Steering box rebuilders

[Jeff Norwell]

My good friend Chuck is on assignment in Michigan right now and he is interviewing and writing a tech article on a shop that rebuilds all kinds of Steering boxes..... I asked him to see if they would do a 57 box... or if they even do any OEM stuff
Chuck got back to me and they do manual or PS ford boxes... a 2-3 week turn around....57-58,etc,etc,. any box.Better than OEM specs.
They are heavily into nascar stuff and do a large amount of late model stuff.
Anyhow...
The issue of 57-58 boxes always comes up and while there are companies that sell remanufactured boxes... this place is very small(6-8) employees... you are in contact communication with the tech person


Some of you may know this place... but any source to help our guys out is a bonus in my mind.


Here is the link.


https://www.turnone-steering.com

[Jeff Norwell]

I believe a ruff cost is $200-$500 for there services and a 2-3 week turn-around is there policy.....

[JimNolan]

I just sent them a request for a quote on my steering box. Aftermarket Steering boxes my be OK but I'm happy with turning the wheel 15,000 times to turn around. At least I'll have something I don't have to drill new bolt holes for etc. I just hope they are not so expensive.

[Jeff Norwell]

Let us know how it works Jim....I just thought it would be another option as the issue comes up from time to time.
I am not pushing for them...I just wanted to spread some info that could be helpful.

[RICH MUISE]

Yes, let us know Jim. If it works out well, I'll add it to our list of suppliers of parts and services.

[suede57ford]

Jeff, thanks for the steering box rebuilder info.   I'm looking for someone really good and reliable. 

Steering boxes are not as easy to properly rebuild and adjust as one would think, it lots of experience and someone who actually cares to do it properly.  if not done properly it will drive bad, wear out quickly or both.   Kinda like setting up a ring and pinion.

I try to source boxes of 58&59's that had power steering as those boxes should have the least wear with the power assist.

I may send one off to see what kind of result I get.

Pat

[Jeff Norwell]

From my conversations from my pal Chuck... they rebuild PS and manual boxes..... a very small company and they exceed OEM boxes with newer components  and materials.
I am just passing the info and just want all you guys to be aware.I hope Jim Nolan gets some satisfaction.I have seen one or 2 parts house that sell 58 boxes... but who knows what parts are inside... and that cost is around 500 bucks.
Obviously you must send a core to them and get a quote.....

I hope this may help anyone in need.... and.. it may be fine to swap out your 57 box for a 58..but... they are nearly 60 years old.

[59meteor]

I could not agree more. Out here in Western Canada, I have had great success  with a local steering rebuilder in Surrey BC.  He is a small 1 man operation, and recently completely rebuilt a stock steering box for my current 1959 2 door sedan project. I have a ways to go before my 59 is ready to drive, but even still, it now has the "on center" high spot, which had no high spot when I took the steering box in. He showed me a couple of shots of the lower end of the steering shaft, where it had been pitted due to water finding its way inside the box (likely from steam cleaning or pressure washing many years ago). He repaired this pitted bearing surface by machining the pitted section, and making a spacer to take up the added clearance before installing a new lower bearing. He also replaces all the ball bearings inside the recirculating ball, as well as any bushings, bearings and seals.
I was sold on Steering Solutions years ago, after he sold me an exchange PS box for my old 74 F350. On those boxes, the sector shaft, where the pitman arm attatches, rides in a hole machined inside the cast iron box case, over the years it is common for the bore to become egg shaped, which allows the sector shaft to move side to side inside the bore, eventually causing excessive play, and the lower seal to leak PS fluid all over the rubber radius arm bushings. My truck had all these symptoms, and had been not much fun to drive like that. At Steering Solutions, the lower bore in the box casting is bored out, and a bearing installed during the rebuild.Between the rebuilt steering box, and new polyurethane radius arm bushings, the truck drove so much nicer that it was hard to believe that the truck was 40 years old. It drove like a new truck, and was much less tiring to drive. In fact, shortly after the steering update, I hauled my race car 2100 miles round trip, from Vancouver BC Canada to Sonoma California for a race there, by myself, and the truck performed and drove beautifully on the trip. Of course, A/C would have been nice for the 107-114 F temps going thru Redding California, but thats another story !
If you live in Western Canada, consider Steering Solutions. Their website is  www.steeringsolutions.com

[rmk57]

Thanks for that Rory. I'm looking to upgrade or rebuild my 57 box this winter. It did pass a provincial inspection a few years back but it does have 145,000 miles on it and it feels like it could use an overhaul.

[hiball3985]

There is no power steering box in 50's type Fords.. There is only power assist and the box is the same as a manual. The 57 box is basically junk compared to a 58, there is a world of difference between a worm and sector compared to a recirculating ball design.. Better money spent to find a 58-59 and rebuild it.

[rmk57]

There is no power steering box in 50's type Fords.. There is only power assist and the box is the same as a manual. The 57 box is basically junk compared to a 58, there is a world of difference between a worm and sector compared to a recirculating ball design.. Better money spent to find a 58-59 and rebuild it.

Don't you have to change the column to?

[JimNolan]

Now, let me get this straight. My 57 was assembled in Sept of 1956 and it accumulated 104,000 miles on it until 2004. I buy it and put 62,000 miles on it. The steering box is 61 years old with 166,000 miles on it. I'm 69 years old, so what's the possibility of me putting a 58-59 steering box on it when I would have to change steering column on it and do away with my horn when I can get the old one rebuilt. Chances are I'd need another one around the time I get 130 years old.

[hiball3985]

Using the 58 column and wheel or modifying the 57 wheel would be the ideal way of doing it if you want to retain the horn on the wheel. That wasn't a problem for me I just put a button for the horn on the dash for the time being, maybe I'll find a 58 column in the future. Loosing the horn location was an easy trade off for the improved steering for me. I've made thousands of turns and maybe blown the horn once  I'm 70 years old and do a lot of mountain driving, I may never change the column, just another dream at this time.

Jim: That is absolutely amazing that the box lasted that many miles, most are history long before that..

[Ecode70D]

Jeff
     If we don't see a good picture of the top of the 58 steering box, that means it didn't happen.  They don't look anything like a 57 box.
     Hopefully I will install my 59 steering box and 59 standard shift steering column  during the winter. Jay

[Jeff Norwell]

Jeff
     If we don't see a good picture of the top of the 58 steering box, that means it didn't happen.  They don't look anything like a 57 box.
     Hopefully I will install my 59 steering box and 59 standard shift steering column  during the winter. Jay

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