EZ Steer - Steering Box

Glenn C.

Glenn C.

Well-known member
How many of you Fordbarners have replaced your original steering box assembly with the EZ Steer ? I have been contemplating changing over to this newer style on my 28's to improve the road handling. Is the serviceability of the box what you would expect after many miles on the road ? If I need to, I can go with the 29 to 31 set up, but from what I understand the EZ Steer has even a better ratio than even the Ford steering boxes from the 50's.......comments appreciated.
 
Have you restored your front end and steering, so you know exactly how a Model A should steer?

I haven't restored my 28 yet, but I have driven Model A's that have correctly restored steering components and find them to be very nice to drive.
 
I had this car in the shop this summer in Florida. Owner is 80 and just purchased it from California. Was a beautiful car in every way, except for the steering, and that was very bad. I sugested the EZ Steer, because of the ease of steering, especially at his age. Easy install, looks good, and it almost like power steering compaired to the original 2 tooth. Your gona love it. Iceman
 

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Tom Wesenberg said:
Have you restored your front end and steering, so you know exactly how a Model A should steer?

I haven't restored my 28 yet, but I have driven Model A's that have correctly restored steering components and find them to be very nice to drive.
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Yes Tom, I have restored the complete front ends. Front axle; NOS king pins; steering arms replaced (perfect balls); new kits installed in tie rod ends and drag link; new steering arms; next to perfect front spindles for bearing fit and thread fit; new spindle bearings; wheels aligned to 1/16" toe-in; rebuilt front spring with new spring shackle kits; front axle was checked for straight and spindle bosses re-sized; Existing 7 tooth steering box was rebuilt with new USA or NOS parts and adjusted to 2 1/2" steering backlash at the outside of the steering wheel.

The car is just difficult to keep between the lines on any paved highway that heavy trucks share, due to the ruts, or secondary poorly paved highways. Wife says: "Enough is Enough" "Get this car fixed so that it drives properly".
 
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We need to remember......the steering in the 28's were probably much improved steering over the Model T's for the time, and the road conditions. Our 28 drives good on gravel roads, but who in their right mind would want to do that?
 
Glenn C. said:
How many of you Fordbarners have replaced your original steering box assembly with the EZ Steer ? I have been contemplating changing over to this newer style on my 28's to improve the road handling. Is the serviceability of the box what you would expect after many miles on the road ? If I need to, I can go with the 29 to 31 set up, but from what I understand the EZ Steer has even a better ratio than even the Ford steering boxes from the 50's.......comments appreciated.
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Glenn,
You might look into a 'shortened pitman arm' to also help with your quest! I have one on my '29 sport coupe and it's helped.
 
What about the shocks?? --I know from my car that properly operating shocks make the difference between a scary drive at 40 and a dream to drive at 60.
 
Glenn C. said:
Yes Tom, I have restored the complete front ends. Front axle; NOS king pins; steering arms replaced (perfect balls); new kits installed in tie rod ends and drag link; new steering arms; next to perfect front spindles for bearing fit and thread fit; new spindle bearings; wheels aligned to 1/16" toe-in; rebuilt front spring with new spring shackle kits; front axle was checked for straight and spindle bosses re-sized; Existing 7 tooth steering box was rebuilt with new USA or NOS parts and adjusted to 2 1/2" steering backlash at the outside of the steering wheel.

The car is just difficult to keep between the lines on any paved highway that heavy trucks share, due to the ruts, or secondary poorly paved highways. Wife says: "Enough is Enough" "Get this car fixed so that it drives properly".
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I know what you mean about the truck ruts, because they like to suck my car back and forth also. I think that's pretty characteristic of narrow tires.

As Kurt mentioned good shocks help. I don't have the shocks on my car yet, and it really shows when rounding a curve and hitting bumps, or turning on a gravel road.
 
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I have installed a shortened pitman arm on our 31 Slant, but have not had a chance to try it as yet, as she is going through a heart/lung overhaul. I will try one on this 28 also.

Shocks ?........Ok ! I will take a look at that also.
 
Glenn C. said:
Yes Tom, I have restored the complete front ends. Front axle; NOS king pins; steering arms replaced (perfect balls); new kits installed in tie rod ends and drag link; new steering arms; next to perfect front spindles for bearing fit and thread fit; new spindle bearings; wheels aligned to 1/16" toe-in; rebuilt front spring with new spring shackle kits; front axle was checked for straight and spindle bosses re-sized; Existing 7 tooth steering box was rebuilt with new USA or NOS parts and adjusted to 2 1/2" steering backlash at the outside of the steering wheel.

The car is just difficult to keep between the lines on any paved highway that heavy trucks share, due to the ruts, or secondary poorly paved highways. Wife says: "Enough is Enough" "Get this car fixed so that it drives properly".
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I had a customer come to me with rebuilt steering and a F-100 box. In spite of all the new parts, the car lurched from one side to the other in any road surface irregularity or slight turn of the steering wheel. What I found was a radius arm ball worn beyond any I have seen before. After building it up with a mig welder and shaping it to the correct 1.5 inch ball and installing new radius ball cups the car steers perfectly. Have you measured the radius arm ball?
 
Glen,
I think you would be very happy with the shorten pitman arm, especially with the 7 tooth box. Also try the toe in 1/8 in with 21 in wheel, will have a better effect for wandering.

mike
 
I have been mad at Fordbarn long enuff. Time to get over it. Gotta respond to the E Z Steer post.

I did everything one could do the the original 2 tooth steering. Completely rebuilt steering box. New Kingpins and Bushings. New Teflon tie rod plugs (or whatever you call them). Shortened Pitman arm. Toe in checked several times. The steering was still stiffer than i wnanted in a long distance touring cr. So I went to the E Z Sterr. Difference was like night and day. She now steers like power steering. It was well worth the $800 plus cost.

As to installation it took me two hours to pull floorboards, pull two tooth box out and install new E Z Steer.

Miz Charlotte went on her first tour this past weekend. 45 mile trip to Winnsboro, Texas, a very long classic car and Model A parade (I think we had 84 A's), lots of shwo and tell then a 45 mile trip home at night in the rain. The steerring perfrmed perfectly as did the rest of the car - except for the small rain leak over the windshield. Sorry guys no pictures - forgot my camera.

gonna larn to tipe an spal one of thez days. Ken
 
I guess I don't get it. Not that I doubt that EZ Steer is a good product, but I really like the original set-up.

In averaging 8-10,000 miles a season, I'm fortunate not to have excessive play, wander, difficult turning, or a host of all the other issues mentioned.

I actually prefer the "feel of the road", over my "modern iron" power- steering and it is just one of the many reasons I bought and enjoy the old car. Perhaps, I'm just weird. :o
 
In regards to the radius arm ball.....I have to admit that I did not throw a mic on it when I had it apart, but I did have to do extensive repairs to the clutch housing to renew the ball socket bolt holes due to wear, which was causing the car to jump back and forth. Now unless something has changed in that area, I should have that covered, but since I am fortunate to have a hoist in my shop, it is no swet to check it again. Hate rolling around on my back.

Henry changed the design of the steering to the later two tooth design in 1929 with the 21" wheels. The steering shaft housing remained the same as the 28, but the steering box was re-designed at that point to the two tooth with the keyed shaft.

If I went to the EZ Steer, I can obtain that design with the splined steering shaft, which would allow me to keep my original red steering wheel, or I can rebuild a 29 two tooth steering box that uses the keyed shaft, and rebuild the red steering wheel by swaping steering wheel hubs.
Restoring the 29 box, and changing steering wheel hubs is by far the cheapest, but is it the best way to go ?
How many guys out there driving 30-31 cars with the 19" wheels, have gone to the EZ Steer box and would not change back ?

I detest having to double back over my own work, but Oh! Well!
 
John at EZ Steer will furnish whatever shaft you want. I have a 31 PU with 19" wheels and would not go back to the original 2-tooth box that I took out.
 
In the last issue of Model A Times we discussed the EZ Steer box installed in the roadster. While we only have about 600 miles on it everyone who drives the roadster enjoys the ease of steering.
 
Glenn,
Are you trying to gain better driving stability or better maneuverability? From the gist of reading the posts it sounds like stability and you are fighting with bump steer. You say you rebuilt the spring, unless you used new leaves it will relax very quickly causing axle assembly to pendulate side to side there by affecting the steering control. A band-aid is to use a panhard bar but the real repair is a new spring. Check the shackles, they should be almost horizontal with respect to the ground if the spring is fresh. Also shocks are a must!

Good luck,
GW
 
Glen C - I'm not saying that this is your problem, but I've heard people complain about difficulty steering and how they want to change their box out, and I reply, "When is the last time you greased your steering arms, tie rod ends, and pitman arm ball?"

Response: "Uh.... I can't remember."

After doing that, the stock steering gets a lot easier!!

Now, I have an F100 box in my cabriolet, and properly oiled and everything greased and tires inflated to the correct pressure, it is really really nice, like power steering. I used to not believe that comment about "It's just like power steering,", but it sure is night an day easier to turn the wheel. Even when standing still.
 
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