95’ F150, 4.9L, shortbed, 2WD… Have lots of play in the steering and after checking various points I’ve decided to replace the steering gear box, the steering shaft, the power steering pump and hoses to give it all a fresh feel. Plus my 9 yr old son is helping and we’re learning together as we go along. Any advice on how to go about bleeding fresh fluid into the gear box as we start to hook up the pump and hoses and get everything back together?

 

I helped my brother replace a steering rack on a Camry a while back. We kept the wheels off the ground and put fluid in the reservoir. With the engine off, we turned the wheels back and forth until the reservoir level dropped and repeated until the system was full. Then we turned the engine on and with the wheels still off the ground, checked the fluid levels again once the pump was running.

 

It sounds like you have already started replacing the steering box?? If not, I wouldn't replace the steering box unless I first properly diagnosed it and made sure the steering box was loose. Yes I know you have done some checking but.

Anyway. no need to add fluid before the pump, steering box and hoses are totally hooked up. I would use the Ford recommended type F automatic transmission fluid as your power steering fluid.

 

there may be some play to take care of in the steering column as well. But the gear box for sure is an issue. The old rag joint on the steering column was in really good shape, someone has replaced that before us owning it for sure. There was almost a full quarter turn on the input shaft before the sector shaft would move. We’re going with a blue top steering gear, borgeson steering shaft and new steering pump and hoses. I’m having fun… got a new pitman arm in anticipation of the old one not wanting to come off… but that came off easy

 

So on the pressure side of the power pump, the hose had a Teflon washer/ring around the threads. And the new pump came with another Teflon washer/ring and a rubber smaller O-ring. During the disassembly of the steering system I never saw a Oring… so where does the new one go? Someone from work suggested it goes on the pressure side between the hose and the steering gear box… does this sound right?