Steering problems. Your opinions please
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Steering problems. Your opinions please
O.K. here goes. The other day my steering started to feel tight & lose as I made slow turns. Today I put it up on stands and had my son turn the wheel. It still had the tight spots and none of the components seem to be binding. Shut the truck off and tried moving the wheels with just my hands & got maybe an inch of movement before it stopped. Power steering pump & lines are fairly new. 2-3 months maybe. Rag joint looks pretty good. The only thing that looked odd is the white plastic cap on the one section of steering column (just outside the firewall) looks to be moving a bit when its at a tight spot. Do you think its the gear box or steering column or U-joint or something else. I had a problem similar to this a while ago but that was the 2 sections of column seperating at the U-joint. Its tight now and it doesn't appear to the problem this time. As always thoughts and comments appreciated. Off to bed now.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: wyoming
I agree with mark.a. I had a 88' 350 and it would steer hard and easy. I would turn left and it would almost want to stay there. Couldnt find any worn steering components. Tore the front end down and the axle u-joints were seized bad. Thats just one possibility.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
O.K. here goes. The other day my steering started to feel tight & lose as I made slow turns. Today I put it up on stands and had my son turn the wheel. It still had the tight spots and none of the components seem to be binding. Shut the truck off and tried moving the wheels with just my hands & got maybe an inch of movement before it stopped. Power steering pump & lines are fairly new. 2-3 months maybe. Rag joint looks pretty good. The only thing that looked odd is the white plastic cap on the one section of steering column (just outside the firewall) looks to be moving a bit when its at a tight spot. Do you think its the gear box or steering column or U-joint or something else. I had a problem similar to this a while ago but that was the 2 sections of column seperating at the U-joint. Its tight now and it doesn't appear to the problem this time. As always thoughts and comments appreciated. Off to bed now.
Sounds to me that the spool valve in the P/S gearbox is binding up = not an uncommon problem back then or today.
If so, it's time for a rebuilt box.
That "white plastic cap" is the mast jacket's (outer cover for the column) lower support bushing.
It's moving, because the steering is binding up.
4WD: The steering coupler is actually a shaft & coupler assembly...it may be coming apart. It's made of two separate pieces peened together.
There are not separate parts available, and the shaft & coupler is obsolete and hard to find in any condition.
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Yes its a 4x4. If I would have posted correctly you would have known that. Been here long enough to know better. Sorry 'bout that. 78 F150 shortbed 4x4 351M automatic. You guys talkin about the universal on the axle or the ball joints on top and bottom of nuckle? I was going to replace the nuckle joints. 1 doesnt look too healthy but its not binding. The hubs arent locked in so the u-joints shouldnt be effecting the steering at this time I dont think. I was leaning toward the P/S gearbox. Was hoping not because never dealt with one before. On & off no biggie. Finding one, getting it rebuilt is what I'm not looking foward to.
Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Yes its a 4x4. If I would have posted correctly you would have known that. Been here long enough to know better. Sorry 'bout that. 78 F150 shortbed 4x4 351M automatic. You guys talkin about the universal on the axle or the ball joints on top and bottom of nuckle? I was going to replace the nuckle joints. 1 doesnt look too healthy but its not binding. The hubs arent locked in so the u-joints shouldnt be effecting the steering at this time I dont think. I was leaning toward the P/S gearbox. Was hoping not because never dealt with one before. On & off no biggie. Finding one, getting it rebuilt is what I'm not looking foward to.
But if the spool valve is the problem, the rebuilt gearbox will prolly have one that's better than yours.
Spool valves for the gearboxes were over $200.00 in 1978, and are obsolete today, so a rebuilt box will only have a good used one.
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I recommend putting all that info in your sig, don't need to remember then.
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From: Dillsburg PA
If it is the box Check with AGR there big in the offroad marketplace and forcus is just steering related stuff. I looked at there web site argperformance and it looks for your year truck you might have to send it to them to get rebuilt.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Another place that does these boxes up right is: redheadsteeringgear.com
They mill the case and install bearings. Ford never put bearings in the box, one reason they don't last too long.
They mill the case and install bearings. Ford never put bearings in the box, one reason they don't last too long.
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From: lino lakes, mn
first things first disconnect the steering box from the front end (I've had the u-joint in the steering column lock-up and cause the same problem). Try each part separately before condemning anything unless you like to buy parts.Even if the hubs aren't locked in the axle u-joints can still be the problem because even if your not spinning them they still have to bend when you turn the wheels.the white plastic thing at the bottom of the column is the lower bearing retainer the movement leads me to believe the trouble is between the the steering box and column
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Hey numbers, You say theres no u-joint in the steering column but I have what appears to be a u-joint in mine. At least thats what it looks like. I'll get a pic on here tomorrow if I can figure how to do it. Unless the P.O. switched it out. Its just down the column from the "plastic cap" mast jacket. It swivels cause the column doesnt go straight to the box. It kinda sits on 2 different angles. Trucks registered as a 78. Cant remember what month but it was late 77 on the tag. I'll check that to. Maybe I can find a cheap gear box at a salvage yard and have mine sent out to be rebuilt. I like the idea of disconnecting the gearbox and checking the steering that way. Good thinkin plowpusher. I've had a couple of these trucks but this one seems to be giving me the odd problems. If something went wrong with the others it was always an obvious fix. I told the wife I was gonna run this one til it dont run no more. Then I was gettin another.
Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
The U-joint (C6TZ3815B) was only used 1973/75.
What you are seeing is the steering shaft & coupler assy, which is only used on 4WD's.
1978/79 F150 Regular Cab 4WD: D9TZ3B676A .. Shaft & Coupler Assy / 15 3/4" long.
On the 1973/75's, the u-joint was used in conjunction with the shaft & coupler and is replaceable.
The 1978/79 shaft and coupler comes as an assembly only. Where the coupler joins to the shaft, there's no joint there...the two pieces are peened together.
What you are seeing is the steering shaft & coupler assy, which is only used on 4WD's.
1978/79 F150 Regular Cab 4WD: D9TZ3B676A .. Shaft & Coupler Assy / 15 3/4" long.
On the 1973/75's, the u-joint was used in conjunction with the shaft & coupler and is replaceable.
The 1978/79 shaft and coupler comes as an assembly only. Where the coupler joins to the shaft, there's no joint there...the two pieces are peened together.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
So you won't see some of the FTE regulars around here much.
It's time to shoot some old levers...CLICK CLICK....BOOM!