'88 E250 steering gear replacment issues!!!
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
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'88 E250 steering gear replacment issues!!!
So I am in the middle of replacing my leaking steering gear on my 1988 E250 7.3 and have run into a couple of issues. The old one came out fine (except fighting the pitman arm). I have the new gear bolted in place, but.....
1. When I was lining everything up to bolt the gear in place I felt the steering column push up.....like it telescoped up. Now that the gear is in place the steering column is an inch short and won't telescope back down. Is there something that I am missing? Do I need to loosen something to get it to drop down the inch I need?
2. With the new gear in my steering wheel would be upside down with the wheels straight due to where the flat spot on the steering gear is. I am assuming that the gear and steering column will spin 360* continuously (no stops) when it is not attacked to the pitman arm. Is this correct? If so I can get the steering wheel close by rotating the gear/steering wheel 180* before attaching the pitman arm. I know there are some grooves in the pitman arm gear that line up with the larger teeth on the gear.
Thanks in advance for the help.
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1. When I was lining everything up to bolt the gear in place I felt the steering column push up.....like it telescoped up. Now that the gear is in place the steering column is an inch short and won't telescope back down. Is there something that I am missing? Do I need to loosen something to get it to drop down the inch I need?
2. With the new gear in my steering wheel would be upside down with the wheels straight due to where the flat spot on the steering gear is. I am assuming that the gear and steering column will spin 360* continuously (no stops) when it is not attacked to the pitman arm. Is this correct? If so I can get the steering wheel close by rotating the gear/steering wheel 180* before attaching the pitman arm. I know there are some grooves in the pitman arm gear that line up with the larger teeth on the gear.
Thanks in advance for the help.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
The column is supposed to telescope. Give it a little persuasion with a hammer to get it to extend back out. If the column will only attach to the box in one spot, just hook it up. The gearbox has stops in it so it will not keep turning, turn it fully one direction, then the other way while counting the turns. DIvide that no. by 2 and turn the wheel that far to center. Nolw hook up the pitman arm. The pitman arm is keyed where it will go on in 4 spots. It will be nearly impossible to botch the pitman arm... 90 degrees out and it wont line up with the steering linkage.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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The column is supposed to telescope. Give it a little persuasion with a hammer to get it to extend back out. If the column will only attach to the box in one spot, just hook it up. The gearbox has stops in it so it will not keep turning, turn it fully one direction, then the other way while counting the turns. DIvide that no. by 2 and turn the wheel that far to center. Nolw hook up the pitman arm. The pitman arm is keyed where it will go on in 4 spots. It will be nearly impossible to botch the pitman arm... 90 degrees out and it wont line up with the steering linkage.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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With the new gear I did end up with the steering wheel slightly off center. Glad to know I can pull it off and reinstall straight.
And thank you to the IDI section. I posted over in the van section last night and still nothing.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
Gear is in and all is functional. No more dripping fluid on the driveway and having to refill it every week.
With the new gear I did end up with the steering wheel slightly off center. Glad to know I can pull it off and reinstall straight.
And thank you to the IDI section. I posted over in the van section last night and still nothing.
With the new gear I did end up with the steering wheel slightly off center. Glad to know I can pull it off and reinstall straight.
And thank you to the IDI section. I posted over in the van section last night and still nothing.
slackers.
Glad you got it done!
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Fleet Mechanic
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Me too. I even figured out how to not freeze while working on it. The van it too tall to fit in the garage (rear suspension sits 1-2 too high), but that didn't stop me...
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Fleet Mechanic
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I am hoping I can. It would be nice to have it competely in the garage when I drop the fuel tanks to replace the senders.
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