I purchased a 1955 F-100 and the steering wheel has much play in it. I thought there was an adjustment on the steering box, but could not seem to make a difference. I had a 1953 years ago and I thought I remembered such an adjustment. I checked the adjustment on the steering box facing the passenger side. Either I didn't make the adjustment properly or I was in the wrong place if an adjusatment exist. ANY help would be apreciated.

55BUB

 

Welcome to FTE

What you are talking about is adjusting the lash in the steering box. And yes it can tighten up the steering.

But there are alot of other factors that will make your steering sloppy such as: Worn kingpin bushings; worn wheel bearings; worn or misadjusted drag link; worn steering gears; worn pitman arm or spindle arm *****; worn tie rod ends; worn spring eye bushings and/or bolts; bad tires; or, improper alignment.

I'd start with the ***** and drag link, then the tie rod ends.

 

Thanks Julie. ONLY the steering wheel is loose. The play in the steering wheel makes for bad steering. It doesn't apperar to be loose past the gear box. Can you describe this adjustment. I did notice a star shaped piece that had a protrusion to turn something. Does the screw inside this ring have to be loose and the star turned?

Thanks again,

55 Big Ugly Beauty

 

Hiya, Bub! Here's a big 'ole cheerful FTE welcome for ya! I'm sure sorry that I don't know a stinking thing about the '53 and up steering gears, but I'm sure that one of the experts will be along directly to help you out. In the meantime, how's about a bippity boppity bump bump bump right back to the top! Tee hee!

 

DRWTP............

You don't need to be an expert if you can read the simple procedure right out of the shop manual.

The actual adjustment is in the Shop Manual, but basically it entails removing the drag link to free up the steering; loosening up the locking nut on the sector shaft thrust adjusting screw (on the side of the steering box); turning it in a clockwise direction until the steering just starts to drag at some point when the steering wheel is turned in both directions; backing the adjusting screw out just enough to elliminate that drag through a full turn of the wheel; then, tightening the lock nut and reconnecting the drag link.

There's more to it than that as there are preloads that should be measured, but that's the basic just of it.

 

????
and i thought i was up late.....

 

Thanks Julie, I only tried to turn the screw (could turn it counter clockwise ONLY). Didn't find a locking nut. I'll perform the complete adjustment from the manual this time and look much closer. I've been reading this forum for a while and see that it is helpful. I hope that soon I will be able to help out also.

Thanks again,

55 Big Ugly Beauty

 

55bub,looseness or slop in any of the previously mentioned parts/components will contribute to the looseness you're feeling at the wheel.This might -likely will - cause you to overdo the steering box adjustment,which will only accelerate wear within the box,and hasten it's demise.

Correct any deficiencies in the other components i.e.,king pins,tie rod ends,drag link,wheel bearing looseness,etc. PRIOR to adjusting the steering-box.That should be the final step.

 

Adjusting the steering gear box may result in the box locking up tight. Then...when you back off the nut...nothing occurs...the steering box is still locked up tight. Now you aren't going anywhere!

Instead of messin' with that adjustment nut, just replacing the two steering shaft bearings (68-3571) and races (B-3552-upper/8A-3553-lower), two sector shaft bushings (81T-3576-A), seal (B6A-3591-A) and gasket (7RC-3581) will make a world of difference.

And...this is what you're gonna have to do sooner or later, as this is the only true way of solving the problem. Steering gearbox play is common in Ford trucks, I've seen some gearboxes that had 10" of play!

Dennis Carpenter has these parts listed in his 1948/56 repro parts catalog, also has the steering shaft and worm for 1953/55 F100/250's (TAAA-3524-A).

You may not need the steering shaft/worm or the sector shaft. Most of these gearboxes have been repaired multiple times, usually the worm & sector were replaced each time, un-necessary in many cases.

What Carpenter does not have is the sector shaft: B6C3575A (1953/56 F100/250).

Who does...is:

FAIRVIEW FORD in San Bernardino CA has ONE = 909-884-9261.

BOB ALLEN FORD in Overland Park KS has SEVEN = 800-676-0675.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has EIGHT = 800-543-4959 / 513-731-3304.

The parts Carpenter has, can also be found NOS at Ford Dealers, obsolete parts vendors.

EDIT: Buzzard and I forgot to add the most important info of all. Gear lube (90 wt or whatever) was not used in manual steering gearboxes. Ford used steering gearbox grease.

This stuff is still available from Ford (XG1C-replaced C3AZ19578A), comes in a tube. The tube is placed in a grease gun, then injected into the gearbox. Using gear oil will cause all sorts of play, even if the parts are brand new.

 

NumberDummy convinced me to attempt to rebuild my box vs. buying one from a rebuilder,as they don't really do all that is necessary in a complete rebuild,but do charge as if they do.I found prices ranging from 425-650 for the steering box,when I can do it for much less using NOS parts(sourced by NumberDummy),plus, I learn to do something new.Haven't done it yet,but I will.

 

Thanks to all of you who helped a newby. New to the sight but, somewhat familiar with the trucks.

Again, Thanks and I look forward to being on this sight for many years to come.

55 Big Ugly Beauty

 

Welcome to the site, that is a real good steering box question it's got me thinking what to do with mine.

 

im a new member on here and have read a few of your responses to other peoples posts and figure your this is the best place to ask about my steering gear box. i have a 1955 f-100 and am nearing the end of a resto mod rebuild. yesterday i got my steering gear box almost all the way apart knowing it was going to be pretty rusty but come to find out its much worse. the worm gear has chunks missing and the berrings are nearly gone. do you think it would be best to purchase a whole rebuild kit from midfiffty.com for example or can i just get berrings and a new worm gear? also, is the worm gear permanently connected to the shaft, or is it a separate part? i have bought most of my parts in the past from ether NPD or midfiffty. do you have any other places that you would suggest i get my parts from? i am in southern california.

Thanks
-Brian Tibbetts

 

My brother bought a very used 56 f-100 back in 1963 that had been on a cotton farm in Arkansas. It seems like it had about 3/4 turn of free play in the steering box. With the way the brakes pulled first one way then the other way as the pedal was pushed harder, only a certified nut could drive it. We replaced both the gears in the box. As I recall, one of them is attached to the steering wheel shaft. That fixed that problem.

 

Welcome to FTE

Worm gear part of steering shaft, not sold by itself, but if you whiz over to San Dimas, to Early Ford Store, they may have just the worm, as it was used in multiple applications.

Make sure to take your present steering shaft along.

You can buy all the steering gear parts individually (excepting the worm), so you don't have to buy a kit (see post 9). I do not know if Early Ford (earlyfordstore.com) will have these parts, call 'em and ask.

Early Ford is located in the original 1916 Ford Dealership building and is also a museum to all things Ford. I whiz over there all the time, sit around and shoot the bull.