Power Steering Box Rebuild Question

[D-n-Tyke]

Preface, part number cast into my steering box is 7802644

Decided to do a full reseal on my steering box. After reading a ton and watching multiple videos figured this was going to be pretty straight forward. However, I have run into a little speed bump. Everything I saw said that there should be 24 ball bearings inside the box. I only found 22 in mine. No I didn't lose any as I tore the box down inside a pan to be sure I didn't lose anything. Are there some saginaw boxes that only had 22 balls in them?

Second hiccup is that the spool valve is different then what I have seen. The shaft is held in the main valve body with a spring around the imput shaft. I can get the spring off the shaft nor get the shaft fully out of the valve body. Ofcourse I forgot to take a picture. I am not sure if there is a seal inside that body I need to worry about or not.

This is a picture of what I was ecpecting to find when taking the spool valve apart. Mine does NOT. Look like this one.

Second picture is what I found in my box

[Accelo]

Sorry I can't comment directly to your PS issue. But I know a little something about the manual boxes from the 60-70's.
There is a common misconception on the manual boxes that the race is completely full of balls. It isn't that way. Typically looks like there is room for a couple of more balls. That is how GM made the manuals anyway.

[72SB]

is your rebuilld kit for power or manual box and is your box power?

[D-n-Tyke]

Originally Posted by 72SB

is your rebuilld kit for power or manual box and is your box power?

I am rebuilding a power box and the balls I am asking about came out of the box.

The rebuild kit I am using is a Gates 350240 that is supposed to be for a power steering box.

[Bigdav160]

I've rebuilt hundreds of these saginaw steering boxes. The ball count and size can vary.

I don't remember any with a spring around the spool valve though.

[D-n-Tyke]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I've rebuilt hundreds of these saginaw steering boxes. The ball count and size can vary.

I don't remember any with a spring around the spool valve though.

Thanks for the comment. That makes me feel a bit better about putting back together with the 22 balls that came out.

Yeah, the spring was a suprise to me too. Made it a super pain in the butt to get the valve apart to change the interal o-ring. But finally got it.

Painted the box yesterday hope to have it all reassembled today.

[D-n-Tyke]

Got it all buttoned back together today. No issues getting the balls back installed and once it was all back together it cycled lock to lock with no issue or back lash. Only small assembly hiccup was getting the ptman shaft thru the seal. Didn't slide thru easily, had to persuade it with a dead blow more that wanted to, but finally got it. Now just have to wait to get farther in the build and get the pump hooked up once the motor is back in and see if it works like it supposed to.

[53burb]

awesome! thx for the follow up!

[Peanut74]

I had the same issue with the ball count. Like you I put back together and haven't had an issue with it since.