how can I minimize the steering wheel play I have in my 69 mach 1?

[montys69mach]

I recently did the front end over with an alignment and I still have a lot of steering wheel play. The guy who did the alignment said a new control valve would tighten it up a bit. The car has power steering and I am looking to minimize the play in the wheel. Didn't ford make the 71 and up stangs with steering boxes that fixed the "play"? Is there a kit or something made to put a steering box in a 69 car. I don't want to go crazy and put a rack and pinion. I would like to keep it a simple and cheap modification. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[Ozsum2]

I recently did the front end over with an alignment and I still have a lot of steering wheel play. The guy who did the alignment said a new control valve would tighten it up a bit. The car has power steering and I am looking to minimize the play in the wheel. Didn't ford make the 71 and up stangs with steering boxes that fixed the "play"? Is there a kit or something made to put a steering box in a 69 car. I don't want to go crazy and put a rack and pinion. I would like to keep it a simple and cheap modification. Any suggestions? Thanks

There should be a screw on top of the steering box that may adjust some of the play out. The key is not to get it too tight. It is meshing the gears together and it will bind if too tight.

 

[pabear89]

Try adjusting the steering box first.
Center the steering and loosen the nut,
Take a screwdriver and tighten the screw and back it off several times and then turn it till you just barely feel it torking and lock the nut in place.
Test.
If it's still loose you have to reset the control valve.

PB

 

[Snail50]

There should be a screw on top of the steering box that may adjust some of the play out. The key is not to get it too tight. It is meshing the gears together and it will bind if too tight.

this is only a temporary fix, though. I got rid of some slop in the steering box in my 67 this way, but it's by no means a cure-all.

 

[JB66]

I would think the alignment guy probably knows what he's talking about. Most of those guys are usually pretty sharp. Adjusting the manual gearbox too tight will make the problem of wandering much worse. Follow the guy's advice.

 

[bnickel]

yes replacing the control valve will take a lot of the slop, in fat that part probabaly causes more slop on a power steering car than any other. after that is replaced you can then adjust the steering box to remove any left over slop.

 

[Ozsum2]

this is only a temporary fix, though. I got rid of some slop in the steering box in my 67 this way, but it's by no means a cure-all.

Not really. It is made to be adjusted. The proper way is to jack up the front end and tighten the screw until you have a certain amout of drag when the wheel goes past center as varified with a torque wrench on the steering wheel not.

 

[montys69mach]

thanks guys I will try to adjust the steering box and go from there, i'll prob go with a new control valve if need be.

 

[gingerbreadman]

this is only a temporary fix, though. I got rid of some slop in the steering box in my 67 this way, but it's by no means a cure-all.

like oz said this is meant to be adjusted from time to time, it isnt a fix, it is a "adjustment" if it infact needs adjusting it will help out alot with the play up front...


oz please explain that method of adjusting it.... I removed mine from my pickup and adjusted it on the work bench till i had zero play....


and could someone explain to me what a control valve does???

-gbm-

 

[Ozsum2]

like oz said this is meant to be adjusted from time to time, it isnt a fix, it is a "adjustment" if it infact needs adjusting it will help out alot with the play up front...


oz please explain that method of adjusting it.... I removed mine from my pickup and adjusted it on the work bench till i had zero play....


and could someone explain to me what a control valve does???

-gbm-

Well, it's like I said. You tighten the screw until there is a certain amount of resistance on the steering wheel nut. My book is down in the garage, but on my 67, I think it is something like 5# as the steering wheel goes past the center point. Too tight and the gears will bind, and the steering wheel will not return to center by itself when you make a turn. The CV just regulates the hydralic pressure on the cylinder as you turn right or left.

 

[JB66]

According to the 66 shop manual...
With pitman arm disconnected, TOTAL preload over center for the 16:1 ratio gearbox is 9-10 INCH/Lbs. I will scan the procedure if anyone's interested.

 

[RGS0907]

I recently did the front end over with an alignment and I still have a lot of steering wheel play. The guy who did the alignment said a new control valve would tighten it up a bit. The car has power steering and I am looking to minimize the play in the wheel. Didn't ford make the 71 and up stangs with steering boxes that fixed the "play"? Is there a kit or something made to put a steering box in a 69 car. I don't want to go crazy and put a rack and pinion. I would like to keep it a simple and cheap modification. Any suggestions? Thanks

I spent several years with white knuckle steering. Holding the wheel straight, the car would feel like it was wandering into the center divider! I started by replacing the idler arm, rebuilt the control valve, ‘adjusted’ the gear box. Nothing really helped.

The 1969 system has many parts & slop is cumulative. If each component has just a little play, it adds up to a large amount of slop. Also, if it all isn’t fixed at the same time, the parts wear faster so that by the time you replace/repair your 3rd part the 1st one needs work again. Also you can’t keep your alignment within spec if there is any play.

You can try adjusting your box & replacing your idler arm (it’s cheap enough). But if that doesn’t work, I would get a new box & NEW not rebuilt control valve & idler arm and if needed a new power valve. Get an alignment at that point and things will be great. My car drives tight & steady. It’s expensive to do it all at once & the Flaming River stuff is expensive but your enjoyment will go up immensely. It’s worth saving up for. I wish I had done that right away and saved myself many years of crappy steering. Good Luck.

 

[Hack]

Don't forget the "rag joint". It's another source of slop in your steering.

 

[69 302/351c]

Has anyone used the poly ragjoint? Any help? Does it transmit vibrations? I bought one a few years back but never got around to putting it in.

 

[Snail50]

Not really. It is made to be adjusted. The proper way is to jack up the front end and tighten the screw until you have a certain amout of drag when the wheel goes past center as varified with a torque wrench on the steering wheel not.

I see. I was under the impression that tightening the screw was the only way to adjust the slop out of the box when the recirculating ball assy begins to wear out.

 

[Ozsum2]

I see. I was under the impression that tightening the screw was the only way to adjust the slop out of the box when the recirculating ball assy begins to wear out.

Well, if it gets so worn out that you can't adjust the play out, then yes, it needs to be repaired. The problem is that most people just drove the car that way and adjusted their steering habits to accomodate the play, and by the time they adjusted it, or somebody comes along wanting to take the play out, it is so worn out that replacement is the next step.