I need to purchase a new power steering gear box for my 2000 F250 SD. I destroyed a deer the past fall on the free way, and I believe it screwed up my power steering box. Everything from the knuckles to the pitman arm is perfect as can be; and everything from the steering wheel down is straight as an arrow. So nearly as I can tell, the problem lies within the box itself. Pitman arm is still threaded right. Truck drives straight as an arrow, but the wheel is cocked like 30 degrees counter clockwise. Is Redhead steering gears the best route to go or is there a better company? I wanna get a real tough box (I off road enough that it would be wise). Also is reman better than aftermarket? Any help would be awesome. Thanks!!

 

If the only problem is that the steering wheel is cocked to one side then you can re-center it by using the ajusting sleeve on the drag link. Were any of the steering components replaced after hitting bambi?

 

easily adjusted as already said, just lube that adjustment knuckle with kroil or pb blaster and when adjusting you will see an result asap.

 

Something has to be out of wack. A steering box that functions fine is pretty expensive to replace, and probably not fixing your problem. I think I would go get a wheel aligment first. They'll center the the wheel in the process.

 

No I have not replaced anything yet. Thats why I'm asking about the box. I just assumed thats what would need fixed

Ok so I can just adjust the drag link then. I just figured since everything else was solid, that a new steering box would be a good idea. I will try that though for sure. Yeah I am worried since it us pretty rusty, but I will blast it and make it happen.

I actually did have it aligned once after that, and they simply told me I needed to replace the gear box. I figured they were right since everything besides the box was fine. Could the gears inside the box have slipped teeth without breaking?

Would it be a good idea to maybe have it just rebuilt?

The reason I ask all this is I'm going to rausch creek in two weeks for the first time and I don't wanna screw the weekend up cause of a problem I already know of.

Thanks guys

 

I would take it somewhere else for a second opinion before doing anything. If I understand correctly you have no driveability issues, and you are 100% on everything else in the front end. I would be suspicious about replacing the box.
I would also have someone follow me around to rule out the possibility that the truck is dog-legging.

 

Is there one place that is better than another to have it looked at? 4 wheel parts is the closest "offroad" place that I trust, but they are like an hour out. The first place I took it too was a sears auto shop.

If by dog legging you mean the back in is not tracking straight behind the front, I'm pretty much 100% sure its not doing that. I actually just followed my truck the other day in a civic and was looking at my truck the whole time and didn't notice anything. I will take it out again to double check but I have not noticed that while driving.

Yeah you understand correct, it is driving fine for the most part. I suppose I feel like it drives loose, but I cannot remember what it was like before the hit ha ha. It is prob just cause of the bigger tires.

Do you know if it possible for the power steering gears to skip teeth and still remain intact? ha ha I know its prob not possible but I really donno. I've never tore into one of em to see if it can happen or not.

 

Yeah with tires and a lift, not to mention how incredibly precise superduty steering is to begin with it might not be so easy to tell if its a little too loose. Can't reccomend a shop to you, but if you know of someone you trust it may be worth the drive. I doubt the gears could skip too.

 

Ok, thanks! Yeah, the only reason I ask about the gears inside the box is that I really didn't see anything wrong with everything else. I spose coulda missed something. Ha ha just for knowledge purposes, is there any specific company that makes or remans strong gear boxes?

 

Have no experience with them, but Redhead seems to have a good reputation on this forum.

 

Based on my experience with guys who work at my local Sears automotive, I doubt they could tell you where the steering box was, let alone if it was bad.

No offense to any FTE members who may work at Sears.