Sloppy Steering Finally Fixed!
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New User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13
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From: Youngsville, NC
Sloppy Steering Finally Fixed!
The steering in my '78 Ranger had been sloppy since I bought it from a friend. My friend had the steering gear replaced just before I bought it. So I proceeded to replace everything else in the front suspension - new I-beam bushings, new radius arm bushings, new king pins and bushings, new wheel bearings. The steering was still loose. You had to constantly correct the steering wheel driving down the road. Thanks to this forum I learned that must steering rebuilds consist of the seals being replaced and the box painted and that a company named Red-Head Steering Gears actually did a true rebuild. I purchased one and just finished installing it. The truck now drives like a new one. After driving it for so long with the steering loose, it is amazing that you can drive it down the road with absolutely no play in the steering. I plan to do some other things to the truck now that it drives so good. Thanks to this forum!!!!! The information you get here can be invaluable.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13
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From: Youngsville, NC
The price break down was as follows:
$215 Steering Gear
$1 Environmental Regulation Expense - Hazmat Disposal
$75 Core Charge
$98 Shipping - 2Way
$389 Total
I paid for the 2 way shipping up front and it came with the return shipping label. Expensive, but it had to come from Washington state to North Carolina.
My total cost after core return was $314.
To me it was worth the expense! The truck now drives great!
$215 Steering Gear
$1 Environmental Regulation Expense - Hazmat Disposal
$75 Core Charge
$98 Shipping - 2Way
$389 Total
I paid for the 2 way shipping up front and it came with the return shipping label. Expensive, but it had to come from Washington state to North Carolina.
My total cost after core return was $314.
To me it was worth the expense! The truck now drives great!
New User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I just puchased a new steering gear for my '74 F100, ps, 2wd, 302, auto(c4). $416 included the steering gear, tax, shipping both ways and $75 core. Starting the rebuild today. This will also include new track arm/pivot arm/shackle (rear) bushings, springs for a 5.0 (there are 5 spring rate levels for '74), shocks, rag joint, drag link, center link, tie rod and adjusting sleeve. Hope it all goes well. I also hope it is worth the expense. I don't think that any of this WON'T help! The rest of the truck is all original except for the engine. It came stock with a 390 so the springs are too stiff for the 302. Changing them to remove the camber issue.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 129
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Yikes! good to read this news, I need to have my 79 box rebuilt. Course, the old slack in the steering does make me feel more credible at handling a vehicle than all these yuppies driving around in sissy trucks that drive themselves.
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Cargo Master
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Joined: Apr 2011
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I'm trying to fix mine. I have a 1977 F-150 4x4. My drag link and steering set up is like on a 1978 though. My drag link ball joints have play, which I am sure causes sloppy and jumpy steering. At some point someone decided to weld the steering gear box onto the frame. I am going to have fun trying to fix that one, and it's not just a tac weld, its a pretty beefy bead. I'm hoping the new drag link gets rid of my sloppy steering, but my guess is it is going to be the gear box too, just because it is going to be a huge pain to get the old one off.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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I hear that. Today I drove my truck to a friends shop across town. The wobble and the shaky steering had me really paying attention and took skill to drive my beast down narrow lane streets with lots of traffic. Got back in my car later and it steered sooo easy. I need my truck like that though. it's too big to have the slop it has right now. I could really hurt someone.
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