Maybe Ford_Six, or jowilker can chime in on this one. Me and my "shadetree" buddy Bert put on a new radiator support on the old girl today. Boy was it hot. Drank 2 gallons of water and sweated out 3. Anyway, my question is, after getting it all back together, I took it out for a test drive. The steering really was stiff compared to before. Is this normal? Maybe I need to get after the cab mounts next. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for all replies. "Van"

 

I don't understand how a new radiator support could make the steering stiff, no relation between the two...... Unless your cab mounts are completely shot and the cab is sagging enough to put the column in a bind.....

 

Dave, I think you may be on the right track. The new support has changed the front of the cab and the steering assembly angle.

John

 

The only connection I can make is if there were a butt load of shims on one or both sides of the old support and perhaps rusted on. When the new support was installed the shims were left off, therefore torquing the frame. Were new mounts installed?
Billemc

 

Thanks all for your replies.

To billemc, I purchased new supports along with the rad. support from LMC because I knew one had to be done with the other as the old support mounts were trash. In fact, on the passenger side of the support, it had rusted away and the fender was the only thing holding all together. What a P I T A they were to remove, but, we got it done. Whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW, I didn't see any shims when taken apart.

Dave and jowilker, I had read on other posts that when others changed their supports that they had to do cab mounts also for the very same reason you mention. I was hoping for the best, but, oh well.......................
I guess the cab mounts just jumped to the top of the next to do list. Mabye someone can tell me the easiest way to do them. I have a copy of DC cat. and they sell them complete with instructions, they say. Maybe I should go with them. Any thoughts?

Anyway, that's how I spent my July 4th hoilday. Hope everyone had a good one. Once again, thanks for your quick replies. Henry

 

Henry, Your truck's sheetmetal is connected to it's chassis at 6 mount points. 2 of them are under the radiator support, 2 at the front of the cab, and 2 at the rear of the cab. The cab generally does not move at it's points, but can rot at the front mounts. The front fenders aka (front clip) are bolted to the cab and to the radiator suport. All of this is lined up for fender fit, door closing, hood closing etc.

Over the years cab mount rot or rad. support rot can change the way things fit. You changed the front mount and likely changed the fit with out re-alining everything.

The steering gear is fixed to the chassis, and to the column that goes through the firewall. Changing a part of this and not all could cause the steering to feel different.

John

 

John is Spot On with the cab mount insulator diagnosis regardless of what some say.
I agree cab mount insulators alone can, will, and do cause steering bind when they are unequal or uneven with the support core insulators.

The inner + outer fenders at the tops of the sub assembly forms a "beam" between the support core (which is called a SUPPORT CORE because it supports more than the radiator, infact it is the core of the structural front body support system). It carries inner & outer fenders, grille surround & grille, headlamps, radiator, battery & so forth, the core of front mass is supported.

When the angle of intersection between support core & cab firewall/ cowl becomes wrong, 2 of the 6 body mounts, or 30% of the body mounting system, are then out of whack and a load is applied to the steering column & box. It is that "loading" which = strg bind.

If all insulators crush & sag together steering bind does not occur until the relationship of angles between firewall/ cowl & support core is disturbed. It is a common occurance in most FoMoCo trucks through the 1990's. It probably occurs in other brands too but I don't care hoot about the other brand.

FBp

 

Thanks again to all for your replies. Based upon them, I know that I will need to change the cab mounts as soon as possible. Any answers and advice given by you all is always greatly appreciated. There is a wealth of information here that you can't find in a book. When I get ready to do them, I won't hesitate to seek more advice from everyone here at FTE.

 

Henry, Come back anytime, helping out is why we come in every day.

John

 

Great stuff.....this explains my problem. I had the original rusted out front cab mounts
replaced but now I need nes rubber insulators. does anyone know who supplies
just the insulators?
Canadian supplier preferred but not essential.
Thanks
Carl

1971 F100 sport Custom

 

Whoops that was supposed to read "new" insulators

 

Check out the FTE sponsors listed on this page, most if not all will carry new cab insulators. The mounts are the same 1965/72.

The uppers and lowers are slightly different shapes, btw.

FTE sponsors:

BLUE OVAL TRUCK PARTS / MAC'S ANTIQUE AUTO PARTS / MAR-K / NATIONAL PARTS DEPOT / AUTO KRAFTERS.

MAC'S is prolly the closest sponsor to Ontario, they're located in Lockport NY.

 

Thanks Bill.......that was one of my stupid questions, never thought to
check the links. Now I have plenty of options.
Carl