'94 Ranger Steering box problem
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
'94 Ranger Steering box problem
Hi. My 1994 Ranger has about a 4 inch gap in the steering wheel. I checked the linkage before and after the gear box even with the vehicle raised and everything is tight. Note: My model has no rack and pinion - just a gear box. Anyways, is the gap normal or should I just replace the gear box. I don't want to spend 300 bucks on a new one only to find it doing the same thing. Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated too. Thanks!
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
No, I mean that when i turn the steering wheel, the wheels do not turn right away. When the steering wheel is centered, the wheels will not turn until I move the wheel about 2 inches on either side of the center position. It has nothing to do with the steering wheel it self or linkage to gear box. It's getting increasingly hard to drive on highway and backroads too.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
I would adjust the gearbox to remove any slop. I would also check the front wheel bearings to make sure they are not loose. I'm assuming the front end is properly aligned, especially toe in. Being toed out makes a vehicle wander.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Chico Ca
Jack up your truck, twist your tires back and forth, look for any looseness in joints, replace any joints that are loose. set your front tires a few inches off the concrete take a bar and lift the tire up - hard lift, should be firm.
gear box I'm not trained on it, (fact is only hardknots) only with a old truck I had once. There is a adjustment on top of the gear box unlock the lock nut with a short screwdriver tighten softly to take out looseness, (don't not over tighten) turn your tires by hand freely. Check gear box for oil, add if needed. if gear box is bad, goto junk yard, buy a new one or have it rebuilt.
Check your tires for uneven wear, if so get it aligned
Don't buy cheap tires, cheap tires are to hard, hard tires don't grip the road as good. hard tires last longer (good for UPS trucks ect ect)
gear box I'm not trained on it, (fact is only hardknots) only with a old truck I had once. There is a adjustment on top of the gear box unlock the lock nut with a short screwdriver tighten softly to take out looseness, (don't not over tighten) turn your tires by hand freely. Check gear box for oil, add if needed. if gear box is bad, goto junk yard, buy a new one or have it rebuilt.
Check your tires for uneven wear, if so get it aligned
Don't buy cheap tires, cheap tires are to hard, hard tires don't grip the road as good. hard tires last longer (good for UPS trucks ect ect)
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
You have to be very careful when you adjust a steering box. The ones I have done are 70's trucks. It involves disconnecting the linkage and measuring the torque at the steering wheel. It is easy to get them too tight and you won't realize it if you don't follow the procedure.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Ok - Thanks for all the info - However, all I really want to know is, does anybody else out there have this problem? When you turn your steering wheel even a fraction of an inch, do your wheels turn? I suspect that anybody answering this reply should have a 1994 or earlier Ranger unless you have had one and know the answer. Also, this is my second Ranger and my old one (a 1991) had the same exact problem. If everybody else has the problem, I'm cool, otherwise I'm gettin the stupid steering gear replaced. I've done everything to the T in the replies (including changing the fluid to Lucas oil) and it still does the same thing. Thanks guys - lookin forward to hearing from you again.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Chico Ca
"When you turn your steering wheel even a fraction of an inch, do your wheels turn?"
most vehicles have some kind of play, like of a fraction of an inch, maybe excite high end race cars (beats me I never drove one)
mattd860 it doesn't matter what type of vehicle you have all cars/trucks steers about the same way. jack up your truck put jack stands under it, twist your tires back and forth (not to much just enough to move the joints) look at each joint while doing so and steering box do you see any play in the joints or steering box? if not does your front wheels have looseness?
while you are twisting your tires look at the steering column, is there a delay?
If you still don't know what I'm talking about take your truck to a frontend shop they will check it out for free /w a estimate
most vehicles have some kind of play, like of a fraction of an inch, maybe excite high end race cars (beats me I never drove one)
mattd860 it doesn't matter what type of vehicle you have all cars/trucks steers about the same way. jack up your truck put jack stands under it, twist your tires back and forth (not to much just enough to move the joints) look at each joint while doing so and steering box do you see any play in the joints or steering box? if not does your front wheels have looseness?
while you are twisting your tires look at the steering column, is there a delay?
If you still don't know what I'm talking about take your truck to a frontend shop they will check it out for free /w a estimate
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
Don't forget to inspect the radius arm bushings. Somewhere you have something worn or a P/S box adjustment is needed. The vehicle should not wander down the road. My 94 has gone straight down the road for the last 175,500 miles.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
My truck doesn't wander, It actually goes straight - however when i hit a bump or in tight traffic I'm constantly turnin the wheel back and forth over that 4 inch radius to keep it centered. otherwise when the road is smooth and level, I can let go of the wheel until a corner comes. I'm gonna try adjusting the steering box when I get a chance unless there are anymore suggestions. Also, I can't do any damage if I tighten it down too much can I? Also, I thought that adjustment only made the steering stiffer or looser - meaning it made the wheel harder or softer to turn. am I correct?
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
The adjustment removes backlash in the gearing and has nothing to do with making it stiffer or softer. Yes, you can do damage, but only if you overtighten it and then drive it like that for large distances (ie, maybe 1000+ miles). If you overtighten it, the steering will have difficulty returning to the centered postion after you make a turn; you won't like that and you will quickly come home and back off the adjustment by 1/8 of a turn and repeat this until the steering wheel unwinds freely to the centered position after a turn (such as around a corner on a residential street). The service manual has a proceedure involving the usage of a torque wrench on the steering wheel retention nut. Over the years, I've tightened numerous P/S boxes and I disagree with the book proceedure (not often that I do) on this one. A little common sense regarding overtightening and you will be just fine. I would suggest keeping track of how much you tighten it, just in case for some reason you need to undo your work.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
the lock nut on the adjuster screw is rusted to the screw. I loosend the lock nut to tighten the screw, but when i turned the nut it turned the screw as well. I retighted it and now I am asking if i can unscrew the entire adjusting screw so i can put it on a vise and separate the two. I noticed that when I loosed it even a little. fluid trickled out and that the screw is spring loaded. Does anybody know if i can do permanet damage if i take out the screw completely?
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Thanks for all your help. I thightened the stupid box and it is near perfect. I think I overtightened it a little because it doesn't return to center perfectly so i'll loosen it a little tomorrow at work. You just saved me HUNDREDS of dollars. hopefully it holds out for a long time so i'll never have to replace it. Now that the steering is nice a tight, i notice a little wandering meaning my alignment is off which should explain why my tires are wearing on the inside. Thanks again!!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
93FordKid321
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
May 19, 2010 06:28 PM
