I have quite a bit of play in my steering wheel, and was wondering what the best way to deal with this would be ? Are there any steering boxs out of other cars, trucks that can be used, or do I have to rebuild the one that is in there? Thanks, Mike

 

first check your front end for worn out components. if all is good you can try readjusting your steering box. lift the front wheels off the ground and on the box there is lock nut with a sloted stud loosen the nut and turn the stud in till it just about bottoms out then back it out a 1/4 turn then turn the steering wheel from lock to lock if it binds at any point back the screw out alittle more til it turns smooth lock the nut and you should be good.with the wheels still off the you should have maybe a 1/4 inch of play in the steering wheel. this will most likly solve your problem.
joe

 

1961/64 F100/250 2WD's use the same gearbox. No cars gearbox is the same. A junkyard box will be no better than what you have now...prolly worse.

If you buy a rebuilt gearbox, chances are that only the following has been replaced, because these parts are the reason for the play.

Two sector shaft bushings, two steering shaft bearings and races, one new sector seal, and the housing gasket. For less than a hundred bucks, you can buy all this from NAPA.

 

not for nothing but when i first got my truck i had about 5" of play in the steering. i adjusted the box (like i have done several times on past vehicles) got about 1/8" to 1/4" play while driving. i have been driving my truck for 6yrs every day about 300 miles a week. try adjusting your steering box before you condem it.

joe

 

I also had a lot of play. I adjusted mine with good success. There is a belief that this is the beginning to the end of your gear box, but I didn't have another option at the time. I now have a very tight replacement box and steering wheel should my current quick fix ruin my box.

Can number dummy let us know if the rebuilt kit/parts are available anywhere?

Later

 

There are no adjustments for "play" on a 61 to 64 ford box. They are bearing preloads, and if not set with the correct tools IE torque wrenches and spring guages and shims, mask the real problem and really wear out the components.

The adjust the box trick is only that a trick to masks the real issue.

Replace the internals. The ford box factory new will have 1.25" of free play measured from center line. thats 9/16th of an inch each way. So by cranking the preload on the bearing you are well below factory spec.....

Read Section 10 of the factory 61 shop manual, for the CORRECT way to repair and fix worn steering box components.

Garbz

 

See the third sentence in my post above. Shop manuals: faxonautolit.com

 

Thanks number dummy, guess I missed the napa response. No need to trash my current box when it goes bad now.

later

 

Could someone tell me how to remove the steeing box? what all has to come off to rebuild it? Mike

 

call it a trick or what ever you want, but the fact still remains 6yrs and several thousand miles later, still have the same box i bought the truck with. as far as shop manuals go they where and are full of mistakes and miss prints.thats why they have tsb and ssm's oh and don't forget the sticky pages you had to put in the books to correct the whole page of so called correct infomation.as far as adjusting the steering worm and sector gear adjustments look under in-vehicle adjustments and repairs. thats right out of the 1966 econoline falcon shop manual. there's a whole section on adjusting the steering gear with nothing but an inch pound torque wrench thats in group 3, page 3-10,part 3-3 section 2. i used this manual only because it was right next to the computer. if the year in question does not have an adjusting screw on it, it doesn't apply so you would have to rebuild it.
joe

 

The adjustments are to set bearing preload. not take up wear. The inch pound torque wrench is to set the drag on the bearing. Wear and play on the integral type box is critical. There over fourty years old and need help...These things wore out after five years let alone using then for fourty.

I dont know what manual you have but my factory 61 original has no stickey pages, i tend to take care of my refrence manuals.

There may be a few errors but those are in later prints of motors or chiltons where things got lost in translation. A falcon econoline book has little revelance to a Trucks box unless they share the same box.

Please describe your truck in detail as to color and type so we can remove our selves from your path as the bronze bushings finally over stress split and jamb sector shaft in place and.... well you get the idea.

The internet is a great place for advice. It worked for me and do this will not cut it in court when asked did you follow standard factory repair procedure...seeing as you gave the advice you are liable.

Steering boxes are the most important part of your truck, even more than the engine as it will roll to a stop without and engine but not without a steering box. Keep to what ford says to do. Excessive wear means rebuild. Play with bearing preload and eventually you will pay the price along with others.


Falconator... What year and model truck...There are differing methods to do it for 61 to 64 4x2s 61 to 66 4x4s and 65 66 4x2s

Garbz

 

Remove the steering wheel, unplug the turn signal switch wires, remove the cover plate from the floor at the base of the column, disconnect any attaching shift linkage, remove column-to-dash hold down bracket and slide the column up and off of the shaft, disconnect pitman arm from steering linkage and remove pitman arm from the steering box, remove bolts securing the steering box to the frame and lift the box up through the hole in the cab floor. The shaft that the steering wheel bolts to is part of the steering box assy., it does not come off with the column like later models.

Did I miss anything, guys?

 

My truck is a 1961 F 100 Unibody with a 292 ci, Thanks to garbz and everyone else for all the info, I'm going to pull the box and rebuild it along with the other front end parts, My 16 YR old daughter wants to drive the truck to school and shows so I want it to be safe!!!!

 

He'll prolly need a Pitman Arm puller aka pickle fork.

 

Bill

Unless the original arm was hammered on they comes off the box without a puller on the ford or Gemmer box.

Remove the bolt from the top, once the nut is free the bolt should slide out easy or may need some help with a brass drift. It is fine thread and easily damaged so be carefull. Take a screwdriver and tap it into the slot at the top of the arm. not hard not much just a bit and wiggle to losten it, then slide the pitman arm off....

THe pickle for will be necessary for the draglink. Be real carefull not to tear or damage the drag link as they do not make a replacment that i have found yet..I typically let the draglink attached to the pitiian and un do the drag link at the spindle.

Garbz