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You would've been dissatisfied with the result anyway. You best move is the new gear.
You're gonna need a pitman arm puller to get the arm off the gear (gear out and in a vice). I have OTC-6497 and it works great. You can also rent it for free at Autozone.
It should also work to get arm and inner drag link separated.
Good luck
Also, make sure the steering wheel is centered before disassembly.
Have two rubber caps ready to fit on the end of the lines going into the steering box. The lines aren't the same size, at least they weren't on my 05 Excursion. Loosen the lines but don't remove them. Then remove each one and quickly put the rubber cap on each. Otherwise fluid will go everywhere.
Well, I guess I should say "even more" fluid will go everywhere. You'll still make a mess, but you will make much less of a mess.
One thing to check before you pull the box. Start the truck and have someone sit
in the seat. The need to rock the wheel lightly while you look under the front at the
track bar. Look at both ends and note any movement. I was ready to order a new
box and my tire guy took a look and said it not the box it's the track bushing and
track bar ball joint with a little from the drag link joint tossed in on top.
After replacing the ball joint and the bushing I find that it removed about 2/3 of the
sterring slop. I just ordered the XRF drag link 3 days ago.
I like the idea of saving the cost of the box by not having to replace it and still
having a problem after.
IMHO It's worth looking at and really does not cost any money to look.
'll probably be doing this job soon as well. My play is likley the box. Had a helper move the steering back and forth in the dead zone (about 2-3" of steering wheel movement) and zero movement of the pitman arm. Although haven't checked the track bar, will do that first!
Originally Posted by 69cj
Also, make sure the steering wheel is centered before disassembly.
How do you ensure that the new box is straight? Do they come "centered" or do you have to turn the input shaft by hand until the pitman arm lines up with the drag link and then hook up the shaft to the steering wheel (assuming you had the original box straight and the wheels of the truck are still straight). Do you normally have the alignment checked afterwards?
'll probably be doing this job soon as well. My play is likley the box. Had a helper move the steering back and forth in the dead zone (about 2-3" of steering wheel movement) and zero movement of the pitman arm. Although haven't checked the track bar, will do that first!
How do you ensure that the new box is straight? Do they come "centered" or do you have to turn the input shaft by hand until the pitman arm lines up with the drag link and then hook up the shaft to the steering wheel (assuming you had the original box straight and the wheels of the truck are still straight). Do you normally have the alignment checked afterwards?
New box should be centered in box from manufacturer. At least mine was. Well, at least I HOPE it was!
I should come centered if someone had not played with it.
Don't forget when you have the box out don't turn the wheel
for any reason or you may be doing a clock spring next.
Best way is to tie the wheel to the brake peddle.
I don't think anyone suggested checking for play between the upper and lower sections of the steering column. I know it's a long shot, and would be hard to feel unless it was really bad...
I don't think anyone suggested checking for play between the upper and lower sections of the steering column. I know it's a long shot, and would be hard to feel unless it was really bad...
When I had my front end guy look at mine and let me know what he found.
That was one of the things I did ask him to check. I was thinking
steering gear and he came back with the track bad bushing and ball joint.
Along with the inner drag link where it bolts to the pitman arm. So
I am waiting on a new link to show up and I will see how much slop I
have left after I replace that part. I can tell you it is so much better
after doing that track bar.
I bought my truck with 203k on the clock; steering and handling was TERRIBLE. First thing I did was replace the steering gear and flush the system. That made a big difference but still there was slop. Then I replaced the whole front end: shocks, steering stabilizer, tie rods, drag link, track bar bushings, leaf springs, sway bar bushings and end links. No noticeable slop now!
Still, even after new tires and an alignment the truck has considerable drift at highway speeds, especially in a strong headwind. Since I just finished replacing the whole rear suspension, the only thing left is main ball joints in the front hubs. And testing with a 5' cast iron bar gives no play. Oh, and the frame mounted bushings for the rear shackles on the front leaf springs.
I just replaced all the steering linkage and did ball joints on mine, it helped some, but I still had a fair amount of play ing the steering wheel. I did some research and saw the service bulletin for the lash adjustment on the steering box and followed proceedure, it made a huge difference and drives great now. mine had 170k on it btw
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