Hello all, I have received excellent advice in the past here and hoping for some guidance on my power steering issue:

My Vehicle:
1970 Ford F-100 2wd with rebuilt 390 & auto, no modifications - all pretty much as she was back in '70. P/S is the original stock unit and was equipped as such from factory (no swaps). It has original P/S cooler above pump (not sure if that matters).

Problem:
Power steering worked fine until a few months ago. I drove it several hundred miles w/o any trouble, then around town for weeks... P/S worked fine. I did some work on the motor and it went to a mechanic for some add'l top end work. At same time motor work was being done, I replaced the P/S pump and lines because they had evidence of leaks. Also belt is new now and properly tightened (checked and re-checked that).

Since the motor is all back in order, I notice the steering to right has become very difficult (feels like no power assist), but turning to left is fine (can turn with pinky finger when running).

Considerations:
I replaced the power steering pump and both lines due to some fluid leaks. Mind you, the old pump/lines worked well, but the fluid on driveway was getting old. Since install of the reman. pump I have this steering issue - only to the right. Being kind of new at this, I incorrectly exchanged the "new" pump w/ vendor for another reman. pump and the problem remains... hard steering to the right.

After an evening of reserarching and looking at other threads here, I suspect air in line could be an issue? If I read right, jack it up and turn back and forth 20X from one extreme to another? It's raining or I'd be out there trying it now...

Although I replaced both lines & pump, I did not flush everything and now I read online that is recommended. Is it too late now?

Aside from air, I read that something could be blocking the line such as contaiminates. Is there any way to purge it now, or too late now that I've been running it this way for a week?

Finally, if all else fails would this likely mean replacement of the P/S gear then? If so, is that tricky or fairly straight forward 1-day job in driveway?

I appreciate whatever tips you all might have. I'd rather start with the least $ and work my way toward the P/S gear if that's what it will take to steer right again easily...

John G.

 

John G, There are two systems available, da Dummy will better know the start stop years of install, but I wonder about a couple different concerns.

1- mixing of Bendix and Saginaw system parts
2- air in the lines.

Bill can help better with 1, and I'll give you something simple to try for 2.

Raise the front wheels off the ground, and turn the steering wheel from bump to bump about 20 cycles. This will get any air out of the system. Make sure there is fluid in the pump but not over full. Don't worry about any fluid that is puked, but you likely will have a mess on the ground and might not want to do it on the front lawn.


John

 

1970: It's the Ford/Saginaw Integral Power Steering system.

I doubt the problem lies with the pump.

What this seems to me...is the spool valve in the gearbox.

I wonder if someone didn't fiddle with that so called "adjustment" nut on the gearbox.

Turning that nut just 1/8 of an inch can cause all sorts of problems.

 

How would someone reset this nut to where it should be if it has been tampered with? I am pretty sure this is what has happened to me....

 

Since 1968 F250 4WD's didn't offer P/S, you must have swapped in P/S.

Did you use the Ford setup (midyear 1969 and later), or the midyear 1969 and earlier Bendix box?

 

My truck is actually a 68 body sitting on a 77 (lowboy). So it would be from a 77. I was told adjusting that would take a little of the slop out of my steering, but it didnt. All it did was make it so sometimes i have power steering and sometimes its hard to turn and makes awful sounding noises like there is no fluid or something (but there is).

 

Coincidence is hit or miss!! One of my trucks just developed the same problem, no power assist when turning right. I know it got low on fluid so I topped it off, no difference.

Im interested in where this thread goes so have at it. I may bleed it on Monday and if it helps Ill post. Just hope it isnt the spool valve cause Im running out of steering boxes and I dont have time to fix one.

 

The purging only cost you the time that it takes to try it, nothing out of pocket. It has worked for me in the past.



John

 

John
Did it have the same symptoms, no power to the right only? Thanks, Mike

 

Fellas I appreciate your postings thus far. I will try John's recommendation of purging air from the line when the rain lets up. I have my fingers crossed. SHort of that, it seems from reading the other posts that a gearbox replacement may be in my future.

If that's the case, is it tricky to replace or pretty straight forward replacement?

 

Is there any way to set the spool valve to what it should be with the adjustment nut or once its outa wack the whole box is wrecked?

 

I re-read some of the postings and wanted to respond to NumberDummy concerns raised:

"I wonder if someone didn't fiddle with that so called "adjustment" nut on the gearbox. Turning that nut just 1/8 of an inch can cause all sorts of problems."

I am not car savvy enough to have known about that nut/adjustment until reading about it here. Although I never touched it, I suppose someone might have along the way. But the mechanic who laid his hand on 'er only worked on the manifold and doubtfully cared to tinker with that nut. When it was in for service, the steering was not known to be an issue yet.

So, I'm guessing that it's not likely the nut / adjutsmen tin my case. I suppose that means the internal valve is more likely the culprit if it's not air. It just seemed wierd because it came on "all of a sudden" and maybe just coincidence that it happened when I was replacing both lines and pump.

 

Mike to tell you the truth, I don't remember what the symptoms were, sorry.


hurstcastle You can send some of that rain over to the right coast, we are down a couple barrels. One local water supply is down about 11ft.


John

 

We have had a drought here in CA for a while and naturally, the weekend I'd liek to be out there addressing this issue, we're getting loads of rain. I liek the truck but I've had a lot of bad luck thus far with it.

The weather is par for the course... I *WILL* reply after I try the purge of air for those who may be curious if it'll helkp them too.

To the person with the '68 F250 and same problem (hard to right), I feel your pain! If you figure yours out first... please let me know what it was!!! If nothing else, I'm learning...

 

So I caught a break in the weather... truck went up on jacks right away as I was itching to try John's tip to purge the air. I went bump stop to bump 20 times (plus) in each direction. What I did notice is this: when the turn hit left bump stop, the idle dropped and it sounded like the motor was "dragged down" in RPM's when the power steering hit extreme left. That was NOT the case moving to right bump stop - extreme right position. It barely lowered the motor RPM and did not seem to phase the motor - no drag. So, I'm pretty sure I'm looking at an internal issue in the gear and will replace accordingly.

I do have to say there is merit to John's tip to purge the air this way. During my test drive, the steering WAS a bit better than before. I'm sure there was some air in the line and this procedure worked for that. Unfortunalely, the gear itself has "issues" and I didn't get lucky enough to have it be so simple.

However, I do still appreciate the tips. With the air out I'm able to drive it until I can get to the gear replacement. At least it isn't quite as bad as it was earlier this week.

THANKS...
John G.