Classic steering problem?

Boss 351 · Feb 18, 2004

This is for my cousin's 1969 Cougar with a 351W. After a day at the track last year the steering stopped working well. It turns fine on one side but the other is very hard to turn. This is a manual system...

Any ideas as to what is wrong... I looked under the car and everything seems fine except that the pitman arm is a little loose.

bud4660 · Feb 18, 2004

Might try to adjust the screw on top of the gear box. I think that takes the slop out of the sector shaft. It has a jam nut on it. I always turn it in till its snug and back it out half a turn. I am sure there is a right way to do it...

Also wiggle the steering wheel while your doing this. You can lock up the gearbox if you set it wrong.

Boss 351 · Feb 18, 2004

I will check that out... maybe the screw got loose or fell out lol. Thanks

302RWP · Feb 18, 2004

when the steering on our mustang got hard we just put some grease on the ball joint and that worked wonders

SuperDave · Feb 18, 2004

"Grease on thew ball joint"? Hmmm.....

It would appear thet the steering is binding. I'd be reluctant to adjust the steering box unless I KNEW that was the problem. What is the condition of the tie rod ends, idler arm, ball joints, etc. Recommend that you NOT experiment with solutions.

Boss351 · Feb 18, 2004

What would be the cause of "binding"? I will double check everything as soon as it's warm enough. He asked me to go out and buy a new steering box, tie-rods, etc... I think we should wait until we know what the problem is.

GaPonyFarm · Feb 18, 2004

The pitman arm was loose? Which end of it?

I'd look at a good lube job first, tie rods second, idler arm third. I'd leave the steering box alone... its not the culprit.

SuperDave · Feb 18, 2004

Mr. Bean: Throwing parts at an undiagnosed problems is a and is

hummer784 · Feb 18, 2004

I am suprised that no one has asked yet, but what kind of racing were you doing and when did you notice that the steering got bad? Mabey if you can figure out when during the race the steering went bad, you could figure out what caused it. Just my .02.

SuperDave · Feb 18, 2004

hummer784 said:
I am suprised that no one has asked yet, but what kind of racing were you doing and when did you notice that the steering got bad? Mabey if you can figure out when during the race the steering went bad, you could figure out what caused it. Just my .02.

Who said anything about racing?

bnickel · Feb 18, 2004

if the pitman arm is loose from the gear box that would be very bad, i would check to make sure there are no stripped splines in the sector shaft before doing anything else. i have seen the ball joint on the center link go bad and bind up, which would cause the the steering to be compromised. the joint i'm describing is the one where the center link connects to the pitman arm. you might be able to just clean that joint and re-lube it and be ok, but i would start searching for a NEW replacement, they can be very difficult to find as the aftermarket does not produce them any more. when i had my 70 cougar i converted it to it to manual steering and had to get an NOS center link from Obsolete Ford Parts in Oklahoma, it cost me about 90 bucks plus shipping and that was over 10 years ago.

hummer784 · Feb 19, 2004

Superdave, in his first post he said "after a day at the track last year the steering stopped working well." To me that means racing. If you do happen to need parts check out any decent parts store and get parts made by moog.

bnickel · Feb 19, 2004

If you do happen to need parts check out any decent parts store and get parts made by moog[/QUOT

i just went to double check myself on the availability of the center link www.partsamerica.com does list one made by rare parts for an eliminator with manual steering for $145.00. that part is not however serviced by moog or trw either, so you might want to some checking around for that one. good luck let us know what you find

Classic steering problem?

Boss 351

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bud4660

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302RWP

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SuperDave

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