Red Head Steering Gear

[endobear]

My 5 year old (15k mile) Red Head Steering Gear box decided to puke all its fluid.
While I liked the performance of it im hesitant to order another at $416 ++ to only get 5 years.
Is there a better steering gear box out there.
02 f350 7.3 4.5" lift on 35" tires.

 

[WildWilly]

I've used a PSC a couple of times now and been happy, but I haven't kept them as long as 5 years to know longevity.

 

[hman442]

Red Heads are supposed to be the deal. I suppose any brand can have a seal, etc. fail prematurely. I tried several of them on customer vehicles, but they are significantly more money, plus UPS, even to Oregon from Washington, plus, UPS the core back to them, made them so much more than a local parts store rebuild, that it was just too much money. The parts store brands (Cardone or BBB), seems to have got better over the past few years, which is hard to believe. For a while they were so crappy, it was like order three for the same job so we could get it out of the shop, but for a few years now, they've been okay.

 

[endobear]

Red Heads are supposed to be the deal. I suppose any brand can have a seal, etc. fail prematurely. I tried several of them on customer vehicles, but they are significantly more money, plus UPS, even to Oregon from Washington, plus, UPS the core back to them, made them so much more than a local parts store rebuild, that it was just too much money. The parts store brands (Cardone or BBB), seems to have got better over the past few years, which is hard to believe. For a while they were so crappy, it was like order three for the same job so we could get it out of the shop, but for a few years now, they've been okay.

The sector shaft snapped on my stock box so my core was no good to Red Head. Ended up costing close to $800 with not getting my core charge back and shipping.
I will say that my truck steering was awesome with RH box.
Gonna contact RH on Monday and see if they will work with me. If not I'll switch to something else.
Talk on the Super Duty forums is their QC has gone to crap over the last 6 years and the Blue Top boxes are the new go to.

 

[hman442]

The sector shaft snapped on my stock box so my core was no good to Red Head. Ended up costing close to $800 with not getting my core charge back and shipping.

Talk on the Super Duty forums is their QC has gone to crap over the last 6 years and the Blue Top boxes are the new go to.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[hman442]

My 5 year old (15k mile) Red Head Steering Gear box decided to puke all its fluid.
While I liked the performance of it im hesitant to order another at $416 ++ to only get 5 years.
Is there a better steering gear box out there.
02 f350 7.3 4.5" lift on 35" tires.

Depending on where it's leaking, some boxes are pretty easy to replace the seal on the sector shaft, or the input shaft. After you determine where the fluid is gushing from, maybe a seal replacement would make sense.

 

[rivermobster]

The sector shaft snapped on my stock box so my core was no good to Red Head. Ended up costing close to $800 with not getting my core charge back and shipping.
I will say that my truck steering was awesome with RH box.
Gonna contact RH on Monday and see if they will work with me. If not I'll switch to something else.
Talk on the Super Duty forums is their QC has gone to crap over the last 6 years and the Blue Top boxes are the new go to.

Good info. Thanks.

I've always wanted to make this upgrade. I figured I'd do it when my stock box gave up.

1999 F350. Stock box hasn't quit yet, and I'm running 37's!

 

[endobear]

Depending on where it's leaking, some boxes are pretty easy to replace the seal on the sector shaft, or the input shaft. After you determine where the fluid is gushing from, maybe a seal replacement would make sense.

It's leaking from the red top cap. Pretty sure I could find out how to get the lash reset if I pull it apart and reseal I'll see what RH says tomorrow.

 

[endobear]

Good info. Thanks.

I've always wanted to make this upgrade. I figured I'd do it when my stock box gave up.

1999 F350. Stock box hasn't quit yet, and I'm running 37's!

Have you flushed and switched your power steering and hydro boost system to synthetic ATF?
Or adjust the steering gear?

 

[rivermobster]

Have you flushed and switched your power steering and hydro boost system to synthetic ATF?
Or adjust the steering gear?

Nope. Did that actually make any difference?

Confusis say...

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[endobear]

Nope. Did that actually make any difference?

Confusis say...

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

The flush and fill alone made a HUGE difference in steering and brake pedal feel. Cheap and easy 2 beer job.

You can adjust the play in the steering wheel a bunch by tightening up the lash on the steering gear. Loosen the jamb nut on the top of the box and tighten it up. I only tighten my original box about 1/2 turn total. About 1/8 turn at a time until it felt good..Free.
Just don't tighten it to much.
My RH box has some goop it the Alan head so you can't monkey with it.

 

[rivermobster]

The flush and fill alone made a HUGE difference in steering and brake pedal feel. Cheap and easy 2 beer job.

You can adjust the play in the steering wheel a bunch by tightening up the lash on the steering gear. Loosen the jamb nut on the top of the box and tighten it up. I only tighten my original box about 1/2 turn total. About 1/8 turn at a time until it felt good..Free.
Just don't tighten it to much.
My RH box has some goop it the Alan head so you can't monkey with it. View attachment 1161661

Interesting. Hard to imagine different fluid would make any difference at all, but it's good to know you had first hand luck with this!

What fluid did you use?? Thanks.

 

[endobear]

Interesting. Hard to imagine different fluid would make any difference at all, but it's good to know you had first hand luck with this!

What fluid did you use?? Thanks.

Yep. I wasn't a believer until I tried it.
You will be blown away if your fluid is original.
Some guys even go as far as adding filters to the pwr steering lines.

 

[rivermobster]

View attachment 1161668
Yep. I wasn't a believer until I tried it.
You will be blown away if your fluid is original.
Some guys even go as far as adding filters to the pwr steering lines.

Adding a filter is Never a bad idea. It shouldn't really change anything, but it can help things last longer.

 

[RogerThat99]

Good info. Thanks.

I've always wanted to make this upgrade. I figured I'd do it when my stock box gave up.

1999 F350. Stock box hasn't quit yet, and I'm running 37's!

I almost put a Red Head on my truck about a year ago. I am going to replace my ball joints, tie rod ends, and the connector to the pitman arm, then see where I am at with things. (Bone Stock GMC 2500HD).

 

[endobear]

Depending on where it's leaking, some boxes are pretty easy to replace the seal on the sector shaft, or the input shaft. After you determine where the fluid is gushing from, maybe a seal replacement would make sense.

Spoke with Red Head this morning. They are sending a new seal kit to me at 1/2 price. $45 with shipping. No need to reset the lash after pulling the cover.
I'm good with that...

 

[WildHorses24]

The sector shaft snapped on my stock box so my core was no good to Red Head. Ended up costing close to $800 with not getting my core charge back and shipping.
I will say that my truck steering was awesome with RH box.
Gonna contact RH on Monday and see if they will work with me. If not I'll switch to something else.
Talk on the Super Duty forums is their QC has gone to crap over the last 6 years and the Blue Top boxes are the new go to.

I have to agree on QC, I went with the RH on my 06 F250 before selling it and had to send it back twice, all shipping was on me for their F ups. Pretty disappointed with their service. In the future I'd use either Lee or PSC, both in SoCal. I had Lee port and rebuild my 67 Bronco box, he's the man but heard he retired and sold to one of his main employees?

 

[Angler]

When I added a RH steering box to my F350, I replaced the pump and all of the steering hoses too.
Great upgrade for amount of the cost.

 

[spectra bash]

I had most of my front end rebuilt by a shop in Costa Mesa about 4 months ago. 04 Chevy 2500. Including a new red head gear box which is leaking a bit and ever since the rebuild my steering binds up and makes a crazy noise at steering wheel at slow tight turns. And do you see the nut on the price going to sway bar off steering arms. It’s barely on the threads on both sides. Doesn’t look right. And should there be that gap on the spline on the gear box?

 

[endobear]

I had most of my front end rebuilt by a shop in Costa Mesa about 4 months ago. 04 Chevy 2500. Including a new red head gear box which is leaking a bit and ever since the rebuild my steering binds up and makes a crazy noise at steering wheel at slow tight turns. And do you see the nut on the price going to sway bar off steering arms. It’s barely on the threads on both sides. Doesn’t look right. And should there be that gap on the spline on the gear box?

I don't know much about the Chevrolets but the gap between the pitman arm and steering gear on my Ford is about half that size. As long as it has some lock.tight on it and is torqued to spec it should be fine.
The nuts on that heim joint definitely looks wrong to me.
No clue on the steering wheel noise. How long ago did you get the Red Head steering gear. They have a one year warranty.
I would definitely be calling them for the leaks and ask about the noise and binding up.

 

[spectra bash]

I don't know much about the Chevrolets but the gap between the pitman arm and steering gear on my Ford is about half that size. As long as it has some lock.tight on it and is torqued to spec it should be fine.
The nuts on that heim joint definitely looks wrong to me.
No clue on the steering wheel noise. How long ago did you get the Red Head steering gear. They have a one year warranty.
I would definitely be calling them for the leaks and ask about the noise and binding up.

It’s still within warranty. Red head said talk to the shop first. The shop is just giving me the run around .

 

[DoughBallin14]

I had most of my front end rebuilt by a shop in Costa Mesa about 4 months ago. 04 Chevy 2500. Including a new red head gear box which is leaking a bit and ever since the rebuild my steering binds up and makes a crazy noise at steering wheel at slow tight turns. And do you see the nut on the price going to sway bar off steering arms. It’s barely on the threads on both sides. Doesn’t look right. And should there be that gap on the spline on the gear box?

Spline gap looks within normal range with the ones i have seen from owning and working on gm hd trucks. And the nut on the pitman/ idler arm is normal for the Cognito steering braces that are installed. Looks odd but it holds the heim joint and helps tighten the pivot to the center link. Here is a picture of mine.

 

[spectra bash]

10-4 thanks

 

[Gelcoater]

View attachment 1161668
Yep. I wasn't a believer until I tried it.
You will be blown away if your fluid is original.
Some guys even go as far as adding filters to the pwr steering lines.

So how big a filter did you put on yours?

 

[endobear]

Ha. I resisted the urge. For now..

 

[lbhsbz]

Red Heads are supposed to be the deal. I suppose any brand can have a seal, etc. fail prematurely. I tried several of them on customer vehicles, but they are significantly more money, plus UPS, even to Oregon from Washington, plus, UPS the core back to them, made them so much more than a local parts store rebuild, that it was just too much money. The parts store brands (Cardone or BBB), seems to have got better over the past few years, which is hard to believe. For a while they were so crappy, it was like order three for the same job so we could get it out of the shop, but for a few years now, they've been okay.

Most of the mainstream rebuilders just throw kits in 'em....they don't replace the sector shaft or really do anything to remove all the slop that GM seems to build into the steering boxes. Redhead does. PSC has redesigned the whole damn thing, increasing the size of everything so it works right.