Power assist steering question
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 116
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From: Northwest
Power assist steering question
I recently aquired a 1976 F250 4x4 with power assist steering. It turns easy and does not leak fluid.
When I turn the steering wheel when I am driving down the road...... the steering wheel does not "return to center" when I let go of it. it just stays right where you turned it to. It seems to be acting the same way a conventional power steering box acts when someone has overtightened the adjustment on the box a few turns too much.
Is this normal for the power assist setup or is there something wrong ?
When I turn the steering wheel when I am driving down the road...... the steering wheel does not "return to center" when I let go of it. it just stays right where you turned it to. It seems to be acting the same way a conventional power steering box acts when someone has overtightened the adjustment on the box a few turns too much.
Is this normal for the power assist setup or is there something wrong ?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Northwest
Yeah, castor does influence how well a vehicle will track strait down the road. Positive castor will make it track strait while negative castor will make it easier to turn but have a tendency to wander.
My truck drives really nice and strait down the freeway. The problem I am having is that when I turn the wheel when I am moving........... it just stays right where I turned it to. I have to turn it back myself as it does not return to center by itself.
I suppose some people would describe the "not returning to center" problem I am having as "wandering" .... because you have to make constant corrections left and right when your trying to drive strait down the road.
It's not a real big deal I suppose, I can get used to it. I was just wondering if this is the way the dreaded power assist works normally or if there is something wrong ?
My truck drives really nice and strait down the freeway. The problem I am having is that when I turn the wheel when I am moving........... it just stays right where I turned it to. I have to turn it back myself as it does not return to center by itself.
I suppose some people would describe the "not returning to center" problem I am having as "wandering" .... because you have to make constant corrections left and right when your trying to drive strait down the road.
It's not a real big deal I suppose, I can get used to it. I was just wondering if this is the way the dreaded power assist works normally or if there is something wrong ?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 435
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From: Central Oregon
Before I converted my '74 hi-boy to the integrated PS, the original power assist system worked very nicely as far as returning to center, and actually drove pretty nice. So I would expect that there is something out of tolerance on yours. I'd check the steering box adjustment first, and then pop the slave cylinder off the tie rod and make sure there it isn't something in the tie rod ends or knuckles too tight. I'm sure you will find something if you isolate the components. Good Luck! Steve
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Joined: Jun 2004
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77 box problem
I just bought a 77 F-150 with a 3 in lift and 35's. Somebody put a new steering box on it and the truck will not turn one way or the other very much. From what I can tell the pitman arm is all the way against the frame and binding not allowing the truck to turn. The box is bolted straight to the frame and the pitman arm is flush with the frame not below it? My question is is there supposed to be a spacer plate between the box and the frame or is the box on there wrong or do I maybe have the wrong box? I got a great deal on this truck b/c the guy before me was clueless, somebody give me a lil direction please.
