[krehmkej]

Well I done screwed up. First time into a Saginaw PS box (SPA-T, 71 Mach 1 Mustang) I managed to dislodge the balls despite all the dire warnings in the shop manual. Of course, it has no instructions for setting things right again. Certainly I'm not the first one dumb enough to do this.

Does anyone know of the best way to get the bals back in place when I reassemble this unit?

thanks.

[T-bucket23]

its been a long time, I dont remember except I do remember it was a pain in the butt

[Triaged]

Get some transmission assembly lube. You can get it at NAPA. Separate out the balls into lite ones and dark ones (they are different diameters if you can't tell by color on a box so old). Use lots of grease to hold the balls in and put them in dark,lite,dark,lite, etc.

[krehmkej]

Thanks. The manual mentioned black and silver ones, I have them sorted by size, 12 each. If this sounds right, looks as if I should put the worm into the piston, thn insert the balls, with the lube into the hole under the return guide, and then install the guide and the last few balls with more of the lube.

-jwk-

[Triaged]

Sounds like you got it to me.

[Triaged]

Check this out...
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=570869

[krehmkej]

WOW. Sure missed that while Googling around for ideas. Thanks!

[jimfulco]

Originally Posted by Triaged

Check this out...
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=570869

Looks like a great writeup. Wonder how much of it applies to pre-'88 gears?

[Triaged]

The only thing that is different from my 71 K5 is that my steering box mounts on the outside of the frame rail and the 88-up mount on the inside. I do believe that there were minor part and setup differences over the years but the basic assembly is the same for just about all the Saginaw boxes...at least all the big boxes I have messed with.

[krehmkej]

Mine is a '71 Mustang box, and the guts appear identical. Only difference was the sector cover gasket. Mine is a o-ring whereas the one pictured is a flat one. I have also heard that the whole inside of a later Vette box will drop into these early Ford ones.