Rebuilding Ford 651 steering box

Hdonly · Oct 11, 2019

I discovered something unusual when I took my 651 steering box apart to rebuild it. There is no welch plug in the bottom of the housing because there is no hole there. Anyone ever come across one like this that is cast solid? Mistake at the factory or aftermarket? I dunno. I guess I am going to have to find or make a puller to pull the bottom bearing race from the inside. I thought at first that maybe it was so rusty I just couldn't see it. After scraping and wire brushing, it is just cast with no hole in the bottom.

Hdonly · Oct 11, 2019

Just found the tool I need for this job on Amazon. This should take care of this job. Any excuse for another tool-right?

Keith Williams · Oct 11, 2019

Hdonly,
I have read on here that the accepted method to remove that bearing cup was to apply a bead of weld to the race and turn the box upside down.
When the weld cools the cup will fall out.
HTH
Keith

Hdonly · Oct 11, 2019

Getting kinda shaky in my old age. I may get more bead on the housing than on the race. Would hat to weld it to the housing-haha Actually I may give that a try. Thanks.

Bern · Oct 11, 2019

I've seen that before. I suspect that they had issues with the early ones leaking so they changed the design, either that or it was a cost saving measure. Makes the race harder to get out though.

deanostoybox · Oct 11, 2019

Sparex aftermarket replacement boxes are like that. May be a S.67079 Manual Steering Gear Assembly. I've never seen one or taken one apart, but on the S.67078 box for the 8N and NAA the steering shaft bearings have loose balls vs caged balls on the OEM boxes.

Hdonly · Oct 11, 2019

I went ahead and bought the puller kit. I have needed this tool before and am sure I will need it again. It should pull the race out with no problem. My steering shaft was so rusty, I ended up having to cut it to get the column apart. The top bearing was also completely rusted to the shaft. I had decided to order a new shaft with ball nut already so just took my sawsall to the shaft just under the steering wheel that was also rusted terribly to the shaft. Still took an hour to get the cut off shaft through the upper shaft bearing. That little lockring on the top bearing was a bear to get out also. Steering wheel nut was rusted about halfway gone. It's all apart now an just waiting for the new parts to come in. Sure will be nice to be able to drive it with one hand. It's been hard to steer ever since I bought it two years ago.

Rebuilding Ford 651 steering box

Hdonly

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Keith Williams

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Bern

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deanostoybox

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