Slopppppy steering!
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,564
Likes: 5,600
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Originally Posted by 88PONY
anybody got a pic of this steering bushing? i got my column changed and noticed my steering to be really sloppy. i thought i had a bad coulmn...
if so, it is in the slipjoint about 8 inches up from the ragjoint at the box.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Indio,California
ok, i just looked at it. where the upper shaft slides into the lower shaft its got a ton of play there. theres a bushing missing i can see. i just wanna know where i can get one and what it looks like
thanks
thanks
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Danville, Pa
Y'all make me paranoid. Even though all three shafts are good on mine, I just threw a good column in the scrap pile a mo ago. Kept tripping over it. Maybe I'm gonna have to go dig it out... In the snow...
Does anyone have a spare can of "springtime"?
I'd even settle for "A warm patch"
Does anyone have a spare can of "springtime"?
I'd even settle for "A warm patch"
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 550
Likes: 1
From: Hillsboro, OR
Originally Posted by LilDuke
Does anyone have a spare can of "springtime"?
I'd even settle for "A warm patch"
I'd even settle for "A warm patch"
New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I'd be glad to send some up. I've been running my A/C for weeks already. It has been one hot winter down here. Only 2 cold spells to speak of all season.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2008
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i think he was refering to older steering gears that used recirculating ball bearing system. sometimes you can adjust slop out of them just fine and well sometimes not.
the main problem is wear on the ***** themselves. i used to wrench forklifts, have actually rebuilt these type of steering boxes. they are a pain to rebuild though and i had to make a tool special for it. im not sure what our trucks steering boxes look like internally compared to the ones ive actully worked on. theres likely alot of similarity though as this is a design thats been around for decades. what youll see when the ***** are worn is the worm shaft will move in and out instead of rotation, least till slack is taken up. there is a pretty fine line between slop and too tight as i recall , and forgive my memory but the last time i rebuilt one of these my 93 f150 was still under warrenty.lol. you might want to try smaller adjustments, driving after each one and see if you cant get more improvement. if after a few adjustments theres no more to be gained then maybe a new steering box is in order. these things are pricey as i recall.
the main problem is wear on the ***** themselves. i used to wrench forklifts, have actually rebuilt these type of steering boxes. they are a pain to rebuild though and i had to make a tool special for it. im not sure what our trucks steering boxes look like internally compared to the ones ive actully worked on. theres likely alot of similarity though as this is a design thats been around for decades. what youll see when the ***** are worn is the worm shaft will move in and out instead of rotation, least till slack is taken up. there is a pretty fine line between slop and too tight as i recall , and forgive my memory but the last time i rebuilt one of these my 93 f150 was still under warrenty.lol. you might want to try smaller adjustments, driving after each one and see if you cant get more improvement. if after a few adjustments theres no more to be gained then maybe a new steering box is in order. these things are pricey as i recall.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Longview, TX
I just returned from a 400 mile trip with my new rebuilt steering box. These guys custom fit the ***** needed and also put a needle bearing on lower shaft if needed. On the trip there were truck ruts and 30 mile cross winds and it was easy driving. My 181K bronco drives like 50k now. Try Red-Head Steering Gear in Seatle if you want a good box.
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