Steering binds
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Steering binds
I almost have my 76 F-250 Cammper Special back on the road and I am noticing that the steering is binding pretty badly when the vehicle is sitting still and you turn the wheel. At first I thought I was just getting the binding at the stops, but now it seems to bind off and on throughout the movement of the wheel. Does this point to a bad pump or the steering box, and is there a way to test the pump?
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 861
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From: SE PA
Steering binds
Hi Kurt,
Got some bad news, it sounds like a bad steering box. Best way I've found to check is to remove the drag link at the pitman arm and turn the wheel with no load on it. I'm afraid you will find that about every 1/2 turn it gets tight, if this is the case it's most likely the box. If the pump is not making any consistant noise it's likely OK. Make sure you have the correct fluid in the system, should be type F. Other tranny fluilds can do strange things to the ford units. If the box must be replaced I would recommend a unit by a company called AGR. They rebuild their boxes not remanufacture. The price is close to other remanufactured boxes-about $450 including a $200 core deposit, they do recommend a new pump with their boxes, another $125 or so. If you must replace the box, this is the way to go, I think their boxes are tighter and smoother than new units! Good luck with what ever you find! Chuck P.
Got some bad news, it sounds like a bad steering box. Best way I've found to check is to remove the drag link at the pitman arm and turn the wheel with no load on it. I'm afraid you will find that about every 1/2 turn it gets tight, if this is the case it's most likely the box. If the pump is not making any consistant noise it's likely OK. Make sure you have the correct fluid in the system, should be type F. Other tranny fluilds can do strange things to the ford units. If the box must be replaced I would recommend a unit by a company called AGR. They rebuild their boxes not remanufacture. The price is close to other remanufactured boxes-about $450 including a $200 core deposit, they do recommend a new pump with their boxes, another $125 or so. If you must replace the box, this is the way to go, I think their boxes are tighter and smoother than new units! Good luck with what ever you find! Chuck P.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
From: SE PA
Steering binds
Just one other thing to check-sorry I didn't think of this before! On the steering shaft, between the body and the steering box, there should be either one or two u-joints, if only one it will have a rag joint at the box, I've heard of these going bad, however all the complaints reguarding these is they get sloppy and not tight. It might be worth a check if the truck has been sittin' awhile and the u-joint has corroded. If this is the case, I've heard good things about a company called Borgeson that makes replacement steering shafts. Chuck P.
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smandzak
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Dec 28, 2006 01:06 AM
