loose steering...

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Dec 11, 2003 | 08:28 AM

BeSee

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From: miami

loose steering...

Stock `65 steering box.
I know I have some play in the front-end but I have alot at the steering wheel. How do I tighten it?

Bill in Miami.

Dec 11, 2003 | 09:37 AM

banjopicker66

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Joined: Apr 2002

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From: Coal country

Bill: Before you tighten the box, replace worn tie rods, drag link, etc etc. Tightening the box to compensate for loose steering linkage parts will only result in early box failure.
The worm gear tightener only compensates for wear in the gearbox, and tightening it will only accelerate it wearing out.
To tighten, loosen the nut on the top of the gearbox, about 1/4 to 1/2 turn, enough to let the threaded slotted screw turn.
Screw the stud into the box to tighten. Once it bottoms out, back it off 1/8 to 1/4 turn.
While holding the screw stll with the screwdriver (to keep it from turning anymore), tighten the lockdown nut.
That should help.

Dec 11, 2003 | 09:55 AM

William

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Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 3,565

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From: Sun River St. George

Take a look at the rag joint! “That flexible union between the steering column and the gear box”. Ford has a plastic piece that replaces this and solves the problem for good. Not cheap, about 80 bucks or so. Other options are the fix-it kit available at any parts store for about 10 bucks. On the end of the steering column shaft is a flange, mostly round, with two U shaped slots and two bolt holes. Look at those slots, are they shiny? Is the round stud on the rag joint touching these U shaped slots? Bet they are! The studs and slots keep the steering from catastrophic failure, if they are doing their jobs those slots will have shiny spots when the rag in rag joint has failed. After that grease the steering, you'd be surprised at what these two changes will make in your steering. MOOG has a part number for all the steering link and tie rod parts for these old beasties, you may want to price that as well. BP gives good advice about screwing around with the gear adjustment. That adjustment should be the Last thing you do after everything else is up to snuff.

Dec 11, 2003 | 10:13 AM

BeSee

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From: miami

Thanks guys.
As I mentioned, the front-end is in need of tightening up.ie, king-pins, ball-joints etc. Just wanted to make sure on the adjustment at box. (thanks again BP)
The rag-joint is in surprisingly good shape considering. I will shop for the Moog replacement when I replace the body mounts. Not a priority at present though.
The front-end has just started to loosen up kinda all of a sudden.Perhaps because of all the recent daily driving. Truck sat for a loooong time before I got it. Been going from one project to another to get it in optimum shape.(I can almost smell the paint!)
As always the FTE guys are a big help...

Bill in Miami.

Dec 11, 2003 | 09:14 PM

motorcyclist

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Does anyone know what type of lube is recomended for a steering box? I would like to change it on my 64 as I think 40 years is enough, and the lube is very dark looking.
Would 90w, or 140w gear lube work ok?

Dec 12, 2003 | 02:43 AM

FordBoypete

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Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 2,222

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From: East Central Florida

Dealing with a Bum Steer. . . .

Motorcyclist,

I'm curious how you plan to empty the original fluid out of your steering gear box in 1st place? Anyway, if you do figure a way to empty your steering box & get around to replacing oil, any Gear Oil, SAE90w through 140w will work in manual steering box, even STP works, Heat is not critical in a steering box, but if you live in Caribou Maine, use 90w or you'll end up with arms like mighty Joe Young by spring.

BeeSee,

Majority of time when "looseness" comes on quickly as opposed to over time, I found it to be center link rod, or tierod ends are the culprit. Generally steering boxes do not suddenly loosen up.

As Banjopicker stressed & I certainly doubly reinforce, adjusting drag tension adjustment on steering box to compensate normal system wear is absolutely wrong thing to do, absolutely! Used steering boxes are getting harder to find, and rebuilt ones are getting more expensive to buy. Tightening beyond simple tension destroys worm gear teeth fast! That bolt on the strg box is to increase resistance or "friction feel" in gear set depth, that's all!

I just put a center link in F250 for a guy and he couldn't believe the difference it made in reducing play in his steering wheel.

FBp

Last edited by FORDBOYpete; Dec 12, 2003 at 02:46 AM.

Dec 12, 2003 | 07:50 AM

BeSee

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Joined: Sep 2003

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From: miami

Fordboy,
It`s amazing what a little grease can do to free up a front-end.
After jacking up truck and checking king-pins and ball-joints(all seems well, ie tight) I saw those little nodes with the tiny BB in them. Took my grease gun down out of storage and used it (first time in a while). Took a short cruise to the auto-parts store(to re-fill a very nessicary tool) and felt like I was driving my wife`s explorer! My how we forget.
Anyway, took the tension back out of steering-box so`s not to ruin it premeditatedly.

Bill in Miami.