Since I'm still in Iraq, my dad took my "new" toy to get inspected for me. It failed. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Among other things, the biggest issue was the horrible slop in the steering. My dad said you can turn the wheel a quarter of a turn before it does anything. He also said that the power steering pump is leaking. At first guess, I'm gonna say that I need a new power steering pump and lines, and a new steering box. Im sure there are a million threads on her reguarding all this, but I don't exactly have unlimited access to the internet to spend hours pouring through them. Is the steering box and PS pump obsolete for this truck? Am I going to have to come up with some odd mix of parts to get it fixed? Oh ya, before I forget. It's a 74 HIGHBOY. 360, 4 speed, dana 60 front axle swap. Thanks in advance for your help guys.

 

I wouldn't assume you need a new pump just yet. Power steering leaks are common and most of the time easy to fix. The high pressure and low pressure lines don't cost much to replace. I had a bad leak that a $0.50 clamp fixed.

There are aftermarket steering boxes and pumps. The boxes are not that cheap, $250+ I recall when I looked at rockauto.com.

 

I had the same play in my steering when I got my truck. A new lower steering shaft and pitman arm tightened it up 100%. Just have your dad look at the shaft while someone moves the wheel to see where the play is.

I also have a slow PS fluid leak, I call it rust prevention!

 

You have the infamous highboy power assist steering setup, it's a push/pull system utilizing a hydraulic ram and a control valve/drag link, you'll need to isolate exactly where the excessive play is coming from, it could be from a number of places, parts for this steering system are expensive, the ram and control valve are rebuildable though, then of course you always have the option of doing the 78/79 power steering swap which is very popular on these highboys.

 

Just a thought but was your truck running during this inspection, specifically during the steering inspection? when the engine isn't running and the system isn't under pressure, there is some play in the ball stud on the control valve (and therefore your steering wheel as well) this is normal, however, when the system is powered up, the play disappears because the hydraulic action moves the linkage as it is supposed to, but of course if you have slop in other parts of the steering linkage they'll need to be addressed first.

 

Like was mentioned above it depends on WHERE the slop is...

Does the highboy have an adjuster screw like the 2wd trucks on the sterring box? The 2wd trucks have a locknut and screw to adjust how much slop the steering has.

Josh

 

How much slop can be adjusted out with this screw? Can't too much adjusting make the steering bind up?

 

Yeah if you adjust it too much what will happen is when you start the truck the steering wheel will violently turn (can't remember which direction).

An 1/8 to 1/4 turn of the screw makes a huge difference if the steering box is ok. Not sure of the particulars, but if you end up having to turn in the screw more than a couple turns something is wrong.

Josh

 

Could be a worn Wrag Join you can get alot of play there.......

 

if its like mine, the joint with the control valve was causing all of my play. i put a manual drag link on it and im going to be doing the power steering swap here as soon as i get my 390 finished. a shop near me rebuilds the control valve, but they wanted 400$ to do it.

 

the leak in the power steering pump is easily fixed with a complete seal kit for about $13. i used it on my truck, fixed the leak no prob. and it was easy to do.

 

Even a brand new pump is only about $60 with a reservoir and about $45 without. You might be better off down the road buying a new one now. Just got back from the Sand Box myself... keep your head on a swivel! Good luck and have fun with your dentside when you get home!

 

Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys. I guess when I head home on leave in July I'll have to take a look at all this stuff myself. Hmmmm, maybe I can talk one of my family members into troubleshooting this for me...

 

So what part of Iraq you in? Contractor now in Kirkuk. &8 conversions the best in my mind any way.

 

I am on Camp Liberty, I work for General Dynamics. Stryker mechanic.