steering box

frank long island

frank long island

Well-known member
is there a way to take some of the play out of this i have a 55 merc wagon all new front end parts granada spindles and brakes just drifts a bit or is this the way they did it in the old days :eek: or am i used to my expedition thanks :eek:
 
Sounds like you have the same concern as me, my '56 Fairlane is the same way. I think part of it is that we forgot how those older cars handled. Mine is all stock, all new too but still has a bit of oversteer or wander. I saw some chatter about switching the front sway/stabilzer bar with one from a mid 80s Tbird to stiffen it up a bit, but haven't heard from anyone who's actually done it. I might check around & see if I can find one out of junkyard & try it out.

Anybody else heard of this?
 
Have you tried the adj at the steering box? looks like a cap tightened over a star looking washer. Take the cap off slip the star thingy off and tighten the screw, just half a turn at a time and take it for a ride. If that doesn't help the steering box needs a rebuild. Hope this is what you were looking for. Gerry
 
The ease of steering/ amount of "wander" are both a function your caster setting- they are at the opposite extremes of your caster setting, and can be set to your preference during a front end alignment if so desired. Be aware that favoring one will be at the expense of the other though...
 
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When the cars are this old, the only correct way to adjust the steering is with the steering gear box on the bench. The book says to first adjust the bearing preload. Then the sector mesh. With that done, mine still has a little extra center play. Way more than I want. My next step will be to have the alignment man push the specs a bit. The heavy duty sway bar sure helped handling. If you guys find a junk yard part that fits, great. I bought the new parts from Thunderbird ranch. Nice parts, nice folks to deal with.
 
The Jeep Grand Cherokee in the later 1990's will make a good swap and fit fine . You will need to make a plate to bolt into the old steering box location and made big enough to finish bolting the steering box to it . Your pitman arm bolts up to the box . This is the best replacement so far . Then make some brackets for the P/S pump and you have power steering ! You can get the part at any salvage yard or order the box on line .
Other than that you can get the inside worn gear and parts but the worm gear is like $200 new ! Macs has the parts for that .

Jim
 
Good advice Don, especially about the bench adjustment. Fortunately I have a second gearbox so will try my hand at setting it up. I've heard about using others and that's okay but since I alread have a 2nd box I'll try it first.

Ron
 
Even if you have the gearbox adjusted perfectly, it can still seem like there is play in the steering, especially if you are running on the old style tires with 4 inch treads. Crank your tie rod ends out just a bit to increase the toe in and that will take up the slack
 
If you adjust the steering box screw, which affects the depth of the sector to the worm gear, make sure you do it with the wheels turned left or right. Most cars wind up with wear in the "steering centered" position, as that is the position it is in most all of the time. Therefore, if you adjust it with the wheels straight ahead, you will wind up with binding as you turn to either side.
Make sure to check all the other components and alignment as stated here.
 
My 55 seems like it has a ton of play sitting still. At 70 on the interstate, with my radial tires, that much play in the steering wheel would move the car across two lanes. When we get in a fifty some year old car, we have to remember to put our mind back fifty some years. The fact these cars survive means they were very good.
 
One thing I forgot to mention. Any time the steering gearbox is on the bench, clean out all the old grease, and just before you button it up, fill it with straight STP. That stuff lubricates, but it wont seek an outlet like some of the synthetic lubricants.
 
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