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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Steering Box compatibility range?

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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 02:58 PM
  #16  
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Ken Blythen
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Originally Posted by kr98664
How much work was required to replace this bearing? Can it be done in situ or does the column need to come out?

Either way, can the old bearing be inspected without any major disassembly? Can you get a good visual on it with a mirror or similar? Or maybe have a helper turn the wheel while you watch for side movement at the rag joint?
I could feel the play just by grabbing the shaft at the bottom of the column & tugging at it side to side. The movement might have been visible, but once I felt it I just decided to tear it out.

I took the whole column out to both repaint it & do the bearing together, but that's not necessary....you can just remove the cross bolt & telescope the lower part of the column down & out of the way.
Three small self-tapping screws hold the plastic housing & bearing into the end of the column; starting the replacement screws in situ will be awkward but doable.
Also, because the I.D. of the new bearing is a close fit on the tube, you might have to do a little contortionist filing for it to slip on, but no big deal.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 03:10 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Franklin2
Our trucks drive perfectly fine and like any other vehicle have loose steering when something is wrong. The did not leave the factory with loose steering
Exactly right.

I had an '88 F150 with 89,000 miles on it......all stock steering parts & it drove/steered perfectly, virtually like rack & pinion precision.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 04:04 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by Ken Blythen
Exactly right.

I had an '88 F150 with 89,000 miles on it......all stock steering parts & it drove/steered perfectly, virtually like rack & pinion precision.
2wd or 4wd?

Yeah, maybe the 114k miles might be 214k. Who knows.
​​Yeah.then again, coming from the Nevada, maybe the innerds were cooked.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Ken Blythen
Exactly right.

I had an '88 F150 with 89,000 miles on it......all stock steering parts & it drove/steered perfectly, virtually like rack & pinion precision.
I would not go that far. They definitely do not steer like the couple of rack and pinion vehicles I have, but they do not give you the lack of confidence poor steering or poor brakes can give.

I put a reman store steering box in my 89. It's been a good one.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 08:54 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Franklin2
I would not go that far. They definitely do not steer like the couple of rack and pinion vehicles I have, but they do not give you the lack of confidence poor steering or poor brakes can give.

I put a reman store steering box in my 89. It's been a good one.
Yeah, i will take out the box and send it to Blue Top.
No more screwing around.
When it's done I will post.
Thanks.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 09:27 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Starliner1955
2wd or 4wd?
It was a 2WD
 
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 10:07 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Ken Blythen
It was a 2WD
I really think that whe weight of a 4X puts more strain on the box. Anyway, the Blue Top will improve my life.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2024 | 09:47 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Starliner1955
I really think that whe weight of a 4X puts more strain on the box. Anyway, the Blue Top will improve my life.
My F250 HD 4x4 went 400K miles on the original steering gear. It might have had about 2 inches of play at the wheel when replaced. Since the original Ford gear box lasted so long I was happy to find a new replacement. The play started to get progessively worse near the end. Once you get play then you get slop bang which speeds up the wear. I had read here that reman gear boxes were not performing well for folks. I think you'll be happy with the blue top. My steering is like new now, 15k miles on the new box so far.
 
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