My truck's newest problem to arise is in the power steering system, which I am unfamiliar with. What i noticed is that my steering was pulling hard to the right on the highway. I realized that what it is doing is when i steer in one direction like on the entrance ramp it stays in that direction. even when i straighten the steering wheel. To straighten it after a turn, I have to over correct it by turning the wheel past center to get it back to straight. I checked things out, proper fluid level, no leaks and the pulley on the pump was spinning fine. Some background: had the gear box and tie rods replaced in august by a schmuck of a mechanic, but it worked fine for the past six months. I'm having trouble with diagnostics because i don't quite know how to plainly describe this problem so i can't look it up. I was told a gear box adjustment would be a good step to take. Can you guys tell me what steps i should take to figure this out? I've got a service manual for instruction.

 

Whomever told you a gearbox adjustment is needed does not know what he is taking about. Please do not listen to him again. These steering boxes have an adjustment on them, but I know from much experience that you have your choice of slop or no feel. IOW, if the box is worn and you have slop you can adjust it out, but you will have no feel and you will have to return the steering to the center after a corner.

In fact, what you have described sounds like someone adjusted your box and it is tight. It doesn't sound like a power steering issue. However, I'm really not sure what it might be. But if you adjust a rebuilt box you may never get that box properly adjusted again.

 

Has the steering and suspension been greased lately? Did all the fittings take grease? As Gary said, it doesn't sound like a power steering problem. Sounds more like something is binding. Could be your "mechanic" adjusted the steering box too tight.

 

Years ago I had the steering box on my rig replaced and initially the steering was awful. Way too stiff and it would not return to center on it's own. Driving it was a real handful.

Finally I took it to an old time front end guy. He adjusted the worm gear and that fixed the problem.

 

I guess I should have said the original boxes shouldn't be adjusted. Rebuilt boxes shouldn't either, but I guess it is possible it could have been poorly adjusted by the rebuilder - although that does call into question the rebuilder's credentials.

 

Sounds like your kingpins or your ball joints are rusted or frozen up .In the early 80's Ford went to ball joints instead of king pins .In either case I would check them out.

 

DO NOT mess with the nut on the steering gear box! It only sets the preload of the sector shaft. Over tighten it, the box could lock up tight.

If the box locks up, you aren't going anywhere...and backing the nut off, probably won't unlock it.

 

Thank you bill, I'm going to put the front end up today and mess with the steering. I'm just gonna try to see where the lag in the steering connection is hopefully it's obvious because i hardly know what i'm doing. Glad i didn't go ahead with the gear box adjustment. What I'm wondering is why my haynes manual lists it as a common home mechanic procedure.

 

I'll be Haynes didn't say it is a successful home mechanic procedure. Just that many do it.

The boxes on GM vehicles were meant to be adjusted, and that became commonplace. But not for these boxes.

 

Hey all. I'm thinking that the spindles are binding because I hear it grinding when i steer. Do I need to remove them to grease them or are there grease points somewhere? I'm not sure whether I have the kingpin or balljoint type. pretty sure its a kingpin because it looks like it only allows for left and right motion. What do?

 

in your post you said you hAD A SHMUCK replace the steering gear and tie rod ends on your truck it might be he didn't count the turns and just need a front end alighnment

 

Nah I'm sure its the kingpin now. The kingpin in question won't even take grease in the bottom fitting while the other side will. Also the top grease fitting on the bad side is missing- it's just a rusty flat spot, while the other is still there. I think I am going to get a kingpin repair kit i found for like 70 bucks. Will I need to do both sides or is it safe to just do one? Also is this a kingpin type?

 

The adjustment nut on the gearbox only sets the preload of the sector shaft.

Over tighten it, the gearbox could lock up. Backing the nut off when this occurs may not solve anything. Not pleasant!

Rule of thumb: Do not mess with that nut!

And...so called auto parts store "rebuilt" gearboxes are really only resealed gearboxes.

Both the sector and input shaft seal kits are available from Ford and autoparts stores, fit myriad 1965/2002 vehicles, but very few of the internal parts are available.

These P/S gearboxes have a built in flaw .. there are no sector shaft bearings, it rides directly on the housing. So before too long, fluid begins leaking from the sector shaft seal.

redheadsteeringgears.com (Seattle WA) takes the housing, machines it to install the bearings that FoMoCo omitted...on purpose...so they could sell a gazillion sector shaft seal kits.

 

You got kingpins Your going to have to heat them up with a cutting torch to get them to take grease .To make the job easier jack truck up get weight off wheel heat up don't over do it then try pumping grease in >if you got someone to help you have them slowly turn wheel back and forth while greasing .Once you get grease coming out around kingpins drive the truck a week regrease do this for 3 weeks or so till you get her freed up then grease every 2500 to 3000 miles