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Steering Box Rebuild

Does anyone know where I can find information on rebuilding my steering sector? The ball bearings came out of there groove when I pulled the input end off. I can make sense of it, after I pulled the output side up and pulled my input side out. It appears that you feed the ball bearings through the small piece of tubing that must allow the bearings to cycle around the input side grooves. I'm sure there is a process to feed them into the box.

That is why I'm only getting 1.5 revolutions on my box.

1977 F-150 with power steering. The tag says:

SPA BT
77E 13B

thanks -

Dan
 
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There are procedures fo doing this, but keep in mind that ONE screw-up could make the difference between the steering working properly and the steering binding up in the middle of a turn - the potential damage you could do if it binds is nearly limitless.

If you don't know exactly what you are doing, then buy a reman.
 

BKW

Ford Parts Guru
Ford power steering gearboxes

The word "rebuilt" is a misnomer when it comes to these P/S gearboxes.

All you are buying is a resealed gearbox for the usual 150 buck price...and you can buy the seal kits from Ford and do that yourself.

F3AZ3E502A .. Input Shaft Seal Kit / MSRP: $21.20 / ftfpartsguy.com price: $15.26

D7AZ3E501B .. Sector Shaft Seal Kit / MSRP: $21.98 / ftfpartsguy.com price: $15.83

Huh? Why 1993 & 1977 part numbers? Simple...Ford loves to update part numbers: F3AZ3E502A replaced: D7AZ-3E502-A, D3AZ-3E502-A and C5AZ-3C538-A.

D7AZ3E501B replaced: D7AZ-3E501-A, D3AZ-3E501-A and C5AZ-3C538-A.

This last part number (C5AZ) contained both seal kits. They originally were not available separately.

Fits: 1965/91 various passenger cars / 1969 (after serial # G30,001) thru 1998 various F Series and other truck models.

The website sez 1984 and later, but 1969 and up is correct.

The problem since 1965 is...there are no bearings in the gearbox case, the spool valve runs directly off it....and there's only one cure for that.

redheadsteeringgears.com

The spool valves retailed for $110.00 ...in 1965!

So you won't be getting a new one anytime soon in one a these "rebuilt" gearboxes!
 
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The problem since 1965 is...there are no bearings in the gearbox case, the spool valve runs directly off it....and there's only one cure for that.

redheadsteeringgears.com

The spool valves retailed for $110.00 ...in 1965!

I know for a fact that from 1969-1979 (power steering gears for F100-300 2wd) there were no caged bearings or bushings on the SECTOR SHAFT - the shaft rides directly on the housing. This is true for the Ford power steering gear, I am not 100% sure about the Bendix gear that they used in 1966-1969. What redhead does is they hone out the housing and install caged bearings ...redhead isn't the only place that does this by the way and this has nothing to do with the spool valve. The spool valve rides directly against the valve housing with o-rings and seal-rings on the side (or shims to align the ports, if it is this way then thre are no seals) - just like any power steering valve and this poses no problem. There is a thrust bearing on the spool valve - again - just like any other valve (I have a valve for this application in my hand right now).
 
Where else does the work like Red Head? I have 28 ball bearings that I fished out. It worked just fine, I needed to replace the two seals on the input side and my neighbor, a GM mechanic, told me I had to pull it apart. I started to pull it apart and got nervous so I pushed it back together. Then I drilled a hole through the existing seals and threaded a screw into them and pulled them out as nice as can be. SO, now I have this mess for no reason other than listening to my neighbor! Go Figure!

I was hoping to find instructions on how to feed the bearings into the spool shaft and groove, but maybe it's hidden in the President's little black book!

I bought the seal kit from Ford for the input side. Of course now, I should have the output side. What's next?
 

BKW

Ford Parts Guru
I know for a fact that from 1969-1979 (power steering gears for F100-300 2wd) there were no caged bearings or bushings on the SECTOR SHAFT - the shaft rides directly on the housing. This is true for the Ford power steering gear, I am not 100% sure about the Bendix gear that they used in 1966-1969. What redhead does is they hone out the housing and install caged bearings ...redhead isn't the only place that does this by the way and this has nothing to do with the spool valve. The spool valve rides directly against the valve housing with o-rings and seal-rings on the side (or shims to align the ports, if it is this way then thre are no seals) - just like any power steering valve and this poses no problem. There is a thrust bearing on the spool valve - again - just like any other valve (I have a valve for this application in my hand right now).
I stand corrected. I got the info from guess where?

Aw shucks...y'all know the site. Since redhead is the only outfit I've heard of that does this, I listed them.

1969's before serial #G30,001 used the Bendix gear, after #G30,001, the Ford gear. The Bendix system is/was/forever, a POS.
 
"IF A MAN DESIGNED IT, THAN I CAN FIX IT!"

1. Remove pitman arm.

2. Remove steering shaft knuckle going towards steering wheel.

3. Remove 4 bolts holding the input ball screw shaft (horizontal shaft).

4. Pull out the input ball screw assembly, with care, not to loose any ball bearings. Most will remain in the housing. Fish them out with a magnet. You should have 28 ball bearings.

5. Remove 2 bolts holding the output shaft (vertical shaft) which are on top of steering box.

6. Pull or pound the output shaft up about 4" - 6". Use care and not damage any threads. This may be more difficult depending on steering box age, etc.

7. Once the internal steering gears clear, you can pull the input piston assembly out horizontally.

8. On the bottom of the piston assembly, you will see the Ball Return. It is a U- shaped cage held by two screws and a clamp. Once the clamp is removed, you will see where the ball bearings can be inserted.

9. Be sure you have 28 ball bearings.

10. Insert the input ball screw just enough so you can see a groove through each hole of the ball return.

11. With the ball return out, insert ball bearings as you screw the input ball screw into the piston. You will start to see the ball bearings come out the opposite side of the ball return hole.

12. Insert the ball return, and finish inserting all the ball bearings.

note: the ball bearings are in a closed loop circuit. They are what moves the piston (gear) against the ball screw which causes the output gear to move which turns your pitman arm.

13. Install the clamp and two bolts.

14. Insert the piston and input ball screw assembly into the steering sector and install the 4 bolts to hold it in place.

15. Turn input knob to the left, then right and count the revolutions, there should be 4, back it up 2 turns for center.

16. Install output shaft so the gears are meshed up.

17. Set mesh load, which I need to do.

I also changed out my seals on both input and output ends. Boyer Ford (Minneapolis) had them on the shelf. $36 for both upper and lower seal kits. I didn't use all the upper seals.

It appears more difficult than it really is.

Hopefully that helps. If you have any questions you can email me at [email protected]

Red head does this as well as Power Steering Specialist in Ohio. 1-800-235-3076.
 

Attachments

  • FTF piston asbly.JPG
  • FTF sector asbly.JPG
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