman arm.

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Bigger is always better?

 

If you go to Red Head's and A-1 Cardonne's websites you'll readily see that there is a difference. A-1 box is a re-manufactured box just like OEM. Red Head bores out the casting for needle bearings on the shafts. That accounts for most of the price difference. Also Red Head is a small mom and pop operation compared to A-1 Cardonne. I'm not dissing A-1. I've sold and used a lot of their products over the years. They are a quality rebuilder. But there is a difference between the 2 companies and their steering boxes.

 

Speaking of which. An update after 40K miles. Nothing new to report. Exactly the way it should be.

 

2000 miles on mine and so far so good too...

 

Thread CLEANED. Enough already with the off-topic back and forth.

 

Thanks Tom!

 

That's not true.