Blue-Top vs Redhead steering gear

[Marcus2000monster]

About to pull the trigger on a new gear from one or the other vendor. Blue Top is cheaper but my question is does BT have ball bearings in theyre boxes? I know redhead does and i just drove a 12V at work with a redhead and it drove like a dream! Iv heard customer service at redhead isnt the best? Who has BT and who has RH? What are your thoughts?

[Mopar1973Man]

Standard Sagnaw steering box. There is only the roller bearing on the output. The roller bearing washer inside. The worm gear is all ball bearing.

[98whitelightnin]

I put a red head on my 2005 dually and boy was that box tight! I was used to sawing it back and forth but it handled like a go-cart after the Red Head. That said, i think i will try a Blue Top next time, its $86 cheaper and probably just as good. Buddy of mine put a Blue Top on his 2000 and said it was great but I never drove it.

[Mopar1973Man]

The Blue Top I've got is slot car tight. I did have to adjust it just a wee bit. 

[Stormin08]

any else confirm this...

 

my understanding is this...BLUETOP is a family member (son or nephew) of REDHEAD, who worked for and relocated from RH. Just decided to start another location ????

[Dieselfuture]

I spoke with Rian at blue top and he said he uses a bigger bearing too along with something else that's upgraded. My next box will probably be from him.

[dripley]

Mine will be a BT also from what all i have read and heard of him. Went to adjust mine last weekend. Turned the adjuster just over a quarter turn and it bottomed out. But after 460k I aint complaining.

Edited January 18, 2019 by dripley

[Sycostang67]

It sounds like we are working to get Redhead boxes available at work.  If that comes to fruition, I plan on trying one.  I'm on my 2nd reman box and it's just as bad as the first one, only in a different way. 

[Towrigdually]

Been running around with a Bluetop for the past 40k, it's still tight with no issues what so ever. I'd buy from them again. 

[Marcus2000monster]

I think I’ll go with a blue top then. Seems like the reviews are great. 

[notlimah]

Bluetop here as well. Zero complaints with the box or customer service from Ryan!

 

On 1/18/2019 at 10:18 AM, Stormin08 said:

any else confirm this...

 

my understanding is this...BLUETOP is a family member (son or nephew) of REDHEAD, who worked for and relocated from RH. Just decided to start another location ????

 

https://www.bluetopsteeringgears.com/history

[Mopar1973Man]

22 hours ago, Sycostang67 said:

It sounds like we are working to get Redhead boxes available at work.  If that comes to fruition, I plan on trying one.  I'm on my 2nd reman box and it's just as bad as the first one, only in a different way. 

Secret. Even remain boxes might require a bit of adjustment being there is no way to load test them in a vehicle. Loosen the lock nut, an Allen wrench tighten the bolt 1/4 turn and see how it performs.

[Sycostang67]

20 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Secret. Even remain boxes might require a bit of adjustment being there is no way to load test them in a vehicle. Loosen the lock nut, an Allen wrench tighten the bolt 1/4 turn and see how it performs.

The first box had an insane amount of play, about half a turn of the wheel.  The box I have now causes the truck to pull to the right.  I've had it aligned twice by a guy I trust who has been aligning all my vehicles for years.  I replaced all the steering linkage, track bar etc. before hand so everything is tight and aside from the play, the truck was driving straight before the 2nd box went in.  Someone suggested a partial blockage some where in the box may be causing the pulling.  Either way, redhead or warranty replacement, I'm getting a new box this year. 

[Dieselfuture]

On 1/20/2019 at 12:20 PM, Sycostang67 said:

The box I have now causes the truck to pull to the right

Have you rotated tires by chance when you put new box on. My truck been pulling to the right just a little for a while. I just got a new set of tires and now it doesn't pull. And my last set, even after rotating them it's still pulled.

But anything is possible.

[Sycostang67]

On 1/22/2019 at 3:26 PM, Dieselfuture said:

Have you rotated tires by chance when you put new box on. My truck been pulling to the right just a little for a while. I just got a new set of tires and now it doesn't pull. And my last set, even after rotating them it's still pulled.

But anything is possible.

 

Yes sir, I've even gotten new wheels and tires since then. 

[Dieselfuture]

9 minutes ago, Sycostang67 said:

 

Yes sir, I've even gotten new wheels and tires since then. 

I guess if it happened after changing gear box then it's probably gear box. I know it's easy to forget sometimes what other things been done and being so sure that's got to be it and then later remembering, oh crap I did do this in between. 

I know I've done it before, so going back in memory and having random question sometimes helps. 

[Mopar1973Man]

On 1/18/2019 at 7:02 AM, Marcus2000monster said:

Blue Top is cheaper but my question is does BT have ball bearings in theyre boxes?

 

Sagnaw boxes with some mild upgrades from what I understand.

 

All the guts. The only thing your don't see is the 22 bb's that go into the worm gear.

 

Like this...

For informational purpose. 

 

2003 and up you notice that all Dodge / Ram truck use ATF this is because the Sagnaw box was replaced for a Ford power steering system. 

 

 

 

[Marcus2000monster]

Went ahead and ordered a BT gear. I can’t wait!

[Mopar1973Man]

Make sure to FLUSH your system BEFORE installing. So do the fluid flush now to clean the system. Blue Top labels the gearbox clearing stating that if you pollute the new box with debris from the rest of the system your warranty is VOID. Then make sure to allow the system to drain completely. Then when you assemble make sure to use the new o-rings on the hoses. 

 

EZ priming...

 

Have the front axle lift off the floor. Now assemble the entire system again. Now turn the key to OFF to unlock the steering wheel and slowly go from lock to lock on the new steering box. Check the fluid often. It with naturally prime the system without starting the engine. This will push the majority of the air out and draw fluid into the gearbox. Once the fluid is fairly stable go ahead and start the engine. Like it run just a little bit and shut down. Check your fluid if it foamed up DO NOT drive. Allow the foam to settle and top off as needed. Once it cleared you goo to go.

 

WARNING: If you drive with the fluid foam up it will not pump properly. It may cause pump failure too. 

Edited January 25, 2019 by Mopar1973Man

[98whitelightnin]

Mike, does Ryan recommend atf or power steering fluid?