Moving On: Steering Issues

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Nov 26, 2009 | 03:59 PM

1976F250HiBoy

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From: Decatur Illinois

Moving On: Steering Issues

Well thanks to the help of Alex and a couple other gentlemen I have successfully fixed my electrical issues...thanks guys. Now then, I have looked my steering system over and greased everything on the front end yet it steers really hard. Why would it steer so hard even though its got power steering?

Nov 26, 2009 | 06:32 PM

427 fordman

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From: Plankinton, SD

It's not really power steering, its a manual steering box with a power assist. Is your assist cylinder mounted on the link working properly? I don't know much about this steering except its a **** poor design.

A lot of guys on here do a 78/79 powersteering gearbox switch. Not too hard to do, and a much better steering system. I went with a 77 1/2 ton 3 bolt box and made a mount for it and made it work. Only reason I did this is I had the parts and I couldn't find a 78/79 box for less than 200 bucks.

Do a search and you should find even more steering options.

Maybe someone will chime in on yours if you just want to try and fix what is wrong.

Nov 26, 2009 | 06:40 PM

1976F250HiBoy

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From: Decatur Illinois

well from what im gathering, even if I fix whatever is wrong here, I am still going to like the 78-79 box better either way. I think I will go on the hunt for that box instead. Thank you.

Nov 26, 2009 | 06:55 PM

alex211

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From: Slippery Rock, PA

My buddies truck had steering that was as hard as manual steering. So one day we decided to fill it up with power steering fluid, the steering was nice and easy. But, it was pouring fluid out of the steering ram mounted to the axle. He had a parts truck with a good ram, so we got it swapped on there and the steering has worked fine. The only issue is that the steering ram leaks a little, but since they don't make parts anymore he's just going to keep adding fluid to it. The 78-79 box isn't that great either because when they wear out you're done, unless you send it off to have needle bearings installed where ford just let it be metal on metal. That box also requires more fabrication to the frame than just mounting a saginaw box on the out side of the frame.

Nov 26, 2009 | 07:03 PM

sbechtel101

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I have a 72 4x4 with a 79 steering gear box change. I didn't do the swap myself it was done when i bought the truck. It looks like all they done was weld a plate to the frame with the same bolt pattern as the box and hook er up. I know there has to be more to it because my steering is really easy to the left and easy to the right but it doesn't turn to the right at all hardly. It's actually down right now because I have to re-index the pitman arm. Hopefully that will allow me to turn the truck to the right.

Nov 26, 2009 | 09:34 PM

1976F250HiBoy

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From: Decatur Illinois

ya im just not sure what to do. All I know is that this thing is alot like you say your buddies was alex, manual type steering. Im concerned at the moment cause this is how its acting now I could just imagine when I get it on 35's. Im not a very big guy so muscling it around just isnt gonna work out.