Power Steering Box Rebuild Help - bearings (2 Viewers)

[CharlieS]

I'm putting a stock recirculating ball steering box for my '94 80 series back together and am struggling to get all of the ball bearings back in. I've read threads here and the FSM, but I just can't get all the ball bearings in (and I am doing the grease in the u-shaped part to hold a handful of final bearings).

No amount of fiddling with the input shaft allows me to get enough of them in.

I've been at this one step for a couple of hours and am taking a break before I do something stupid.

I would be super appreciative of any guidance, tips or tricks.

 

[CharlieS]

I got them in. What a pain!

 

[Fj80oregon]

I got them in. What a pain!

Nice work, a little reset and going back at it always works for me. I need to tackle this job also. Contemplating if it’s worth my time or just sending it to redhead.

 

[CharlieS]

Reinstalling the ball bearings is definitely a fiddly pain in the neck. Ensuring that the large teflon ring isn't damaged during installation takes some extra care. For someone with your engine rebuilding skills, it won't be a bad job.

 

[Outsane]

The redhead boxes I have seen have paint all over mating surfaces. So I am not impressed.

I have rebuilt a few, I know you can. If you want it can rebuild yours.

 

[CharlieS]

Tip for anyone that does this job: get a shallow aluminum baking tray/sheet pan with a raised edge. It makes it a ton easier to keep track of those pesky ball bearings. Plus the Aluminum is relatively soft. And a small box to keep the bearings all together (with a closable lid if you are going to take a long break between disassembly and reassembly like I did). I reused a translucent plastic box from a package of washers or something. Adding a small screwdriver that is mildly magnetized makes it easy to move balls from said box to the pump without trying to grasp them with your gloved hands.

 

[CharlieS]

The redhead boxes I have seen have paint all over mating surfaces. So I am not impressed.

I have rebuilt a few, I know you can. If you want it can rebuild yours.

View attachment 3925188

Looks like something that belongs on a farm tractor.