Help! Adjustment of steering box after replacement

[mhobryan]

I just installed a reman FoMoCo power steering box into my 1968 F250 2wd. To get the pitman arm to line up and attach to the box, I have to turn the steering wheel 3/4's of a turn.... which needless, to say, removes 3/4 of a turn of total turning radius from one direction. . And yes, the pitman arm is on correctly.

I have an actual shop manual for it, but can not find/determine if there is a way to 'recenter' the steering box. Any suggestions?

[fordman]

if i am thinking right. the saginaw power steering pitman arm has four larger splines where it can be lined up with. so you got it on the wrong splines lined up possibly. there is no adjustment that will do this for you. there is only steerign box adjustment and a new box probably wont need that. here is a bad picture of the large splines around the inside of the rest of the splines. http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... plines.jpg

[70_F100]

There is no "recentering" of the steering box. Leave that part alone. As you've probably already found out, the splines on the pitman shaft and pitman arm will only allow you to put the arm on in a couple of directions. If you've got it within 3/4 turn of the steering wheel being centered, you most likely have it on correctly (assuming that you have the correct pitman arm).

The next question would be whether or not you have the steering coupling between the column and input shaft on correctly. If it's not on in the correct position, the steering wheel will be off a corresponding amount.

Once you're sure that you have everything assembled correctly, the next step would be to take it to a front end alignment shop and make sure the toe-in is set correctly. If that's not set right, it will cause the steering wheel to be off-center.

Once you're sure the toe-in is correct and you know that you have the correct pitman arm, you just need to pull the steering wheel and recenter it, rather than trying to mess with the box itself.

One thing you mentioned was that you thought the steering would have less travel in one direction than in the other. Have you actually tried it to verify that? Just because your wheel isn't centered, it doesn't necessarily mean that the steering itself is off-center.

[Racer Z]

Once you're sure the toe-in is correct and you know that you have the correct pitman arm, you just need to pull the steering wheel and recenter it, rather than trying to mess with the box itself.

One thing you mentioned was that you thought the steering would have less travel in one direction than in the other. Have you actually tried it to verify that? Just because your wheel isn't centered, it doesn't necessarily mean that the steering itself is off-center.

That's what I was thinking.

[mhobryan]

Thanks for all of the replies. I figured it out, and you can now go send me to the corner of the room to contimplate my stupidity. What I thought was the center of the travel of the steering box when I bench tested it with my fingers, wasn't the true center. After rechecking it once it was mounted, everything lined up fine.

However, for the edification of whoever is reading these posts and is contemplating replacing the steering box, be sure your driver side front cab mount is not rusted out, otherwise you are throwing good money out the window. It's no wonder mine went bad; that side of the truck was literally being held up by the steering column, as my cab mount is completely rusted out. The steering column is slightly bent/bowed (I'm sure from supporting the weight of the cab!), and as you turn the wheel back and forth you can literally see the cab move up and down. Don't know how long it's been like that, as I bought it a little over a year ago and it was rusted then.

However, good news is I've got a new cab corner coming today, fresh 360 is sitting in the cradle (that was a beast to get it to line up with the tranny!), and I have "new" rust free front clip all ready to be installed. This was my holiday project.

Thanks Again,
Mike

[Racer Z]

I never would have thunk about rust issues. Glad you spotted it. I bet they salt the road where you live or where the truck has lived.

[fordman]

bad cab moutns are a common problem on steering column and column bearing wear. usually they wear grooves into the columns inner shaft. and you have to have the shaft welded and turned back down. in years back people used to stick a 2x4 or 1x4 under the cab on top of the frame below the floor. to hold the cab up and take the weight off of the column.