My 95 E150 started to leak badly around the pitman arm. It was not leaking, or not enough to notice, but it let go altogether yesterday. To replace the seal I am figuring this is what is involved:
Remove pitman arm
Remove C clip and seal
I have never worked on a ford steering box, is there anything else that has to come apart? Can I do this with the box on the van? Thanks!

azul

Just got a quote, the part is ~$33 CDN at the dealer. Looks like I may have to remove the sector shaft to get the seal out? Any tips would be helpful!

 

Leave the box in the truck. Remove the pitman arm, remove the snap ring, start the truck and turn the wheel the seal will blow out of the box (along with lots of fluid). Shut it off and install the new seal and snapring and reassemble. There may also be some rust in the snap ring groove to clean out before the new one will go back in. The sector shaft doesn't have to come out to change that seal. They may give you a kit that has the upper sector shaft seal but those usually dont leak...much.

btw, you will need a pitman arm puller to get the pitman arm off. They arent too expensive, some parts stores will also rent them to you.

-Jon

 

Just did mine on my 92" 4X4. Tried the above tecnique without any luck. (In case I forgot, "THANKS Ford4ever" for the suggestion though) Mine was leaking to bad.
I had to heat the arm to get it to break loose, you may want to get your repair kit B4 starting (I bought mine at a local parts store) since it gives you a nice description on removal. Not sure about the OEM kit instructions.
However, it included parts you don't need so be sure to set your old parts up the way you removed them and be sure to check and compare B4 re-installing.
I used a DENTAL PIC to remove the hardened washer then drilled(carefully) through the seal and removed it using a drywall screw (sharp point and course threads) to remove the seal. About 2-3 hours later I was
Good Luck, Howard

 

Thanks all. The way mine is leaking, I doubt it would hold enough pressure to blow itself out, but it is worth a try. I will attempt to leave the sector shaft in place... no sense in making more work for myself. I got the kit from Ford, and it has no instructions at all. I also dropped $50 on a brandy new pitman arm puller. Yay. A $50 tool to install a $20 part. Still cheaper than taking it to the garage I expect. I will let y'all know how it goes.

azul

 

ok, so i desided to put a new sector shart seal in the bronco this morinin, got my tools that i needed form work friday and set to work this morning.i got it all torn down and the old seal 'blew out' and i put the new one in and it seemed ok. i turned the steering wheel back and forth to make sure it didnt leak and then it blew the new seal(only the dust cover and the snap ring)out but the actual seal is still in there. i guess i didnt get the snap ring in the grove all the way. so i put it all back together and the thing leaks like crazy! so i got a whole new set from napa but i cant get the old seal out. i am wondering if i have the seal facing the right way?? i looked like it was but now i am not so sure. i can see the spring in the seal when i look up at the seal with the dust cover off. is that right or should i see the solid side?? thanks in advance
ps steve, do you have an exploded gearbox diagram on your album??if so i couldnt find it and my manual doenst show the seals, just the nuts and bolts

 

i guess i am goin to get a whole new gear box i cant get the old seal out and i am mad as hell at it.new box is 160.00+core

 

Yeah you need to make sure you get all the old rust cleaned out to get the snap ring to sit in there all the way or it will blow back out. It's been a little while since i've done one but i think you have the seal in backwards. The spring side should be on the inside so that the fluid pressure pushes against the back of the seal and seals it tight against the shaft.

-Jon

 

thats kinda what i figured, that it was backwards
reman box was $140 and the core was $160! taking out the box after i had the pitman arm off was a snap. i had to heat up the big fitting from the pump a little but went pretty smooth.