DIY 018 Lincoln Steering Box Rebuild

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59lincolnrag
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DIY 018 Lincoln Steering Box Rebuild

Post by 59lincolnrag » Sun 9. Feb 2014, 06:42

Rev B Jan 2016 Added more detail.
Rev C July 2020 Added correct fluid information
Rev D May 2021 Update seal information.

If your car is fighting you every time you make a turn ..you have an internal pressure leak....
Rebuilding your steering box is really not that hard. You need to be neat, clean and patient.
There are a few special tools required.
Steering arm puller.
Piston ring compression tool.
As for the parts ...Basically its "o" rings, 2 seals, the one gasket and the main piston seal. You can source these parts where ever they sell Hydraulic parts.
Note that the piston seal is NOT an "o" ring.
Make sure you don't destroy the top steering column shaft seal and sector shaft seal when you remove them you need the part number.

Here are some helpful suppliers:

Industrial Hydraulics & Rubber Belting
458 Atlantic Ave
Camden, NJ 08104
(856) 966-2600

Airline Hydraulics 3557 Progress Drive
Bensalem, PA 19020-8505
Phone: (215) 638-4700
Fax: (215) 638-1707
Customer Service Hours:
8:00AM – 6:00PM EST

McMaster-Carr
http://www.mcmaster.com
Need help? Call (609) 259-8900,
e-mail, or text 58926.

Tri-State Bearing and Supply Company
280 N Midland Ave, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
(800) 466-2327
http://tristatebearing.com/

Lets look at the exploded view of all the parts. Thank you Sam for this great picture ....
Don't be alarmed, you can rebuild one sub-assembly at a time.
59pska3.jpg

Get your vehicle safely supported. Wear safety glasses.
First you want to disconnect the steering linkage from the Pitman arm. Using the steering arm puller remove the Pitman arm.
Remove the three bolts holding the unit to the chassis.
DSCN4049.jpg

Opps ....You might want to disconnect the rag joint first. Inspect the rag joint carefully and replace it if necessary.
I also removed the brake booster for accessibility.
DSCN4050.jpg

Set the unit on the bench or vise and remove the 5 bolts and remove the adjustment cover. Do not change the adjustment on the adjustment screw. Just leave it alone. If your leaking fluid from there. go ahead and replace the seal ...I believe its a copper ring...maintain the correct adjustment.
DSCN4056.jpg

Here are the sub assemblies. Im also showing extra parts so you can see how everything goes together.
DSCN4051.jpg

Carefully inspect the casting for cracks or stripped threads....this one looks good...
DSCN4052.jpg

Here is the unit broken down ....
DSCN4047.jpg

Take each part clean it, replace all the seals. I would caution you if you decide to take apart the piece with the ball bearings in it. I'm just sayin....
DSCN4046.jpg

Look at the piston at the far right ...the red paint is highlighting a crack in the piston! Naturally I discovered this problem after I re-installed the unit and had the same problem. I can whip this steering box in and out in record time...! So don't let this happen to you.
I carefully honed the cylinder before I assembled the unit.
DSCN4053.jpg

Using the piston ring compressor tool slowly insert the piston into the bore tap down lightly with your hammer handle. Be sure to wipe some oil in the cylinder.
DSCN4054.jpg
DSCN4055.jpg

I hope this helps. Please use this as a guide to rebuild your steering box ......

1958-1959-1960 Lincoln Power Steering Main Seal Specifications.

STYLE PS1600 PISTON SEALS

MATERIAL:15% GLASS FILLED Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) SEAL RUBBER ENERGIZER (Teflon)

MAXIMUM SPEED: 12 FT PER SECOND

MAXIMUM DIAM. EXTRUSION GAP: 2400PSI/.020 3750 PSI/.018 6000 PSI/.014

PRESSURE RANGE: 0 - 5000 PSI

TEMPERATURE RANGE: -40 TO +220 F

PART NUMBER: PS1600-56

Bore Diameter - 3.500

Groove Diameter - 3.103

Groove Width - 0.157

Seal Height - 0.150

Piston Diameter - 3.499

LIST PRICE - $8.42

Also See ...
https://www.herculesus.com/product.php?productid=4580

Large O-Ring O-Ring, AS 568-236 3.234 X 0.139 (3.512 OD) NBR/ Nitrile 70

Seals:
1 SKF 9843 Double Lip Oil Seal - Solid, 1.000 in Shaft, 1.499 in OD, 0.250 in Width, CRWA5 Design, Nitrile Rubber (NBR) Lip Material.

1 12360 Double Lip Oil Seal - Solid, 1.250 in Shaft, 1.750 in OD, 0.250 in Width, CRWA5 Design, Nitrile Rubber (NBR) Lip Material

You can use the same fluid as the transmission to refill.
The original fluid was Type A.
Type A evolved into Dextron III
DEXRON III/MERCON is the successor to TYPE "A" and TYPE "A" SUFFIX "A". The old fluids are obsolete.
Yes type F is for older Ford transmissions. but not for that one. TYPE "F" was not introduced until the 1968 model year.
This procedure is similar to other units.
2002 Lincoln Blackwood
1959 Lincoln Continental Coupe blk on blk
430 Tri-Power Super Marauder
1959 Lincoln Continental Convertible wht on wht
2006 Lincoln Town Car

60MKV
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Re: DIY018 Lincoln Steering Box rebuild

Post by 60MKV » Thu 7. Jan 2016, 21:46

Hello, I've got my box all apart now, and desperately trying to find a source for the piston seal. I've been working with my local hydraulic shop and as you've confirmed, it is not an O-ring. Where can this specific seal be sourced? Thank you in advance for your help!

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59lincolnrag
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Re: DIY018 Lincoln Steering Box rebuild

Post by 59lincolnrag » Fri 8. Jan 2016, 05:23

Yes Hello 60 Mark .....I have posted the suppliers above. However I did make up several kits ....I will look to see If I still have them ..There may be a part number stamped on the package( I did see your post on FB)
2002 Lincoln Blackwood
1959 Lincoln Continental Coupe blk on blk
430 Tri-Power Super Marauder
1959 Lincoln Continental Convertible wht on wht
2006 Lincoln Town Car

60MKV
Airman basic
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon 21. Nov 2011, 03:17
Gender: female

Re: DIY018 Lincoln Steering Box rebuild

Post by 60MKV » Fri 8. Jan 2016, 11:16

A part number and ID of the supplier would be very helpful! I too am trying to pull a few "kits" together so other folks won't need to go through the same trouble!

Great write up above, gave me the confidence to pull that beast apart!

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59lincolnrag
Air Education & Training Command
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Posts: 217
Joined: Wed 24. Dec 2008, 06:03
Gender: male
Music instruments you're playing: Acoustic Guitar ... when I was young
Location: South Jersey 08062

Re: DIY018 Lincoln Steering Box rebuild

Post by 59lincolnrag » Fri 8. Jan 2016, 11:42

Yes ...I understand ....... These days its very difficult to get quality parts if any at all. I work in a machine shop ...Its so sad to see manufacturing disappearing ...I cant even find ball bearings for my saw !
Give me some time and I should be able to find them ...

SEE ABOVE
2002 Lincoln Blackwood
1959 Lincoln Continental Coupe blk on blk
430 Tri-Power Super Marauder
1959 Lincoln Continental Convertible wht on wht
2006 Lincoln Town Car

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59lincolnrag
Air Education & Training Command
Air Education & Training Command
Posts: 217
Joined: Wed 24. Dec 2008, 06:03
Gender: male
Music instruments you're playing: Acoustic Guitar ... when I was young
Location: South Jersey 08062

Re: DIY018 Lincoln Steering Box Rebuild

Post by 59lincolnrag » Sun 26. Jul 2020, 16:07

Rev C July 2020 Added correct fluid information
2002 Lincoln Blackwood
1959 Lincoln Continental Coupe blk on blk
430 Tri-Power Super Marauder
1959 Lincoln Continental Convertible wht on wht
2006 Lincoln Town Car

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