Well I left my power steering open (because I lost my power steering cap). The truck had the 466 rebuilt in it and the weather got into the power steering. The fluid was like brownish tan and gunky. I just bought a new power steering pump and put the pulley on and flushed the system the best I could. Now my power steering works and there is air in the system some but the fluid is still a tanish brown color but not as it was before. Yall think this will be ok?

I couldn't turn to the left far but to the right I turned a good bit. I think the steering stabilzer is to small so I ordered this one

Monroe Gas Magnum SC2912 - Steering Stabilizer Cylinder | O'Reilly Auto Parts

Will it be good enough for my 79? It had a lift on it.

 

You need to replace the fluid until it is clean. Use a turkey baster to suction the fluid out of the reservoir. You may have to do this a few times.

 

OH DEAR GOD!!!!

Your system is air bound. I hope you have better luck than I did.

Pull off both hoses and flush them out. With the hoses off of the truck turn the wheels lock to lock a few times to purge the steering gear box. Pour clean fluid through the pump until it comes out clean.

NOW FOR THE STRANGE PART! The old guy that actually rebuilds the gear boxes and pumps for Auto Zone told me this next part.

Put the hoses back on.
Fill the reservoir with POWER STEERING FLUID. NOT ATF.
Jack the BACK of the truck up as far as you can. When the front bumper touches the ground, you're getting close.
Turn the wheels to full lock and strap the steering wheel so the wheel doesn't spin back.
Go inside and don't touch it for an hour.
After an hour, go back outside and turn the wheels to full lock the opposite direction. Strap the steering wheel so the wheel doesn't spin backwards.
Go back inside and don't touch it for another hour.
After that hour is up, go outside and fill up the reservoir. (It'll be really low)
Let the truck down, fire it up and go for a ride. It'll have power steering. (If you're lucky)

This sounds like BS, but I've been fighting the exact same thing. After NINE pumps, FOUR steering gear boxes and FOUR sets of hoses, I gave up. (NO, my truck does not have a cooler NOR does the return line have a leak. My truck is haunted and refuses to have power steering.

The best luck I had was when I made brackets to put a Chevy saginaw pump on it. It worked perfect for two weeks before it puked up the fluid and lost power again.

The kick in the teeth was when we had a KNOWN GOOD power steering system in a Bronco. (Started the truck, drove it around the yard and it worked perfect) Took THAT box, THAT pump, and THOSE hoses and put them on my truck. ....NO power steering.

I'm converting my truck to manual steering. Good luck with yours. Follow my directions to bleed the air. That's THE ONLY way to bleed air out of a problematic system for '78 and '79.

 

You dont have to take off the pressure hose Earth.

I was taking off the return line and letting it spue out while I pour fluid in the system.

 

Trust me on this one. YES, you can drain the reservoir by removing the return hose. Take the pressure hose off to PURGE THE GEAR BOX by turning the steering wheel lock to lock a few times. Flush BOTH hoses by pouring clean fluid through them then blowing air through them. You need to get the system perfectly clean. There are NO shortcuts here. TRUST ME. I've been fighting mine for six months.

 

I've been using that one for a few years now. Lifetime warranty; I replace it every 2 yrs or so.

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How far will it extend? Will it turn to the left all the way?

 

I'm a stock f250 with 33's but it turns full lock to lock.

 

Well I tried flushing my steering system again cause the fluid is still whitish colored and I got alot of air in it in the process...blew my PS cap off and now I lost it.

My steering is still crazy but better than what it was. I'm thinking it might be the box because I tried to adjusting my gear box and it helped some but not good enough.

There is a metal rod that connects to the frame near the steering gear box and it goes down to the axle on the passenger side. It wiggles when turning the wheels left and right. The bushings look new on them..it might need tightening.

My front shocks need bushing too cause they don't have them in some spots but I probably will buy new shocks.

 

Here is a continuation/update of Alan's (earthquake's1968) p/s repair, he still has p/s and his new technique is working great.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ering-fix.html

 

This is called the track arm. The bushings wear from the inside out. What can look to be a good bushing, may be completely worn out. I recommend getting urethane bushings for it and yes, make sure the bolts are very tight when you put them in. Rich gave you the link for my new bleeding procedure. I've had perfect power steering for over a week now. (knock on wood) Good luck with it and keep us posted.

 

Will the track arm cause it to steer crazy? I think it shouldn't since it isn't hooked to the steering linkages?

 

It keeps the front axle in line with the frame, and allowing for the articulation of the suspention. It the bushing are shot replace with better than OEM ones.

Like radius arm bushings, they will affect alot of things, like the steering. Take all the areas you have bushings/tie rod ends/bearings/ball joints. Rag joint/steering box DRAG link all those pieces and parts worn out will combine and make for bad steering.

 

Well since I already got a new steering gear box..might as well put it on and use it.

 

Rich is right. Don't just look in one direction for steering issues. There's lots of things that can contribute. As far as the track arm, if the bushings are worn out, as you turn the wheel, the front axle will shift sideways until the slop is taken up and the wheels start to turn. So, every time you turn the wheel, it affects the the front to rear alignment as well as delays the spindle turning from steering wheel input.

Again, like Rich said, radius arm bushings, tie rod ends, gear box, etc. all can effect steering.