Anyone have any suggestions on upgrading the steering box or tightening up the system it already has on a '76 F250 highboy? I have one with the steering assist and I have a lot of play in the steering, I'd like to tighten it up.

 

Mine was loose as a goose...and would scare the crud out of me going over 50mph....but when I moved up to 37's it got much more manageable and now I can cruise down the highway at 80 with confidence.

 

The best thing to do is put a '77.5-'79 f250 4x4 steering box in it. It's a little work to get it in there but well worth the effort.

 

My power steering pump was making noise as long as I've had the truck, don't use it much... wood hauler... Anyway after I finally got around to replacing the pump it steers a lot better. All the play must have been in the valve from lack of of pressure and flow.
Also tightened the screw on the output shaft to get the play out of the gear...

 

Ive got a 78 250 ranger with powersteering thats really bad. I mean its like 4 or 5 inches of play at the wheel. I let the little lady drive her once and she almost crapped herself lol. Guess im used to it by now. When i turn the wheel with the truck off and parked the shaft going into the gearbox moves but none of the steering components after the box move. That means all my play is in a shoddy steering gearbox right? How hard/expensive is this to replace? Thanks guys!

 

They are somewhat loose by design. If you look at the slave cylinder while turning the wheel back & forth , you will see an area that moves back & forth to actuate the valve. Before I changed mine , you couldn't relax at all while driving it ...Constant steering adjustment was needed to keep it going straight ..

I changed it to this ..

 

I wouldnt run that box if you have big wide tires you will hit the box on right turns..

 

If you don't shorten the steering arm on the axle , it won't turn tight enough to touch anything . I took 1.5 " out of mine...
I run 31's x10.5 no problem .. Not even close to rubbing ...

Aside from that , you can put the box farther forward if need be .

 

so you cut and welded it??

 

I used the original holes in the frame , & a rag joint from an olds with the intermediate shaft . the lines are the same ... I cut and welded the arm & wrapped it & welded it again...

 

i got a box off of a 78 f-150. it monts to the outside of the frame. i gotta find a drag link before i can install it though

 

So pretty much dont reccomend this hack setup to anyone as it is Illegal and if done wrong will probaly kill someone!
Seriously..Maybe your a good welder and it will never break but if not done right by someone say without a good welding machine or skills to tackle the job it could be a disaster.I wouldnt even post a pic of your setup.
As a welder myself I know it could be done but there are MUCH better options...

 

To the original post if you want the best steering with no play i would suggest a 2wd box on the inside of the frame. I run mine with hydro assist and its awesome!! highway speeds/ 44" tires no problem it tracks straight

here read this on what i did...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...teering-4.html

 

Give me a break. So I went against your install ?..Hack?


its been in place for 20 years .I don't have an over inflated view of my self worth as you ...Sorry to hear you don't have faith in your self proclaimed expertise...


Maybe you should call the cops on my "illegible " set up ....

 

2WD or 4WD?