steering

[blindside56]

so i had an issue steering stiff to the left not to the right stiff to the right not to the left, everything looked normal so finally something broke, the stupid steering coupler, so first question should i find a new one, junkyard one or do the knuckle joint borgas thing still not sure up to ideas any help, also since that broke decided to just rebuild the steering box and steering pump(cause it had a leak) exactly how hard is rebuilding that steering box, looks like the instruction thing they give is not to bad just alot of parts to deal with what should i look for watch for worry about.....

 

[Broncobill78]

so i had an issue steering stiff to the left not to the right stiff to the right not to the left, everything looked normal so finally something broke, the stupid steering coupler, so first question should i find a new one, junkyard one or do the knuckle joint borgas thing still not sure up to ideas any help, also since that broke decided to just rebuild the steering box and steering pump(cause it had a leak) exactly how hard is rebuilding that steering box, looks like the instruction thing they give is not to bad just alot of parts to deal with what should i look for watch for worry about.....

No question about it, ditch the rag joint for a borgeson piece. You'll be able to put it in and forget about it, too much slop in the factory rag joint for my taste. Admittedly it's not as cheap as a junkyard rag joint but then the quality of the steering will be just as different. Put one in and you *won't* regret it, I've done this swap several times and especially with a lift & larger tires the steering feel is much much better as well as being just plain more solid.

Now are you talking about rebuilding the BOX or the PUMP yourself ? Personally I've never seen a kit to rebuild a box, the sector shaft alone is a bear to get and usually you want to make sure you've gotten one that's been X-rayed for cracks. Jeff's Bronco Graveyard sells rebuilt boxes (or at least they used to) and I'd sure go that way instead. It helps that they're a sponsor to this site but there just aren't a lot of sources for those boxes rebuilt and I've bought two of them in the past, I don't work for them I'm just a happy customer. As for the pump, sure I guess I'd take a stab at rebuilding it at home if you're so inclined. The kits I've seen are pretty much just a set of seals & I don't honestly know if the rebuilt units sold at autoparts stores have had anything done to them other then a new set of seals. I'd make a few calls to find out but $hit, what have you got to lose, give it a shot.

 

[blindside56]

the steering box rebuild kit, its just seals and few other lil shit maybe its i am not callin it the right thing i donno what i am doing have the time trial and error and try getting help, we bought it has seals gaskets washers and lil other things for the box, cause tis a pain to steer and a lil sloppy someoen suggested it would work or help, cause i don't wanna spend super amount on anew box funds short ya know don't wanna if i don't have to, trying to solve the problem without that route...

 

[Broncobill78]

the steering box rebuild kit, its just seals and few other lil shit maybe its i am not callin it the right thing i donno what i am doing have the time trial and error and try getting help, we bought it has seals gaskets washers and lil other things for the box, cause tis a pain to steer and a lil sloppy someoen suggested it would work or help, cause i don't wanna spend super amount on anew box funds short ya know don't wanna if i don't have to, trying to solve the problem without that route...

Sure, I understand what you're saying but here's the deal. I've been down this road before. If your steering box, not the pump but the box itself (that big greasy thing bolted to the frame) is worn and your steering is sloppy then I can *promise* you that there isn't a seal kit in the world that's gonna fix that. Any legimate REBUILD of a steering box is going to include a new *hardened* steering shaft & bearings. Sloppy steering that originates at the box has absolutely nothing to do with seals. A seal kit is appropriate if you're looking to fix a leak but the steering is otherwise peachy-keen. The sad & painfull fact is that a 30yr old steering box is going to be worn out and in need of a complete rebuild/overhaul. That's just the way it is. A squeeling or moaning steering PUMP can certainly be fixed with a seal kit providing it hasn't been run dry for too long but you ain't fixing squat witha seal kit for the box. The only thing you're going to do with *that* is put a lot of time & energy into a project that will disappoint you the first time you turn the key. I would strongly advise you to take the time to speak to the guys who actually rebuild these things and adjust your expectations. I've replaced 3 78/79 Bronco/F-truck boxes and every time it's been with a completely rebuilt unit that included a hardened & X-rayed (to ck for cracks) steering shaft. Rebuilding the box is a job that calls for a lot more than a soft parts kit. I know it's not what you want to hear, Lord knows I didn't want to hear it the first few times either but I'm just telling you that you're setting yourself up for some major disappointment if you think a seal kit will fix this. After 30yrs that box is dead & gone, Denial is not just a river in Egypt. I only say this because I've been standing in your shoes and if I can save you the hassle & bull$hit I will, but to fix it right you'll need to swap the box. Might be that you can find a better one on a boneyard rig but you're not going to find anything LESS than 30yrs old no matter where you look. The best thing to do is to **** it up and take the hit for a rebuilt box while you can still get one. There really aren't a lot of guys out there rebuilding them. I bought all three of mine from Jeff's and it was LONG before they decided to sponsor this site but truth be told I think it's just plain smart to support the guys who support us. If every parts store & wal-mart was selling rebuilt boxes for ancient Fords then it might be another story but that just ain't the case. I wasn't trying to harsh your buzz & I apologize if I did but I really would take the time to make a few calls and then decide for yourself after you've spoken to a few more guys.

 

[fordsohc46]

i have taken some slack out of ford steering by tightening the box. on top is a nut i think a 9/16 wrenck fits it. you loosen it a little while holding the center part of the stud the nut screws onto. once the lock nut is loosened you can tighten the stud but only move it about an 1/8 to 1/4 turn at a time and tighten lock nut and try it because if you tighten it too tight it wont let you turn the wheel.

 

[Broncobill78]

i have taken some slack out of ford steering by tightening the box. on top is a nut i think a 9/16 wrenck fits it. you loosen it a little while holding the center part of the stud the nut screws onto. once the lock nut is loosened you can tighten the stud but only move it about an 1/8 to 1/4 turn at a time and tighten lock nut and try it because if you tighten it too tight it wont let you turn the wheel.

Whoa there Hoss, hold on a minute. That's NOT an adjustment *****. It's there to set the preload on the sector shaft, you go and take the lash out of it and you can produce a very dangerous truck. If you want to go and do it to your OWN truck nobody can stop you but advising someone *else* to do it isn't a good idea. Leave that ***** alone. Personal Injury attorneys LIVE for this sort of thing

 

[fordsohc46]

actually if you look in the service manuall this is an adjustment ***** and it outlines a procedure to adjust.

 

[Broncobill78]

actually if you look in the service manuall this is an adjustment ***** and it outlines a procedure to adjust.

Well, yes, strangely enough I HAVE looked in the manual, and I've actually *posted* the correct procedure to boot, but that doesn't change the fact that 9.9 out of 10 people who choose to touch it wind up ruining their boxes AND making their trucks unsafe to drive. There's quite a bit more to it than just grabbing a couple wrenches & a flathead and going at it.

It's your truck, you own it and you can do whatever you want to with it. That STILL doesn't make touching that ***** a good idea. It doesn't *fix* anything, it generally ruins the box and it almost always makes driving it afterwards unsafe because the steering will grab & run slack at completely random moments and you'll have to manually return it to center after each & every turn, but hey some guys *like* their trucks quirky. The proper fix is to install a rebuilt box, plain & simple. Sometimes you simply have to FIX the problem rather than looking for a cheap, no-cost, twist-a-screwdriver fix. Doing it half-assed is a bad idea when it comes to your steering box. Nobody LIKES the fact that rebuilt units cost so much but the sector shafts have to be hardened & X-rayed for cracks before reassembly and it's just NOT as simple as a rebuilt master cylinder so it doesn't cost $25. Sometimes you just have to **** it up and do it right.