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 turning left when compared to turning right. I talked to a couple alignment shops and both of them said it's a gearbox problem. I called redhead and they told me to use some wonkey bleeding procedure and told me that the problem is trapped air in the piston. It's not a spongy feeling while turning, it's a constant resistance type feeling. I expect that there will be a reasonable amount of return to center resistance but it's not equal on both sides. Turning right is great, turning left takes effort. Like enough effort to make my arm hurt after a while.

I'm going to bleed the **** thing but it's going to be quite a chore. The bulked up gearbox gives you barely enough room to get a wrench in there to loosen the lines. I just fail to see how that's going to fix it. Now when this doesn't work, I'm down to asking for another gearbox from redhead or asking for a refund and replacing it with another manufacturer. What other manufacturers make the upgraded gearbox? Also, is this bleeding procedure worth it? I pasted the procedure below. SECONDARY BLEEDING INSTRUCTIONS

DROPPING FLUID & STARTING OVER

Unhook hoses at the steering gear and drain fluid completely. Cover steering gear ports with a piece of plastic or rag and then turn gear back and forth fully, lock to lock at least 3 times spitting out as much fluid as you can.

Hook up the pressure line to the port on the gear. Very slowly pour fluid into reservoir and I stress very slowly. Once you have clear fluid coming out of the return port re-attach the return line to the port and finish filling the reservoir. Make sure the reservoir is the full mark at all times while bleeding!

Once you have this completed, return to the normal bleeding procedure, engine off, wheels off the ground, turning lock to lock 30-40 times lock to lock, stopping at times, to jerk the steering wheel left-right, left-right, left-right a few times. Walk away for a few hours once this is done. Make sure the reservoir is above full at all times while bleeding!

Do the same normal bleeding procedure, engine off, wheels of the ground, turning back and forth 30-40 times lock to lock, stopping at times, to jerk the steering wheel left-right, left-right, left-right a few times. Make sure the reservoir is above full at all times while bleeding!

Start the engine and then do the same normal bleeding procedure, engine off, wheels offing the ground, turning back and forth many many times lock to lock, stopping at times, to jerk the steering wheel left-right, left-right, left-right a few times. Make sure the reservoir is over full at all times while bleeding!

 

Looks like these forums are getting a little skinny. Redhead is going to send me a 3rd steering gear so that's good. Hopefully this one is built well.

 

I'm curious how this turned out. I'm on my third Red Head box and it's going back for the same reason you described above. What did you end up doing?

 

Seems like red head isn't very well made,, both of you on the 3rd part???? I run LubeGard in my PS,,, my stock 2005 pump is working like a champ.... I don't have over size tires,,, and suck out 16oz of oil every 10THOU miles.