• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

Oh great, steering problems...need some thoughts here guys

  • Thread starter Thread starter TireSmoknWindsr
  • Start date Start date Jul 11, 2004

TireSmoknWindsr

Founding Member
Sep 12, 2002
1,630
0
0
Half past whup'n some import's ass
Jul 11, 2004
#1
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #1
Ok on my '66. I still think a new steering box will fix it. I've adjusted it and it still has a pretty good amount of play. If you shake and fiddle w/ my suspension its all solid tight and new. Going down the road it tracks a little off. Sometimes if I go over a hill at a higher speed when I drop off and the load moves off the car as its pushed over the hill sometimes it will cause the wheels to jerk and when the load comes back to the front suspension the car wants to jerk to the side bad sometimes. It does it sometimes on potholes and things but especially coming out from under load on a hill. Going straight and downhill it does alright buuuut. Any ideas here? Think getting it aligned again could cure that? Maybe they just didn't do a good job the last time and it's got the wheels tryin to go different ways? It's got new shocks, control arms, pitman/idler arm, bushings, etc. Tight as can be but my steering scares me sometimes....its just sloppy and jerky.
 
F

Fostang

Founding Member
May 8, 2002
1,400
0
36
Stockton, Ca
Jul 11, 2004
#2
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #2
Well if you say you've tried adjusting the steering box and it still has a little bit of play. I'm thinking $400 or so bucks are in order for a new box.

Which is basicly what I'll end up doing for my coupe.
 

RajunCajun

New Member
Nov 26, 2003
180
0
0
Jul 11, 2004
#3
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #3
You have a couple of options:

Can try rebuilding the original
I took mine fully apart and didnt find any worn parts so put it backtogether and filled it full of greese works just fine
Various Parts @ Johns Mustangs

Buying a rebuilt for around 190
@ Johns Mustang

Buying a flaming river style for 490
@ Mustangs Unlimited
 

TireSmoknWindsr

Founding Member
Sep 12, 2002
1,630
0
0
Half past whup'n some import's ass
Jul 11, 2004
#4
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #4
What all is involved in rebuilding one? Could like NAPA, O'Reilly, etc get a kit?
 

65 fastback

Founding Member
Mar 17, 2002
1,347
0
37
Northern VA
Jul 11, 2004
#5
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #5
TireSmoknWindsr said:
Sometimes if I go over a hill at a higher speed when I drop off and the load moves off the car as its pushed over the hill sometimes it will cause the wheels to jerk and when the load comes back to the front suspension the car wants to jerk to the side bad sometimes. It does it sometimes on potholes and things but especially coming out from under load on a hill.
Click to expand...

This sounds like classic bumpsteer. As your suspension cycles up and down the wheels are toeing in and out, thus making your car twitchy (sp?) Have you lowered your car or done the Shelby mod? Also, do you have the Granada disc swap? - All of these mods will induce some amount of bumpsteer.

Tim
 

RajunCajun

New Member
Nov 26, 2003
180
0
0
Jul 11, 2004
#6
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #6
TireSmoknWindsr said:
What all is involved in rebuilding one? Could like NAPA, O'Reilly, etc get a kit?
Click to expand...


mainly replacing of bearings and the seal on the top plate

The most worn bearings ive seen are the ones on the shaft itself the two ball bearings there realitively easy to replace and dont require a full dissassembly

Ive never seen a kit anywhere offered for M/S boxs and I dont know if Napa, etc... carries pieces or kits youd have to check you never know. johnsmustang has just about been the only person Ive seen that carries them and even then sometimes he doesnt have them in stock.
 
F

Fostang

Founding Member
May 8, 2002
1,400
0
36
Stockton, Ca
Jul 11, 2004
#7
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #7
What can be done to reduce bump steer?

When having the granda conversion, shelby drop, and being lowered?
 

TireSmoknWindsr

Founding Member
Sep 12, 2002
1,630
0
0
Half past whup'n some import's ass
Jul 11, 2004
#8
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #8
My car has stock drum spindles and I haven't done the Shelby drop neither.
 

65fastback2+2

New Member
Aug 4, 2003
1,229
0
0
Louisville, KY
Jul 11, 2004
#9
  • Jul 11, 2004
  • #9
make sure your drag link ball stud that goes into the pitman are is both tightened down in the drag link and the nut securing it to the pitman arm. if the drang link side of the ball stud is wore out it could be pulling out slightly. I know when i redid the 65 FB's suspension the bullstud-to-pitman arm nut wasnt tight enough and I had 2" of slack, tightened it up and it dropped to 1/8" both ways.
 

TireSmoknWindsr

Founding Member
Sep 12, 2002
1,630
0
0
Half past whup'n some import's ass
Jul 13, 2004
#10
  • Jul 13, 2004
  • #10
Well...I hadn't piddled w/ the box in about half a year...since we had tried to tighten it up...well...just for kicks I figured hey I'd go mess around w/ it some and apparently my shop teacher who was adjusting it while i turned the wheel had it on there loose and it backed out...so I tightened it up...hmmm...helped some still loose though....I thought maybe it was low on fluid...went and topped it off...it still has play in it but its about like it was when I first got it and I'm happy now...I am gonna go see about getting it re-aligned by a different place who aligned my '71 hardtop a couple years ago and did a good job. I wonder what I need to tell them though about the possible bumpsteer issue...I havent drove it on any hilly-twisty roads yet to see if that w/ the box cleared some of it up or not.
 
6

66coupe306

New Member
Feb 1, 2004
32
0
0
Jul 13, 2004
#11
  • Jul 13, 2004
  • #11
Sounds like the standard piece of junk Mustang steering box. Worked like crap from the day it rolled off Henry's line!!!!! You know, I love the Mustang, but it must be one of the biggest piles of crap that ever rolled off of an assembly line!
 

Mach-One-Man

New Member
Dec 12, 2002
299
0
0
The Keystone State
Jul 13, 2004
#12
  • Jul 13, 2004
  • #12
undefinedYou could send it out to Rhodes in Ohio, they will rebuild it & only replace what is needed & send it back usually within 2-3 days.
 
T

TT670

Founding Member
Jul 10, 2001
360
9
28
Jul 13, 2004
#13
  • Jul 13, 2004
  • #13
sounds like bumpsteer to me too, my 65 has every single component replaced in the front end, including the steering box, it is in perfect alignment and acts like you describe now and then. 99% of the time you dont notice it, but if the front takes a good hit, or if you get alot of lift over a rise the evil bumpsteer shows its face, Im going to get myself a Baer tracker kit and work on correcting it. If you were to lift the car, remove the springs and cycle the front suspension thru its range of travel youd see what bump steer is, it can be nasty on these old mustangs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
New kid on the block
  • HydraX
  • Mar 22, 2025
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
17
Views
680
The Welcome Wagon Mar 22, 2025
HydraX
H
Engine Throwing codes 94, 33, 34, 44, and sporadic engine shutoff.
  • Ryu
  • Oct 9, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
11
Views
879
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 16, 2024
89ripper
New daily driver help needed.....not a mustang but mustang drivetrain.
  • Wayne Waldrep
  • Jun 17, 2024
  • Other Auto Tech
  • 3 4 5
Replies
80
Views
5K
Other Auto Tech Jul 28, 2024
manicmechanic007
Brakes Clicking noise while braking?
  • TIGGER
  • Sep 26, 2022
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
37
Views
7K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 26, 2023
TIGGER
Electrical Loosing all electrical power intermittently?
  • GSXR1216
  • May 29, 2023
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
17
Views
4K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 5, 2023
nickyb
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?