51 F1 steering Question.

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Mar 16, 2007 | 11:54 PM

restoringmy46

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Elder User

Joined: Nov 2004

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From: Ashland, KY

51 F1 steering Question.

Since I bought my 51 F1 I have put 400 miles on it. I just bought it in Jan. and I am driving it every chance I get. The truck is doing great. But I have noticed the last few days the when I'm driving it and I go to change lanes (from left to right lanes) Right when you put pressure on the syeering wheel it feels like it don't want to turn but it always does. When you turn it to the left it don't do this just to the right. I'm going to grease the front end real good this weekend to see if that will help. I just don't want to take a chance with the steering messing up b/c my little boy is with me everythime I take it out. It only does it for a second, just when you go to change lanes not when you are going to make a sharp right turn. If anyone can help me out would be great. Thanks Scott

Mar 17, 2007 | 12:04 AM

Randy Jack

Postmaster

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 4,190

Likes: 2

From: Riverside, So Cal

My first guess is go and get the alignment checked. Sounds like a toe-in problem to me.

Mar 17, 2007 | 02:18 AM

NumberDummy

Ford Parts Specialist

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 88,826

Likes: 785

From: Simi Valley, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by restoringmy46

Sounds like a typical steering box problem. The sector shaft bushings wear or get burred, causing the shaft to bind momentarily when the wheel is turned. The entire gearbox prolly needs overhauling.

1-7HC-3524 .. Steering shaft and worm

2-68-3571-A .. Steering shaft and worm bearing

1-B-3552 .. Shaft and worm-upper race

1-8A-3553-A .. Shaft and worm-lower race

1-7RC-3575 .. Sector shaft

2-78-3576-A .. Sector shaft bushing

1-7RC-3581-A .. Sector shaft housing gasket

1-C7OZ-3591-A .. Sector shaft housing seal

Last edited by NumberDummy; Mar 17, 2007 at 02:25 AM.

Mar 17, 2007 | 08:15 AM

jimhackney

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 378

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From: Hudson, OH

51 steering

Scott, mine feels exactly the same way. I call it a kind of "knotty" feeling as it turns, instead of a "smooth". Particularly when your making a slow turn, like in a parking lot. I plan to check out the steering box as well. I have an old one, along with the steering column and wheel coming soon, so I can check it out of the truck, to learn how to do it.
There's a lot of "experts" here, so keep listening(along with me). I saw an article recently about how to check and adjust the steering box, I'll find and post it.

Jim

Mar 17, 2007 | 09:43 AM

AXracer

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 15,882

Likes: 88

From: Durham NC

They will exhibit that symptom when someone has overtighten the adjuster tying to remove wear slop. I'd suggest pulling the box, opening it up and cleaning out the likely 50 year old lube and check the condition of all the moving parts. Rebuilding the box is relatively easy, but expensive.

Mar 17, 2007 | 10:10 AM

mtflat

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 6,776

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From: Kalispell, MT

It's been OK until recently?

Grease your kingpins. Mine does the same thing every spring and fall. Just part of the normal maintenance these require. Right now I've got the same problem and I know what it is - again. If you have trouble getting grease in your zerks, lift the front on jack stands so you can turn the wheels as you pump grease.

On occasion I've had to remove the zerk and dig out the dry grease plug so new grease will go down. If your king pins are worn and it hasn't been greased in a long time, some penetrating oil in the hole helps. Just work things back and forth - eventually it'll get where it needs to go.

My 48 is my daily driver for almost 6 years now. Steering gear has been rebuilt along with other linkages and is maintained regularly.

Mar 17, 2007 | 11:20 AM

arctic y block

Post Fiend

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 14,325

Likes: 14

From: Island Southeast Alaska

Steering box was my first thought (good call Bill). But the dry king pins will also do this. Have you topped of the steering gear box with 90*? I use 10W40 cus of the cold here when the seals will handle it. May well be (like the man said) that the box is adjusted to tight. This is very bad as it can cause the thing to brake and no steering what so ever. Check it out good Man.