manual steering question
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,110
Likes: 32
From: southwest pa
manual steering question
alot of you are probably going to think im kina crazy, but i'm getting rid of my ram assist and going to the manual steering. the power assist drag link has developed a huge amount of play where it connects to the pitman arm and i dont want to spend the money to get it rebuilt because id rather just save the money for a crossover conversion. i went to bronco graveyard and bought a drag link for manual steering. from what i understand, i just remove ALL of the ram crap, and put the new drag link in. do i need to run a steering stabilizer or would this just make it harder yet to steer? i'm trying to spend as little money on this steering system since i'm going to do the conversion down the road. i was just posting to make sure i'm on the right track to get this done. if anyone could answer the stabilizer question that would help alot too.
thanks
thanks
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 21
From: Northern Illinois
I don't think the stabilizer is going to make that much difference in turning the wheel. It will probably help keep it from wanting to "wander" if you have big tire's on it. I would put it on.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: WA
I did exactly the same thing to my 74 F-250 4x4. All you have to do is dismantle all the ram assist and replace the ram with the new drag link. I did not install any stabilizer and have had no problems with bump steer or wandering. I did realign my front end afterwards due to uneven where on my tires. This probably had nothing to do with the conversion though. The reason I made the manual conversion was because the ram assist was leaking like a sieve and I did not have the money to convert to full power. It works very well however, when trying to park its terribly hard to steer. I am planning on converting to full power soon. Oh and by the way I have 33" super swampers on it which probably causes it to steer harder than normal.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
From: Spokane WA
my 74 f100 had power assist, but it was leaking way too bad and i havent gotten it rebuilt yet. i just tore out everthing, still have the drag link with the play, but i get around surprisingly well, even with tons of play. i got used to it pretty quickly. parking is a bear though, but i guess it doesnt help that i have a smaller grand gt wheel and 35"s, eh?
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,110
Likes: 32
From: southwest pa
thanks guys, i appreciate the replys. i'm not gonna go with the stabilizer for now, i just wanna get this thing driveable for winter without spending a load of cash on stuff thats not necessary. suppose to be a really bad winter and i cant handle another one without the 4x4. hopefully my stuff will be in soon so i can get it straightened out. the ram drag link had enough play in it to make regular driving VERY scary.
thanks guys
thanks guys
