I bought a RedHead steering box for my 1995 Bronco. It was $260 free shipping, including the 10% discount. I received it, it looked great. I put it on- WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP. It has at least 25 degrees of play in the steering, the steering wheel at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock straight across, it's contantly going to 8 o'clock and 2 o'clock. It's all over the road. It's not even as good as the rebuilt Advance Auto steering box I bought 4 years ago for half the price. I'm surely not sending them that one as a core, I'll get a refund first. I called RedHead spoke to 2 reps, both rambled on about torque spec of the pitman arm. The first guy actually said he has other customers to take care of, after 25 minutes, well I spent $260 for the box, and $175 for the core. I'm out $435 plus tax and I have to send it back. When I asked who rebuilt the box, they answered the guys in the back. I said did you actually see the guys set it up ? No. The reps on the phone have a line about pitman arms torque spec. Well the pitman arm is on there good, if I torqued it any more, it would strip the threads. It's a pressed tapered stud. The problem is there is a ton of play in it. It acts like a worn out steering box. I've been a mechanic 40 years and this steering box acts is almost as bad as the original one we took off the truck that was 25 years old. It appears that RedHead employees are just painting steering boxes and reselling them, and seeing how much money they can make, and who calls back, and takes them up on the warranty. I only drove it 2 MILES, and parked it. They're giving a song and a dance about warranty. Their steering boxes are obviously, blatantly, set up TOO LOOSE.
I bought a RedHead steering box for my 1995 Bronco. It was $260 free shipping, including the 10% discount. I received it, it looked great. I put it on- WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP. It has at least 25 degrees of play in the steering, the steering wheel at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock straight across, it's contantly going to 8 o'clock and 2 o'clock. It's all over the road. It's not even as good as the rebuilt Advance Auto steering box I bought 4 years ago for half the price. I'm surely not sending them that one as a core, I'll get a refund first. I called RedHead spoke to 2 reps, both rambled on about torque spec of the pitman arm. The first guy actually said he has other customers to take care of, after 25 minutes, well I spent $260 for the box, and $175 for the core. I'm out $435 plus tax and I have to send it back. When I asked who rebuilt the box, they answered the guys in the back. I said did you actually see the guys set it up ? No. The reps on the phone have a line about pitman arms torque spec. Well the pitman arm is on there good, if I torqued it any more, it would strip the threads. It's a pressed tapered stud. The problem is there is a ton of play in it. It acts like a worn out steering box. I've been a mechanic 40 years and this steering box acts is almost as bad as the original one we took off the truck that was 25 years old. It appears that RedHead employees are just painting steering boxes and reselling them, and seeing how much money they can make, and who calls back, and takes them up on the warranty. I only drove it 2 MILES, and parked it. They're giving a song and a dance about warranty. Their steering boxes are obviously, blatantly, set up TOO LOOSE.
GET BLUE TOP- Red Head is like the name says.....hand job.
or AGR...anything but Red Head. their phone reps sound like they're gender challenged. I must have changed a dozen steering boxes in the past 40 years, NONE of them were as bad as this Red Head box. I've gotten steering boxes from the junkyard for $25 that worked perfectly that were better. They're being sent the worst POS cores, painting them, and reselling them with new seals. I told both reps, the lash adjustment is what the TOP SCREW and locknut are for, not the pitman arm nut. You can tighten a pitman arm until hell won't have it, it's only going to open up the hole in the pitman arm more. BTW, beware their warranty scam, the box arrives with a tag on it, says any adjustment voids the warranty. They send you a loose steering box that you can't adjust or you can't return it.
They have a regular line where they attack every component you ever put on the truck in the past 5 years, trying to blame something else. They actually had the nerve to attack Borgeson Steering Shaft that I put on the truck. It was the single most effective steering piece I put on for removing play from steering. They also said there's problems with pitman arms, when I put one on 3 years ago or more. Then they said oh out east all the vehicles are rotted out. Well you see the pic of my Bronco in my name at left. We have $10,000 into it now. I just put new headlights, windshield washer pump, drivers side power window motor on. No problems. This truck is not a shtbox. WTF ??
i question if my Bluetop has already started to have slop or if my Borg shaft is the issues. Bluetop/Borgeson has only a few hundred miles on it. but it could also be from my SAS but i havent seen any other potential issues with the SAS that i havent already gone through
i hate the Borgeson shaft but its the only real solution for most people. but i think im going to cut my original shaft and weld a Borgeson slip shaft in because ive seen too many isuses with the full Borg shafts. from viberation damper failing, set screws breaking, slip shaft seizing, and overall mounting design vs OEM.
I bought a Red Head about 3 years ago and mine has been trouble free 100%.
I will admit that I upgraded my steering gear to the F-250 steering gear that has the exact same footprint but has a four bolt top that is much beefier along with the Pittman arm.
My linkage is much tighter than it was before and at least for 3 years, has lasted and held up very well.
It is possible that you got one that did not get inspected before leaving the shop....
I dunno...
I bought a Red Head about 3 years ago and mine has been trouble free 100%.
I will admit that I upgraded my steering gear to the F-250 steering gear that has the exact same footprint but has a four bolt top that is much beefier along with the Pittman arm.
My linkage is much tighter than it was before and at least for 3 years, has lasted and held up very well.
It is possible that you got one that did not get inspected before leaving the shop....
I do all my work myself except alignment, tire mounting/balancing. I've been a mechanic 40 years. I put the box on at home in the driveway.
the entire front end on my Bronco is new. upper/lower ball joints, pivot bushings, wheel bearings, hubs, lockouts, all steering linkage, steering stabilizer, Borgeson steering shaft, tires, front end alignment to specs with offset upper bushings on ball joints, 4 shocks, spring towers. the old box would drive straight on a smooth highway road with my hands off the wheel for an 1/8th mile or more before even starting to creep right or left. I just wanted more stability on bumpy, curvy roads, so thought I'd upgrade to a Redhead box. It was a total DOWNGRADE. It's almost as bad as the original 1995 box I replaced when I got the truck 5 years ago. Ask yourself what do they do with all these returns when people get them, and there's problems. they repaint them and resell them, to the next sucker. That is obvious because I see repeat problems listed on the net, to the problem I have with this one. These guys are a dishonest company, they don't stand behind their product, and they started attacking every other part on the truck rather than their steering box, from the first call I made. The guys who answer the phone are just plain weird, like brainwashed robots, and they sound a bit light in the loafers. When I asked who actually rebuilt this box, expecting to speak to a tech- The answer was "I dunno, the guys out back". THE GUYS OUT BACK ?? WTH kinda answer is that. Then he said he's gotta go cuz he has other customers, I said what about me I spent $450 and can't drive the truck anymore. When I called back 2nd time, they put me on hold 5 minutes. Called 3rd time, they said can I put you on hold ? I said HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ME WAIT , why don't you just handle it ? So he tried to and was as bad as the first guy, or worse. The box has play and they won't allow you to adjust it, instead saying tighten the pitman are more ? it's already pressed on the shaft like a rock, it can't get any tighter without ripping the threads off. they're scammers, dudes !!
they actually tried to say it was the Borgeson steering shaft, which is a rock solid piece as you can possible get.
Is AGR even still in buisness they are a couple miles away and ran by there a couple of times in the last couple months and the place looks dead. I talked to the owner one time he was ls swapping a FSB he also had a what looked like an off road buggy as well. Seemed like a nice guy and showed me how they rebuilt the p/s pumps.
A couple of years ago I purchased a redhead steering box, and after installing it I immediately discovered it refused to return to center. A call to their shop advised me that apparently it wasn’t adjusted correctly at assembly and to loosen the adjustment, despite several written warnings stating that any adjustment voids the warranty. After several calls back-and-forth and additional adjustments, they agreed to send me a replacement. That replacement didn’t get installed right away, but I finally decided to install it after getting tired of having to make adjustments several times to the original box. I proceeded to install a new power steering pump, new hoses, and the new box. After installing the parts, and following the enclosed bleeding procedures repeatedly, I discovered that there is zero assist with the box. With the drag link connected and the engine idling it’s impossible to turn the wheels. Another phone call to them resulted in there saying that it’s got to be the power steering pump, so I borrowed a Power steering pressure test kit from O’Reilly auto parts, and discovered that the pump puts out 400 psi at idle and it raises to 1100 or so psi when you close the service valve. I then relayed this information to redhead at which point they said there has to be a problem with the box, but since it’s out of warranty, (despite having never been taken out of the original shipping box since I received it ) we can sell you another one for an additional $500 or you can send it in for a repair, you pay shipping both ways and can expect a turnaround of 1 to 2 weeks. Sadly, I had intended to depart for a trip to Alaska this weekend, but obviously that’s not happening and I’ll have to postpone my trip until the fall. it amazes me that I have received two defective boxes in a row, and was told on the original one that they had had some quality control problems in the past, but they were no longer an issue. Well, apparently they still have major quality control problems. At this point, my review of redhead gives them zero stars.
if you want to get a real eye opener, check the diesel forums, do a google search of "redhead steering gear problems" it has become rampant, it's like they just don't care anymore. with all these returns piling up, it appears they are just sending out the old returns again to new buyers, that's what I got here. someone else's reject.
#1 · Oct 15, 2015
So about a month ago when I rebuilt my front end, I ordered a Red Head steering box to finish it off. I have never heard anything bad about them other than the rare occasion that the first unit leaked and they sent out a replacement with no issues.
It finally comes in as I have already replaced everything else. I pull it in the garage to swap it out. I take it out of the box, take the tags about messing with the adjustment nut off, install my fluid lines on it and put it in. I bled it out just as he instructions said to over a 24hr period. I test drive it and everything feels great. I'm happy.
I drive it to work for a week (literally 2 miles each way) and after a couple days of driving it something isn't quite right but I can't really tell what. I notice that I'm having to correct and over correct constantly it seems. I figure it may be break in and don't worry too much about it.
That weekend I take it on a 4 hrs road trip and this is when I really notice it. It's like the steering is "too tight"! I know that's hard to believe in one of these trucks but that's how it feels. You have to actually drive it and I drive 200+ ton cranes with all wheel steering on a daily basis...this actually reminded me of that! It won't return to center. If you let go of the wheel in a sweeping curve on the highway it would continue on the curve. I also noticed a creaking sound a few degrees either way from center when at slower speeds.
I called Red Head and told them what was going on and they acted like they never heard of this problem before...
The guy asked me to take pictures of the "red" part on top and send them to him. I said "oh, the tamper proofed part?" and he said yeah. No problem. Told him I'd get it to him asap.
Crawled under the truck and snapped this picture of it:
He emailed me back the next day and asked who installed it. I told him that I did. I them called him and asked what he thought it was?
First words out of his mouth are "oh, this has definitely been tampered with" WTF?!?!
I told him it wasn't and that I had installed it and not touched it and that it hasn't been in a shop since. He said well I don't know what to tell you. I said look at the picture! All your tamper proof crap is still on there! He said well there is some chipped off of it but they'd "have to look at it" once they got it back and let me know if I owe anything more. He tells me he can send another one out but they need another core charge. He agrees to shipping both ways (cost me $65 to send it back) and starts to process it.
I'm pissed to say the least. I ask for the manager.
He puts me through to a guy that is extremely adamant saying they would have never sent one out like that. I tell him repeatedly that I didn't touch the F'ing adjustment bolt on the damn thing!
He tells me I have 2 options:
Send the one I have back to them and they will re adjust it and send it back (me paying shipping) or that they'll take a core charge and send me one, I send mine back, and he'll only charge me a $75 restocking fee once they repair the one I have! Well option 1 will take 2 weeks to send it to them and them send it back to me so that really isn't an option...
I'm even more pissed now than I was before. I ask this guy if he is the owner and he says yes. Told him that his customer service sucks and that I really don't have a choice. Asked him to send me a pic of one of the ones they have there so I can compare and I'd call him back. They send me this pic:
I immediately call them back and tell him there is no way mine looked like this when I received it. Told him that I would let everyone know how there customer service is and that I don't appreciate being accused of doing something I didn't do. I paid the core charge and there is one on the way.
What do you guys think?? Does it look tampered with to you? Ever had issues like this with them before?
FYI...I'll be taking a pic of the box when it gets here, when I take it out of the box, both of them side by side, and one once it's installed in the truck. I would suggest you do the same if you go that route. I'll keep you posted. Sorry so long but just want to help the next guy make an informed decision.
3rd Generation Ram - Non Drivetrain - All Years - Redhead Steering gear problems - I'm on my second redhead upgraded steering gear. The first one wouldn't return to center and just didn't feel right. They sent me another and this one returns to center but has twice the steering wheel resistance...
I purchased a Red Head Steering Gear Box approximately 14 months ago, after extensive research and positive feedback on online forums. Despite the product only having a one-year warranty, I decided to trust it, especially since my OEM steering gear box had developed a minor leak at 285 k miles. Alongside replacing the power steering, hoses, all bushings on front suspicion, lower and upper ball joints front shocks and control arm bushings. I opted to install the Red Head steering gear box.
However, less than 10,000 miles later, I encountered a significant issue. The steering gear box began leaking at the pitman arm bushing, resulting in noticeable fluid leakage in my driveway. This unexpected and premature failure has left me severely disappointed. I contact customer services and they are a joke.
Excursion - King of SUVs - Red Head steering issues - As the title states has anyone else had issues with red head steering. I replaced my steering gear almost 2 years ago along with ball joints and a few other wear items and it improved things significantly but never seemed perfect and due to a...
CLICK LINK BELOW THEN SCROLL DOWN GOOGLE SEARCH OF REDHEAD STEERING GEAR PROBLEMS, THEN GO TO NEXT PAGES
there are more problems and returns and angry customers from those RedHead Steering boxes, than you can count. do a Google search there's literally pages and pages of hits, multiple complaints in just about every diesel, truck, suv, car forum. click link below, then scroll down, you'll be petrified by what's happening out there with them.
Is your chief complaint the slop in the steering? Or having to constantly correct steering? I've had a red head and a borgeson shaft on my rig for about 8 or 9 years and in that time I've constantly dealt with a bit of a slop issue in the steering. Reading this thread. I'm beginning to lean to the fact that after all these years it may have been the redhead box that's the issue. I know I need ball joints in the not to distant future , but I may take a look at the AGR boxes.
local old timer at Ford dealership 42 years, parts man, has solution, I called them today when they opened at 8:30 am
same guy that got me the last ABS sensor ring available in entire USA.
he said NO PROBLEM. # STG41RM straight from any Ford dealership rebuilt by MOTORCRAFT, see separate thread I posted,
SUMMIT RACING in Ohio has them discounted only $235, they are eating RedHead's lunch,
and far better quality than RedHead. same procedure, custom ball bearings, AND replace sector shafts, pistons as needed, and OEM Ford quality and reputation behind them.
Redhead is giving old steering boxes a whore bath of deodorant and lipstick.
when a dealer needs something, they get it right.
we've been misled, misinformed about these halloween makeup painted gawdy aftermarket steering boxes,
all they are is window dressing like a street hooker...
OEM Ford Motorcraft is #1
that's why Redhead, etc. quality is suffering, they can't compete. so they're cutting corners.
roger that...but I may not need it.
have a line on a NOS Ford steering box that was never bolted on a truck,
for the same price.
might go with New Old Stock.
either way, there's ways around the RedHead bs drama.
RH isn't really what they crack themselves up to be,
they talk the talk, but can't walk the walk. all bluster, bluffing.
we had a saying for that in the diesel/truck shop..
"yeh, he talks a good job...." lol
Man, you need to find some time and start writing some technical posts, I'd like to learn from people like you.
And your humor! "Redhead is giving old steering boxes a whore bath of deodorant and lipstick."
I just reached out to PSC to see if they offer anything. I purchased a rebuild kit a few months back and really want to rebuild my spare gear I have. People talk like there is some kind of magic that happens inside them gear boxes, which is why I want to open one up🤪.
I just reached out to PSC to see if they offer anything. I purchased a rebuild kit a few months back and really want to rebuild my spare gear I have. People talk like there is some kind of magic that happens inside them gear boxes, which is why I want to open one up🤪.
View attachment 236258
AMEN TO THAT BROTHER ! there's nothing to them. see my post in thread about getting middle high spot of steering box without taking cover off, I posted many pics today. what's in there ? a housing with a piston assembly that bolts in, and a sector shaft that drops in, a lid that bolts on with an O-ring, and a seal kit. then setting a couple lash settings. how hard can it be ? I've built like 60 V8 engines, diesels, etc. in my life. what's so scary about a steering box ? it's just like rear axles, transmissions. the industry keeps a lot of info away from the average consumer, because when said consumer finds out, he's not a paying customer anymore. he does it himself. the medical industry does the same thing with script medications vs. supplements you can buy in Walmart and the Dollar store.
What the rebuilders don't seem to grasp and understand, there's a standard procedure to set the box up with about 5 inch lbs. turning resistance in the piston side, and 5 inch lbs. on the sector shaft, for a total of 10 inch lbs. with a fully assembled box. but these boxes were notorious for developing excessive slop over shorter periods of time, than say a GM, Chrysler, Toyota, etc. box- and the twin traction beam/twin I-beam suspension works them especially harder, being the design has no IDLER ARM. so all that lateral force from the tires, suspension gets sent right into the steering box. if the stock settings are loose in no time, that means you have to start tighter to make it last longer. just like crank clearances on an engine. if you set it up on the high side for racing, it'll be loose in no time if it's a daily driver.
well hells bells the aftermarket companies found out they can set them up a little tighter, and have less wander, and give it a fancy name, and wild paint job, and sell them to truck rodders. what's tighter ? what's that mean ?
well it means it's gonna take MORE than 10" lbs. (no pun intended here lol) to begin with of resistance, for the steering box to not wander and stay tight, and hold the road without constant correction, for a long time- this is starting to sound like some girls I knew a long time ago hahahahah
meaning the preload may have to start at 12"-15" lbs. and set up with less clearance, tighter, to have more reliability, durability, longevity before needing adjustment or replacement, and becoming worn out.
the world is full of GM and Chrysler cars, trucks with original steering boxes on them with 200k+ miles, but that's usually a tall order with a 1970-2000 F150 or Bronco.
and what's one of the main remarks buyers of aftermarket specialty steering boxes make ?
"it requires more turning effort, the box seems harder to steer"
i.e. that means they're setting them up tighter to begin with.
I'm also going to repair the old unit on my Bronco, why give them a steering box core for free. I'll rebuild it myself and keep it as a spare, or sell it myself. it's pretty easy to paint a steering box some wild colors. call it a Dead Head steering box, put a Grateful Dead skull on it. or something. hahahaha
I have a Redhead 4bolt I have been running for several years now and I can say I have had no problems at all. It definitely tightened up my steering but I also replaced my rag joint steering with a Borgeson steering shaft and replaced all my tie rods with a Super runner Steering system. I don't think just changing the steering box is going to elevate steering slop.
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