I've heard from a few people that 1979 ford pickup have the "better" power steering than the years previous. Is this true and exactly why would or it wouldn't make it a better power steering?

 

Power steering for the 73-79 2WD is the same for all years. They are probably referring to the 4WD steering. 73-77 used the linkage style power assist steering. This system used the manual steering gear box with a hydraulic cylinder attached to the drag link. This system is fine when everything is in good shape but parts are getting hard to find and the cylinder and the control valve are hideously expensive.
The 78's switched to an integral power steering similar to the 2WD system.

 

That's about it ^.

The geometry was a little better also with crossover steering. (in the 1/2 ton 4x4's.) no steering arm to wrench on the spindle. (especially with some lift under there.)

 

The power steering box in a '77 F150 4x4 is the exact same power steering box as in a '79 F150 4x4.

What is better about the '79 and '78 F-150 4x4 in comparison is the linkage between the steering box and wheels.

The '77 and older use an "inverted Y" style steering linkage where the drag link travels from pittman arm all the way the right side steering knuckle. Somewhere near 1/4 or 1/3 the way back from the knuckle is where the left side tie rod attaches and runs over to the left steering knuckle. The axle is a solid long axle, so on dips and crest, the toe is constantly changing from toe in to toe out and back, never static except when the truck is static.

The '78 and '79 use a long and short tie rod connected by a sleeve to form what is a long straight tie rod that parallels the axle and toe never changes once set, not on hill crest or dips or bumps. Then there is a long drag link that runs from pittman arm to the tie rod over near the right steering knuckle end, it's about the same length as the panhard (track) bar and runs parallel to same so it follows same arcs on the crest and bumps so that steering direction does not change.

The parts required to update a '77 or earlier to the better '78-'79 are a new pittman arm, drag link, left and right tie rod ends, and adjustment sleeve with clamps. The pittman arm in a '77 back has the ball joint made in it, the '78-'79 style has a hole and that ball joint is part of the drag link.

A supperb upgrade, the parts used to be offered bundled but now, you buy individually. Pittman arm is no longer available new, they never wear out though, so any used one from a '78-'79 likely is good.

Steering box is same.

F250s used a different set up as F150s.

 

Due to output pressure, a 78-79 gear is better matched with the correct, later model PS pump than an early Ford (Thompson) pump.

 

So do the f250s have a better steering setup compared to the f150s?

 

That may be, but my old style steel reservoir pump seems to do the job for me. There are some rare times when parking and spinning the wheel fast that I can tell it maybe lacks.

 

I'm currently using a Thompson pump with a 79 Bronco PS gear and it is "lazy". Meaning, the RPMs need to come up before I get full power steering. The latest plan is to use CVF Racing's Saginaw to FE brackets and source the pump off a (ahemm) C10 or C1500. Based on my research, Saginaw pump pressures were calibrated according to the vehicle's weight in which they were installed.

 

Yeah, that's a fair description of my '77 .... even with the Red Head ..... but it's always been like that and I rarely encounter it in my driving (I do like the ease of pump changes on the older pumps with the large "C" arrangement, no "pully pulling" on the truck to swap.).