Topic: 1967 GT500 Power Steering Cylinder

[kkupec02]

1/26/67 GT500. I took it out of the garage today for the first time this year and found a power steering leak with a puddle on the garage floor. One of the steel braided lines has a few drops coming out but the major problem is that the power steering cylinder seal where the rod passes in and out of the cylinder is leaking pretty good. The rubber boot was full of fluid. I have changed hoses before, but not cylinders. I see no cylinders for sale at Branda and only foreign replacement cylinders at NPD. Are these usually restored by someone like master cylinders and brake boosters? I am worried that I just lost the car for the summer if it has to be sent out for rebuild and I don't have that knowledge to do it myself. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[J_Speegle]

Don't know if they rebuild the cylinder/rams but likely do. You will want to get your back, if its not all dented up as they can be a pain to find in good and not rusty/pitted condition plus if original it will be dated for your car.

Give them a look. The pages show they have replacements - not sure how right those are for your specific application and they mention kits to rebuild. Maybe they can do one for you

http://www.chockostangclassicmustang.com/rebuildingservices.html

[Bob Gaines]

1/26/67 GT500. I took it out of the garage today for the first time this year and found a power steering leak with a puddle on the garage floor. One of the steel braided lines has a few drops coming out but the major problem is that the power steering cylinder seal where the rod passes in and out of the cylinder is leaking pretty good. The rubber boot was full of fluid. I have changed hoses before, but not cylinders. I see no cylinders for sale at Branda and only foreign replacement cylinders at NPD. Are these usually restored by someone like master cylinders and brake boosters? I am worried that I just lost the car for the summer if it has to be sent out for rebuild and I don't have that knowledge to do it myself. Any suggestions? Thanks.

It sounds like a ram seal has gone bad. You can get the seal kit from NPD. The seal kit isn't too bad to install. Look on You Tube for a DIY video. for example I put in " Mustang power steering ram seal installation instructions" and got numerous instruction videos.

[kkupec02]

Mine is in original non-rusted condition so I would want to rebuild it if it can be rebuilt. I am guessing it just needs a new ram seal also. I'll call Chock. Thanks.

[kkupec02]

I have the cylinder hanging. I need to get a puller for the castle nut stud if I am going to keep it and have it rebuilt. Problem is that I see no manufacturer marks on it. Just a number 128551, probably a replacement part number. What manufacturer and date codes should I look for with a 1/27/67 build date? Thanks

[Bob Gaines]

I have the cylinder hanging. I need to get a puller for the castle nut stud if I am going to keep it and have it rebuilt. Problem is that I see no manufacturer marks on it. Just a number 128551, probably a replacement part number. What manufacturer and date codes should I look for with a 1/27/67 build date? Thanks

The Ford build date is relevant in this case .The Shelby build date is not. The 128551 is not a part number. It is a MFG code. The stamped cylinder mfg date can be light so you may be overlooking it. I wouldn't be surprised to see a date a couple weeks to a couple months prior to the Ford build date.

[kkupec02]

I'll look closer when I get it off tomorrow. Should it have a "FORD" or "BENDIX" stamp on it? Thanks.

[Anghelrestorations]

Bendix was the supplier for these for all the years from 65 to 70 when this type of system was used.  You will only have three stampings on there....the manufacturer stamp like Bob mentioned, The Bendix logo stamp, and the date code.  Once its off the car you should see all of them. 

[J_Speegle]

I'll look closer when I get it off tomorrow. Should it have a "FORD" or "BENDIX" stamp on it? Thanks.

Here are two examples Upper left from a 69 and lower right shows the date on a 67. Both are stamped on the end of the ram that attaches to the center link

[kkupec02]

I had to use a 3/4" ball joint separator to get it out. Stuck in there good. I now see, in addition to the 128551 code, the Bendix stamp and the code 7A19A. Kind of surprising given the Shelby build date of 1/27/67. I think the code means 1967, January 19th? Not sure of second A. Maybe shift? The cylinder retains the black paint on the upper half of the cylinder. None on lower half facing road, but no rust at all. Clean, rust free shiny ram.

[Bob Gaines]

I had to use a 3/4" ball joint separator to get it out. Stuck in there good. I now see, in addition to the 128551 code, the Bendix stamp and the code 7A19A. Kind of surprising given the Shelby build date of 1/27/67. I think the code means 1967, January 19th? Not sure of second A. Maybe shift? The cylinder retains the black paint on the upper half of the cylinder. None on lower half facing road, but no rust at all. Clean, rust free shiny ram.

Yes given logistics a very close example of just in time inventory. Yes road wear has taken off previous owner added paint. Originally there would not have been black paint on upper or lower half of cylinder.

[Anghelrestorations]

Correctly restored should look something like this here:

20230420_145146 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

20230420_145149 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

20230420_145153 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

[J_Speegle]

I had to use a 3/4" ball joint separator to get it out. Stuck in there good. I now see, in addition to the 128551 code, the Bendix stamp and the code 7A19A. Kind of surprising given the Shelby build date of 1/27/67. I think the code means 1967, January 19th? Not sure of second A. Maybe shift? The cylinder retains the black paint on the upper half of the cylinder. None on lower half facing road, but no rust at all. Clean, rust free shiny ram.

That would be your Ford/San Jose build date not the Shelby one   And I believe your a day off. Things I'm looking at show Jan 26th not that one day makes allot of difference

[kkupec02]

Is the restored one shown bare metal or does it have some type of clear protection on it?

[J_Speegle]

Is the restored one shown bare metal or does it have some type of clear protection on it?

Not sure which one your referring to. The ones I've posted and I am pretty sure Marcus applied some protective coating on them Don't want to do all that work and then have it rust or even flash rust.

As mentioned in many threads this is not to suggest using a clear coat of paint, lacquer other similar product is a good idea. Just creates more work later