The Swiss Chris Ford F15

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Driving it home it was noticeably smoother and handled a lot better, although I'm now having to turn my attention to the steering box which has tight then loose spots indicating a worn sector shaft.

So does anyone out there have a spare, good small steering box for a Ford? I have one from a cab 12 which I can install, but I also need another for the FGT.

Is the F15 box the same as the 4x4 small steering boxes? I'd be keen to see your step-by-step photo-thread of the rebuild if it's the same box! :

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Is the F15 box the same as the 4x4 small steering boxes? I'd be keen to see your step-by-step photo-thread of the rebuild if it's the same box! :

The rebuild involved carefully disengaging the horn wire, removing the driver's toe plate, removing the draglink at the lower end, cutting the tiewire and removing split pins, finding, cleaning and painting a good steering box from another F15 and installing same. The box with draglink attached will pass through into the cab with the toe plate removed. While I'm at it I'll fit a splash shield which has been relieved to clear the dipswitch to avoid a short circuit possibility as it sits almost against it.

The steering box is the same on the F15, F15A and the 3-ton versions with the small steering, although the 4X4 draglinks are slightly different. Length of the steering column appears to be the same as cab 12 although the mounting bracket is different.

I wasn't about to pull it apart unless it was necessary. These steering boxes have very weak sector shafts which I think is why Ford were forced to move to a heavier duty version for the 3-tonners eventually.