69 F100 steering wanders
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
69 F100 steering wanders
Just got done with power steering conversion on a 69 F100 4speed with 360. When I get it up to highway speeds the steering wanders and I have to constantly correct the steering. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be? Alignment? Worn ball joints? Bad steering box? What is the typical cause of this problem? Thanxs
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Just got done with power steering conversion on a 69 F100 4speed with 360. When I get it up to highway speeds the steering wanders and I have to constantly correct the steering. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be? Alignment? Worn ball joints? Bad steering box? What is the typical cause of this problem? Thanxs
Integral box or ram assist?
New/rebuilt/used box?
Bias or radials?
Just a guess - Rag joint OK? Kingpins lubed and free moving?
Pat
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
69F100 is a 2 wheel drive. We used a Ford (not bendix) power steering unit. The power steering pump makes alot of winding noise. But, works great. I did get the parts out of a wrecking yard. The previous owner of the truck did not really put alot of money into maintenance. I found brake lines wrapped in tape, the power brake booster was dead and bypassed.
We replaced booster, clutch, resurfaced flywheel, rebuilt carb, replaced bushings on A-arms, new glass, removed rusted floor pans, recovered seats, and repainted body. Engine does not smoke, good power, 4 speed trans works well. Truck looks great, I just can't keep it straight at highway speeds. Steering feels loose. I have not aligned the truck. Thanxs for the input
We replaced booster, clutch, resurfaced flywheel, rebuilt carb, replaced bushings on A-arms, new glass, removed rusted floor pans, recovered seats, and repainted body. Engine does not smoke, good power, 4 speed trans works well. Truck looks great, I just can't keep it straight at highway speeds. Steering feels loose. I have not aligned the truck. Thanxs for the input
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Wuck, sorry forgot about tires. Radials, 275 70 series on back, 235 60 series on front. 4 turns lock to lock. Don't know what is was on old box. What's a rag joint? Thanks, sorry for the dumb questions.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 384
Likes: 1
Sounds like the pre-load on the box. There is a screw with a jam nut on the top of the box. Loosen the jam nut. Screw the screw in until you feel some resistance and then tighten down the jam nut. That did it for mine. I replaced EVERYTHING in the steering trying to avoid buying a box and then found out that was the cause of the wandering.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 2
From: CASA GRANDE AZ
what year truck did the box come from ?
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Its very likely that you may have got a worn gear box since it came out of a used vehicle. I would use that unit as a core and get a new one from Napa or similar.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
HSteacher, get a bottle of Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak, it works wonders for the whining.
I disagree with the gear replacement for wandering, tires & rag joint can blame the gear.
John
I disagree with the gear replacement for wandering, tires & rag joint can blame the gear.
John
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
"Rag Joint" is the flexible coupler on the steering shaft connection to the box. If the tire tread material is torn or oil-saturated, then the steering will have plenty of play as the connection then relies on a pair of backup pins to prevent disaster. New rag joint is about $50 complete, I've rebuilt them with a kit from NAPA or Doorman/Help! for about $10-$15.
Jack up one side, make sure you can get grease into the kingpins. If you can't then they are most likely pretty sticky. Use heat, rotation, wd40, pb blaster, whatever to try and get them to accept grease. It may take a few days depending on past maintenance. If you can't grease it, it's probably sticky, and will make things wander as the steering can't center itself.
You can try to adjust box preload (Big screw on top), but make sure you know how, too tight will break the box. The critical issue is to make sure the box is centered before adjusting as it is designed to loosen as you move off center.
Both my old trucks wandered after switching to radials. I suspect a good alignment shop can fix that, but haven't got around to it yet Talk to them, make sure they know what's going on.
Pat
Jack up one side, make sure you can get grease into the kingpins. If you can't then they are most likely pretty sticky. Use heat, rotation, wd40, pb blaster, whatever to try and get them to accept grease. It may take a few days depending on past maintenance. If you can't grease it, it's probably sticky, and will make things wander as the steering can't center itself.
You can try to adjust box preload (Big screw on top), but make sure you know how, too tight will break the box. The critical issue is to make sure the box is centered before adjusting as it is designed to loosen as you move off center.
Both my old trucks wandered after switching to radials. I suspect a good alignment shop can fix that, but haven't got around to it yet Talk to them, make sure they know what's going on.
Pat
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Sounds like the pre-load on the box. There is a screw with a jam nut on the top of the box. Loosen the jam nut. Screw the screw in until you feel some resistance and then tighten down the jam nut. That did it for mine. I replaced EVERYTHING in the steering trying to avoid buying a box and then found out that was the cause of the wandering.
The power steering in these trucks is also very light, and does tend to wander if the alignment is slightly off. That is one thing they really got right with the 80s trucks, a lot of that disconnected floaty feel is gone in them. It may be possible to fine tune the feel of the boost, but that's a whole other situation.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Jowilker,Wuck, and Ford Six, thank you for the info. My mechanic friend looked at the king pins, and wheel bearing, the king pins were good and wheel bearing were in good shape too. We tried adjusting the box, but it made little difference. I believe the box came from a mid 70's truck. I am not sure about the condition of the rag joint. I will attempt to check it as per your suggestion. Lucas power steering fluid is a great idea, thanks.
Is this significant? When you turn the steering wheel, it will not return to center while driving. You must bring it back to center. And you guys are right, it does have a very light floating feel to the steering. How much does a new or rebuilt box cost? It is it dangerous to use a worn used one? Should I invest in getting it aligned before I spend money on a new steering box? Thanks for all the help!
Is this significant? When you turn the steering wheel, it will not return to center while driving. You must bring it back to center. And you guys are right, it does have a very light floating feel to the steering. How much does a new or rebuilt box cost? It is it dangerous to use a worn used one? Should I invest in getting it aligned before I spend money on a new steering box? Thanks for all the help!
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Toe setting on these trucks with radials should be .03". Rebuilt boxes are not that expensive, just be careful as some remans aren't as good as others. I'm not so sure about a used one being "dangerous" but I generally shy away from them because you just don't know what you've got. You did good by obtaining one though because if you do get a reman you'll need a core. Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: SW Florida
A good first step is a visual inspection. Have someone sit in the truck and rock the wheel back and forth while you look at the system starting at the rag joint at the top of the box and then making sure the box is bolted securely to the frame, then look at each tie rod end to make sure it isn't worn. Did the stock tie rod end fit properly into the newer pittman arm, there may be some size differences between the manual and power setups.
Work your way out to the wheels and look at those rod ends. You say you replaced the bushings on the A arms, how about the bushings on the ends of the I beams?
The last thing is to jack the truck up so 1 tire is just off the ground and using a large pry bar put some pressure on the outter edge of the tire rocking it back & forth while you look underneath to see if the kingpins and/or wheel bearings are tight. Do both sides using this method.
Any slop anywhere, just a small amount, will cause the wandering.
Work your way out to the wheels and look at those rod ends. You say you replaced the bushings on the A arms, how about the bushings on the ends of the I beams?
The last thing is to jack the truck up so 1 tire is just off the ground and using a large pry bar put some pressure on the outter edge of the tire rocking it back & forth while you look underneath to see if the kingpins and/or wheel bearings are tight. Do both sides using this method.
Any slop anywhere, just a small amount, will cause the wandering.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
Lots of good stuff in here. But before you go all apeschnit make sure to check your ball joints. Worn ball joints make for wandering. Just lay under there and have someone move the steering. Takes a couple minutes.