1952-59 Ford steering adjustment

trying to get some info on adjusting my steering box on my 54 customline,ive driven cars with manual steering but this thing is like driven a fat girl to the health store.it just does'nt want to go i know that was bad,but it sounded funny.any help appreciated thanks scott.

 

The info I know abut these steering boxes is little, but there is only one adjustment screw which is locted at the top. If I remember correctly, it has a nut on it to secure it. Loosen the nut and turn the screw clockwise and it tightens up the box. Do with wheels staight ahead. Do it about a 1/4 turn at a time and then road test. Don't get it too tight. If the screw is already down to the nut, its rebuild time.

 

Forgot to add - there is a fairly complicated procedure which i think is in the shop manual.

 

i found in a book about unhooking all the steering,and doing a front end alignment ant adjusting that screw with every adjustment you made with the toe in/out im just courious if there is a short cut since my car tracks pretty straight,thanks

 

Go to ebay and pick up a 52-53 Ford Shop Manual (1954 and Police cars is in the back of the same book) You will see these on Amazon as high as $59,I got mine on ebay for under $30 new,it will be the best $30 you'll spend,explanations are EZ and plenty of pics to refer to.There are several adjustments and about a page and a half on the subject,you don't want to do it wrong replacing a box don't come cheap.

 

I ***ume you are referring to the amount of free play in the steering wheel, movement side to side before the wheels actually turn? What condition are the upper and lower ball joints in as well as the bushings? ***uming everything is in good condition there are two adjustments that can be made, one internally and one externally.
The adjustment that Paul2748 is referring to is for removing the excess play in the worm gear.
Disconnect the sector shaft arm from the steering linkage. Place the steering wheel in the straight ahead position. Remove the adjusting screw cover and lock washer. Rotate the adjusting screw clockwise while moving the steering arm back and forth until all backlash is removed. Don't over tighten the adjusting screw, just turn lightly until the play is gone. Put the lock washer and cover back on and reinstall the steering linkage.
If this does'nt help your driving complaint and the rest of the front end is in good condition then you are looking at a rebuild or replacement of the steering box.
Hope this helps.....

 

I bought the shop manual that Jeff suggested and got it for $20 new on Ebay. Insanely detailed. Great buy.

 

Got my 53 out today and drove it around town for a while. It sure rides much better since I installed the new coils and shocks. Now i'm trying to get the timing and carb straightened out. I also have to get my steerig tightened up. I have tried to tighten it several times over the years with out a lot of luck. I've got to fix it this time.