Maybe you've seen the thread about the nose high 60' Ford I bought. Doesn't matter I guess. Anyway the old headers were right next to the steering box so it was leaking badly. So badly that the last guys filled it with grease instead of oil! It was working fine before I took it out and put new seals and gaskets in it. Now it steers to the right fine but when you try to steer to the left the shaft (as in the long shaft that the steering wheel is hooked to) screws down into the box and locks up. If you steer it by grabbing the wheels and turning it goes both ways just fine. So well that if you take the pitman arm off and turn the shaft by hand it will turn both ways lock to lock easily. It only binds up when you steer to the left by turning the steering wheel. AND there is a bunch of play in it now and there wasn't before. Maybe I should have just left the grease in it! This is the first time I've messed with a steering box. Does anyone have any idea what I did wrong?
Grease, oil? It's just too much! Is this a power steering unit? Is this a 60 something or an "A project"? Details man, details!
Ok. It's a 60 Ford F-100 with the factory box (manual). It's suposed to be filled with gear oil. The last guys had it filled with thick grease so it wouldn't run out as quikly I guess. Does that help at all? I'll give you any info you need. Just help me man A rebuilt one is $550.00 before the core charge. I REALLY don't want to buy one for a stupid mistake on my part. Thanks
Any chance you have the pitman arm oriented incorrectly on the pitman shaft splines? In other words the box was turned close to it's right side stop when the pitman arm was installed with the wheels pointing straight ahead. Which wouldn't leave enough travel available in the box so it could turn left. I'm not sure if Ford has a 'Master' spline like the GM's do. If not, maybe that's your problem.
First, I'd check to see if you have proper clearance stop to stop since you mentioned the header situation. Somebody turn the wheel, somebody watch all the steering pieces. If it binds under a load then the internals of the box are probably shot. I'd call around to see if there is a shop in the area that may rebuild them. You may luck out and be able the order any broken parts you need. Before you put the repaired unit back on you need to fix the header clearance problem or you'll probably be right back where you started after a while. Sounds like the steering box has been cooked. Good luck.
Second,(sorry) is this a worm gear type box? I'm sure it is but I was thinking that the input shaft may not be oriented with the pitman shaft, inside the box, where the gears mesh with the worm gear. It's probably to one side, off center. Hope that makes since.
The easiest way to solve this is to put the steering box on the bench and tear it down. You will need a trip to the library to checkout the correct book. These steering boxes are very simple, once you have the book in front of you. Instead of grease for lube, many guys use straight STP.
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