Metal in steering gear box

[CJ with a TJ]

So when I swapped out my steering gearbox that was binding up for a new one, I found these metal pieces in the return line port. Can anyone identify if this metal is from the gearbox, or if something else is going, like the power steering pump, and that's just where the metal wound up? The metal was only in this one spot.

For context, I drained all the PS fluid from the reservoir, and no traces of metal there. No traces of metal in the hoses either. So I gambled, put the new gearbox on, and everything seems fine.

I'm worried about damaging the new gear box, so I'll disconnect the hoses again and see if there's any more metal chunks, and flush the fluid again. This isn't my daily driver, I've only put a few miles on it since replacing the gearbox.

 

[hear]

Those shards look like a roller bearing cage, but idk what goes on inside the steering gearbox.

 

[CJ with a TJ]

Those shards look like a roller bearing cage, but idk what goes on inside the steering gearbox.

Agreed, but I also have no idea of the inner workings of the gearbox or pump.

 

[macleanflood]

They make transmission cooler flush sprays. Maybe use a can to clean out lines and your cooler (if you have one), then replace the pump.

-Mac

 

[hosejockey61]

Looks like the sector shaft bearing possibly. There is a flat bearing in the spool valve but those parts look too big for that.

Here a video I made of a box rebuild. If you go somewhere around the 20:00 mark it will start showing those bearings.

If that stuff came out of your lines, then yeah, v you need to flush the hell out of it.

 

[MBDIAGMAN]

I think Mac is on the right track. Flush everything you can as if it is a refrigeration line after a catastrophic compressor failure. Since there’s nothing in the reservoir, pay extra attention to flushing the pressure line and pump, but do not power the pump while flushing with solvent. Never flush the steering while under pump power with anything other than pump fluid.

 

[CJ with a TJ]

I'm going to pull the gearbox, inspect it for metal debris.

Also going to replace the hoses, in case any metal is lodged inside.

And new fluid, in case little bits of metal shavings are in it.

Subject to change, depending upon what I see.

 

[hear]

After watching @hosejockey61 's video and comparing with OP's pictures, the rollers don't look the same size. The rollers in the bearing look to be mabye 1/2" - 3/4", but the debris pictured has rollers that are on the order of 1/4" or smaller.... maybe the flat Torrington bearing gave up the ghost too??

 

[hosejockey61]

I didn't see the penny before as a size reference. My guess is it's the flat bearing in the spool valve.

 

[hear]

I didn't see the penny before as a size reference. My guess is it's the flat bearing in the spool valve.

I didn't know those were called Torrington bearings until I started taking apart transmissions. the AW4 uses a bunch of them. My wife's Expedition 10R80 (which I may be rebuilding here in a week or two if Ford doesn't get their act together) also uses them. Seems like "newer" (?) transmissions tend to use those bearings rather than thrust washers to separate spinning components.

But if that crap was found in the return port, that probably means it was sent to the pump and then returned to the box via the low pressure line. I don't know to what extent the pump is serviceable, but I think I would've done everything in my power to flush it out, if not just replace outright. Definitely explains why the original pump was binding.

 

[mrblaine]

I didn't know those were called Torrington bearings until I started taking apart transmissions. the AW4 uses a bunch of them. My wife's Expedition 10R80 (which I may be rebuilding here in a week or two if Ford doesn't get their act together) also uses them. Seems like "newer" (?) transmissions tend to use those bearings rather than thrust washers to separate spinning components.

But if that crap was found in the return port, that probably means it was sent to the pump and then returned to the box via the low pressure line. I don't know to what extent the pump is serviceable, but I think I would've done everything in my power to flush it out, if not just replace outright. Definitely explains why the original pump was binding.

Torrington more refers to the use of needle rollers and that can be in a thrust bearing or roller bearing like we see in the Dana 35 for shafts. When I was working on the D-35 c-clip eliminator for Superior, it was explained to me that the 35 uses a Torrington style bearing.

I'm still not 100% clear on the distinctions though. A search brings up a lot of options with the only commonality being the use of needles.

 

[CJ with a TJ]

Ok, so here's what I did.

I drained the reservoir, disconnected the PS hoses from the gearbox, inspected for metal using vision and magnets. Nothing in the gear box, nothing in the drained fluid, nothing in the reservoir.

I go to put on new hoses, and I snap the plastic inlet on the reservoir for the return line. Blessing in disguise, as now I have to pull off the reservoir, and the pump along with it.

So I have the pump off, it's spinning smoothly, no grinding or anything out of the ordinary. I use a bunch of fresh fluid and add it to the pump while manually spinning the pulley, flushing the crap out of the pump. Again, no metal, nothing. Everything seems good.

So I put on new hoses, a new reservoir, a freshly flushed and inspected pump, and the new gearbox.

Add fluid, bleed the system, everything is running great.

 

[machoheadgames]

Torrington more refers to the use of needle rollers and that can be in a thrust bearing or roller bearing like we see in the Dana 35 for shafts. When I was working on the D-35 c-clip eliminator for Superior, it was explained to me that the 35 uses a Torrington style bearing.

I'm still not 100% clear on the distinctions though. A search brings up a lot of options with the only commonality being the use of needles.

Isn’t Torrington really just a brand? Seems like the Dana 35 bearings I’ve removed were Torrington brand from the factory, but they didn’t seem to be anything more special than a caged roller bearing. Unless maybe Torrington invented the flat style roller bearing and so the name brand is also synonymous with that type of bearing.

 

[DuckNut]

Looks like the sector shaft bearing possibly. There is a flat bearing in the spool valve but those parts look too big for that.

Here a video I made of a box rebuild. If you go somewhere around the 20:00 mark it will start showing those bearings.

If that stuff came out of your lines, then yeah, v you need to flush the hell out of it.

I worked in the plant that made those when I was a kid. I did not specifically work on them, I worked in the tilt steering area.

 

[hear]

Isn’t Torrington really just a brand? Seems like the Dana 35 bearings I’ve removed were Torrington brand from the factory, but they didn’t seem to be anything more special than a caged roller bearing. Unless maybe Torrington invented the flat style roller bearing and so the name brand is also synonymous with that type of bearing.

Yeah, idk, maybe? Theory makes sense.