steering box

[SIRed]

Anyone ever change out a steering box? If so is there any specific details that would be of help? Or is it just take off the old replace with the new and hook the lines back up? Never done one of these and just trying to avoid any surprises. Oh, this is on an '01 Excursion.

[BigKid]

I did on my 02 f250. It wasn't bad. Pitman arm was a bit of a bear, had to try a couple different pullers to get it. But all in all, it's not bad.

[SIRed]

well its off! My new one should be in tomorrow. So far so good.

[aawlberninF350]

What's wrong with your box? Seems like these come up in threads with some regularity. Wazzup wid dat? Mine, with 150K, needed the mesh preload tightened up, and it has like zero centering which is annoying, but other than those flaws, what goes wrong?

[SIRed]

My steering box had a bad valve in it. Therefore it would not equalize the pressure from one side to the next and would cause the steering to jerk back the opposite way of which ever way you were trying to turn. That mixed with the slop I still had even after trying to adjust it was pretty much the scariest ride in the park when I had to drive it. Now I just finished putting the new steering box in and the difference is amazing. It is like driving a completely differnt truck. No steering jerk, no slop, no floating all over the road. So all went well.

[rylos]

Hey what is that adjustment on those? I need to do try that on my 97 350. Mine take about an 8th of a turn to get im turning when your driving.

Thanks

[cbubac]

were you able to get it in/out with pitman arm on. I had a hard time with it on, had to install pitman arm after.

[SIRed]

Yeah I left the pitman arm on when I took it out and intalled it on the new one before putting it back in.

[clintonrick]

I've never done a steerring box replacement before. How long would you estimate this will take me? I have an 05 F250 and I have no sentering, and strong pulls to the extent it oulls the steering wheel out of my hands - scarey drive right now! All other front end parts are good - so it's either the box or the pwr steering pump.

[EArmsF350]

I think my steering box is going out or I have ball joints too tight. It is real stiff and is slow or does not return to home when turning. How much am I looking at for a new steering box and where should I look, Ford factory? What can I look at to see or tell if it is the box or the ball joints. I've noticed the power steering pump is sqawling some. I read another thread and he said his steering box was out and his power steering pump was taking the brunt of making the steering work. Enough yacking, can someone give some advice?