Hey guys I just bought a Redhead steering box and installed it yesterday. I bought the 3 turn box and after I flushed all of the air out of the system the steering is extremely heavy. Sitting still idling it is impossible to turn the tires at all and does not get any better at higher RPM's. My previous box was a PSC 3 turn and it was extremely light and would turn my 35's sitting still idling no problem.

Does anybody else have Redhead's 3 turn? How does it act?

Also my steering wheel was perfectly straight before the install and now its off a little more than a 1/4 turn. Any ideas on that one? I guess I can adjust my steering link to center the steering wheel but I thought it would be closer than that from one box to the next.

Any insight is appreciated!

 

1/4 turn off is an adjustment. Every box that has been installed on my truck has required an adjustment.

Exactly what procedure did you use to bleed the air out of the system?

 

Ok thanks I'll correct the steering wheel alignment with the adjustment. To bleed the air out of the system I just filled it full of fluid and then turned it lock to lock several times then checked and added fluid until fluid level didn't change. I think I stopped and added fluid four or five times.

Thanks for the help. I have a call in to Harvey at Redhead to get his insight on the heavy steering so hopefully he will call me tomorrow.

 

Did you have the wheels on or off the ground when you were bleeding?

In my conversation with Harvey, he attributed the heavy feeling of my Cardone box to valving. He's on the Left Coast so 2 hrs behind CT.

 

I had the wheels and tires off and the truck sitting on jack stands. When I installed the PSC box 2 years ago I bled it the same way with no issues.

 

That should work. I watched one professional mechanic screw up a box by trying to bleed with wheels on the ground. He said it "worked for a Suburban." I expect his philosophy is why bother to do it right when you can (usually) get by.

One time, I turned steering wheel to lock & drove in circles then went in the other direction in an attempt get air out of AGR box. This was after much bleeding with wheels off the ground. Nothing ever made that box right. Post results of conversation with Harvey.

 

Just received a call from Redhead steering and they agreed to send me another steering gear to try. I decided to go with their 4 turn this time incase that was part of the problem but we decided that something might not be quite right with the box I received. They have been very helpful with me trying to solve this even though it sounds like they are very busy. I will update on the how the next box performs once I get it and install it next week.

 

Well I installed the new Redhead 4 turn box and it is a completely different animal. It feels and drives real smooth and tight. I'm still not completely sure if there was something not quite right with the 3.5 turn box or if it is just really underpowered for our heavy trucks? I will try and follow up with Redhead steering once they receive the 3.5 turn box back to see if they found an issue with it.

 

Would you say that you now have a truck that steers as it should or are there still problems. What front end parts do you have?

 

Yes it drives like it should now. I rebuilt the entire front end in the spring of 2008 with these parts.

DSS...............Enterprise Engine......DSS0019402-4..
Solid Steel Ind. conversion bracket....EE.....TBK2029402-4..
Solid Steel Ind. Adj Track bar..EE..DAT3029402-4..

Bilstein 5100 x 4...Top Gun Customz...
Skyjacker Coil Springs ...Top Gun Customz...D25
Skyjacker dual steering stabilizer...TGC..

Control Arm Bushings...Energy Suspension parts...5.3120..
Sway Bar Bushings......ESP....5. 5126.

MOOG Upper ball joint x 2...Rockauto....K80026
MOOG Lower ball joint x 2...Rockauto....K8607T
MOOG Sway Bar End Link x 2..RA.........K7280
Precision Wheel U-Joint x 2....RA..........374
1 ton rear wheel cylinder x 2..RA..........W79767
MOOG 1999 3500 "T" steering setup Part numbers
ES3496, ES3497, DS1456, DS1459, ES2012S, ES3498S

Drilled slotted hi perf rotor..left hand side...NAPA..PR86324L
Drilled slotted hi perf rotor..right hand side NAPA..PR86324R
severe duty metallic pads...NAPA...SD7339M

Steering shaft...Borgeson...Summit racing....BORG-950

 

Redhead is a good company I love my box.

 

Do you have the 4 turn box?