Ok, I have a SWB 77 with power steering and I do about 1/2 my driving on the freeway and 50mph sharp corner back roads. I am upgrading my handling on my truck with poly bushings, new shocks and sway bars. I like the feel of the new ford power steering, unlike the older fords where at high speeds it is hard to keep straight... I was wondering if there is a way I can make up a spring system that helps self center the wheel when at high speeds or turning a sharp corner? I am about to change over to manual steering if there is no solution? Compared to the other trucks I have driven this one is not fun to drive anymore because I have to constantly keep at the wheel to go down the road without crossing over into the other lane..... I was told that the power steering in these older trucks can be a pain at high speed but it is very nice to have when your going through a parking lot. I want to try to keep the power steering, so is there anything I can do? One person told me to take out the steering box and pump and buy a non ford one and fab up some parts and buy a better pump? I personally would not trust myself to fab up steering parts, mainly because I would worry about something going wrong while I am doing 70. Any ideas would be great. Thanks

 

Yeah I would say that unless yopu know what you are doing, that most people shopuld leave that stuff alone. It take a lot of torque and can break very easily if the wrong metal is used. I know I had a CNC specialist cross drill and slot some brake rotors for a jeep that just kept warping them and they broke when I took them offroading. Now he custom makes them for my aplication and haven't warped or broken a set yet, now I want to stick them on my '79.

 

Dave, if you're going to drop your truck, that will have at least two benefits that will help with the steering staying centered and the handling. With the frame lower the pivot point for the back of the radius arms is lower. This makes the caster angle more positive. Increasing the caster is probably the biggest factor in keeping the wheels pointed straight ahead. Also, unless corrected, the camber will be lower. This will tend to wear the inside edge of the tires more but will make the handling more stable, especially when turning. The new bushings you're going to put in will help too. Don't forget the pivot bushings on the inside end of the I-beams.
If all that doesn't quite do it for you, a suspension shop could rebuild your steering box with particular attention paid to the control valve. Different spring rates on the centering valve in the hydraulic part of the box could help too. If available, a quicker steering rate (fewer turns lock-to-lock) would be nice.
Just my 2¢
Greg

 

Sounds like there might be an alignment problem or your tierod ends/drag link need replaced. I put 176,000 miles on a '77 way back when it was new and never had tracking problems like you're describing.

I'm not saying it isn't time to rebuild/replace your gearbox, only that there are more common issues that might still need to be addressed.

 

In my 74 F100 2WD, I replaced the power steering gear box last fall. It has pulled to the right (as in, let go of the wheel, end up in the ditch) for the 12 years I had driven it, but just compensated. The idea of self-centering was far from thought. So I get the new gear box (and king pins, shocks, and an axel bushing, and an alignment job, of course), and the steering doesn't pull, is dead straight, and stays put with no hands. I was sort of expecting self-centering, but am not hurting without it.

But, I have noticed that at highways speeds, and even more so on windy days, that I am constantly correcting. Not "drunk man weaving", but very aware. I used to just hold the top of the wheel with my left hand, to give it a constant pull to the left for correction. Now, I find that to be "darty", and usually have both hands on the wheel (I know, that's how it should be anyway). I know my steering column needs a new lower bearing, but that's just an annoying sqeak, not a steering problem.

This sort of answered my question of "do all these old trucks steer like this". My 4X4 steering is good, but almost sloopy compared to the 2-wheel older brother.

Matt

 

And be sure to check the "rubber donut" coupler in the steering column. The PS box also has an adjustment available. GL

 

I would seriously check into your alignment and steering components. I've had three to fthese 70's fords and although i do agree with what people say about the pumps being noisy, i have never had a problem with keeping my trucks straight. The only time i can notice a pull is if a tire is a little low on air. Other wise they are straight as an arrow, whether it be at 30 or 90. Just my two cents.

 

hmm... Sounds like a plan, thanks.