Play in steering

[midwestLTD]

I have replaced everything on my front suspention but it still has play in the steering wheel. Do I need to chg or upgrade the steering boxs to get this play out? Its driving me nuts

[Crownvicman289]

Have you tried having someone wiggle the steering wheel while you watch every bit of linkage to see where the slop is? Better yet, with the engine running, wiggle the steering shaft yourself and look. This is what I did. If you crack the nut loose on top of the steering box, you can turn the slotted bolt in 90 degrees at a time to take up some of the slop in the box. Be careful though, if you go too tight it'll bind.

[Lincolnmania]

could be play in the steering gear as previously mentioned, could be play in the steering linkage also.......if it's in the steering box and it's alot, i would just install a reman steering box, if you want more of a road feel, find a 99-02 crown vic police car steering box......you will need to make a custom pressure hose but on a 91 it bolts in

[Crownvicman289]

I heard '97 was a magical year for steering boxes, maybe that's just for me. It's got the better feel you're alluding to and perhaps doesn't require said custom line?

[86VickyLX]

could be play in the steering gear as previously mentioned, could be play in the steering linkage also.......if it's in the steering box and it's alot, i would just install a reman steering box, if you want more of a road feel, find a 99-02 crown vic police car steering box......you will need to make a custom pressure hose but on a 91 it bolts in

'91 has a different pressure hose?

[johnunit]

I heard '97 was a magical year for steering boxes, maybe that's just for me. It's got the better feel you're alluding to and perhaps doesn't require said custom line?

could that just be the difference between worn and new/remanned? I know that I'd probably feel like my hands were dragging on the asphalt compared to how it is right now even if I had a new 1985 style box put on.

[gadget73]

'91 has a different pressure hose?

no, but the steering column will take the later coupler without any nonsense.

[midwestLTD]

Thanks for the info. Have thought about a newer PI gear boxs might just do that would like a tighter feel...How hard is it to fab a new pressure hose?

[1987cp]

Does "everything" really include everything? Tie rids, balljoints, control arm bushings, Pitman arm, idler arm? Replacing the Pitman and idler arms made a huge difference on one of my cars.

[87DeuceVic]

My steering wheel in the P71 has some pretty serious play also, it gets frustrating. I have been told by a couple garages its the steering box...but I'm too cheap to replace it cuz its like $400 with core charge.

[1987cp]

Ouch. I thought a new or rebuilt steering box was only like $200 tops?

[87DeuceVic]

Ouch. I thought a new or rebuilt steering box was only like $200 tops?

Ive never checked a rebuilt one. I know that new they aint cheap, with the core charge and everything. Hmmm maybe I will look into a rebuilt one, cuz that steering wheel really gets to me sometimes kinda takes away some of the enjoyment of driving the car having to keep her on track all the time.

[Crownvicman289]

This is really easy stuff to figure out on your own. With the engine running, grab the steering shaft and rotate it back and forth until just before the rims start to turn. As you're doing this, look at the idler/pitman arms to see if anything is moving without them. If the pitman arm doesn't move, then your slop is in the box. You can try tweaking the tension on the center bushing by cracking that nut loose up top and turning the shaft in 90 degrees at a time with a flat blade screwdriver. I did this with my CV and it tightened it up noticeably. I'm going to try for one more, likely in 45 degree increments. I tried another 90 with the car off and there was virtually no slop, but if you go too tight the steering gear can bind. If these Ford boxes are like the GM boxes, which I suspect to be the case, then there's an internal adjustment as well. You can't adjust out steering gear wear, but you can take up some of the slack. If you're really feeling frisky and can live without the car for a day or 2, might I recommend rebuilding the box yourself? There's writeups out there.

[midwestLTD]

Does "everything" really include everything? Tie rids, balljoints, control arm bushings, Pitman arm, idler arm? Replacing the Pitman and idler arms made a huge difference on one of my cars.

Yes all is done w/ exception to all new Poly bushings..

[midwestLTD]

This is really easy stuff to figure out on your own. With the engine running, grab the steering shaft and rotate it back and forth until just before the rims start to turn. As you're doing this, look at the idler/pitman arms to see if anything is moving without them. If the pitman arm doesn't move, then your slop is in the box. You can try tweaking the tension on the center bushing by cracking that nut loose up top and turning the shaft in 90 degrees at a time with a flat blade screwdriver. I did this with my CV and it tightened it up noticeably. I'm going to try for one more, likely in 45 degree increments. I tried another 90 with the car off and there was virtually no slop, but if you go too tight the steering gear can bind. If these Ford boxes are like the GM boxes, which I suspect to be the case, then there's an internal adjustment as well. You can't adjust out steering gear wear, but you can take up some of the slack. If you're really feeling frisky and can live without the car for a day or 2, might I recommend rebuilding the box yourself? There's writeups out there.

Thanks I will try this first before new box is installed.. Other than the slop in steering the handleing is tight>