| oldfordman | -- 03-04-2018 @ 12:15 PM |
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Help me please. Got some play in the steering on my '49 coupe. Is the adjustment done by moving the star shaped washer under the nut on top of the steering box? Which way to tighten the steering and how tight should I go? Thanks for your advice and help. Don Ford--old ford man
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| TomO | -- 03-05-2018 @ 8:12 AM |
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Don, the most common cause of play in the steering wheel is worn tie rod and drag link ends or worn king pins. A quick test is to jack up one front wheel and try to move it front to back. There should be no movement. Then try to move it top to bottom, again there should be no movement. If you have movement, check the adjustment on the wheel bearings and look to see where the movement is taking place. To check the adjustment of the steering gear, remove the pitman arm, hook a spring scale at the junction of the wheel spoke and rim. With the steering wheel set in the straight ahead position, pull on the spring scale at 90 degrees to the spoke in the direction to turn the wheel. It should take from 1/2lb to 1 1/2 lb to turn the steering wheel. If the scale reads less than 1/2 lb, turn the adjusting screw in, if it reads more than 1 1/2 lb turn the adjusting screw out. The worm and roller type of steering is nowhere near as precise as the rack and pinion type of steering used on newer cars, so the steering may feel like it has too much play when it is operating as designed. Power steering also helps to make the steering feel more positive. Tom
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| oldfordman | -- 03-13-2018 @ 6:56 PM |
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Hi Tom, Thanks for your help. I just received my 49-51 Lincoln Mercury overhaul manual. The section on steering tells me everything you told me and has pictures! You were spot on and now I have detailed pictures which really help a guy like me! Thanks Don
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| sarahcecelia | -- 03-14-2018 @ 1:34 PM |
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My Ford Shop Manual,49,50,51 says the screw on the top of the steering box is used to adjust the free play (up-down) movement of the Pitman arm. How say you Tom?? Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 3-18-18 @ 7:30 PM
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| sarahcecelia | -- 03-15-2018 @ 2:52 PM |
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Your right! I too have the Lincoln-Mercury 49,50,51 Repair Manual and what was stated is just what you said ; to increase or decrease the pull, adjust it with the sector screw. My ford 49,50 51 Manual says the screw on the top of the box (sector screw)is for pitman end play. Are the Lincoln Mecury different than the 49,50, 51 Fords in that regard? Doubtful. If not that screw will do the same on the Fords of that year? Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 3-18-18 @ 7:29 PM
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| TomO | -- 03-18-2018 @ 10:07 AM |
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The steering gear assembly in the 49-51 Mercury is different in design from the Ford. It is the same as the Lincoln to accommodate the heavier car. Tom
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| sarahcecelia | -- 03-18-2018 @ 7:16 PM |
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OOPS, my error. the Ford manual says, 1/2- 1 1/4 lbs of drag at the steering wheel , but AFTER you do the paper shims at the top of the steering box to get that proper preload reading on the worm gear bearing with the spring scale on the steering wheel, and "the screw and lock nut on the top of the steering box is to adjust the sector shaft end play (up and down) and is to be tightened just enough to remove all sector shaft end play without causing a bind between the screw and the shaft." Then, after removal of the connecting link (drag link) from the steering (pitman) arm, the steering gear worm and roller mesh (pre-load) is adjusted by loosening the (4) hex head cap screws just enough so you can tap the the lower housing cover clockwise until all backlash is removed. Check the backlash by moving the steering arm (Pitman)back and forth. Tighten the (4)cap screws and check the preload at the steering wheel with the spring scale again. the scale reading should now be between 1 1/2 -2 lbs.,but at least 1/2 lb. above the above the worm bearing pre-load (The 1 1/2 -2lbs.is the sum of the worm bearing pre- load and the gear mesh pre-load.) IE, if you have 3/4 lb. at the worm gear, you must have at least, 1 3/4 lbs. total pre-load at the wheel: 3/4 plus the minimum of 1/2 lb. over the worm bearing pre-load. If you had 1 1/2 at the worm bearing pre-load then you can't have over 1/2lb. at the worm and roller mesh. The 1/2 lb. at the worm and roller mesh would meet the minimum and you wouldn't be over the 2lb. max total of the two. Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 3-19-18 @ 5:31 AM
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| sarahcecelia | -- 03-18-2018 @ 7:28 PM |
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Your right Tom. The Lincoln /Mecury is adjusted a little differently than the Ford., as my latest post describes the adjustment(s) on the Ford steering box. I used a fish weighing scale from Walmart. Do you know of a source where I can purchse something better for the steering box pre-loads??? Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 3-18-18 @ 7:28 PM
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| TomO | -- 03-19-2018 @ 8:03 AM |
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No Tom
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| sarahcecelia | -- 06-05-2018 @ 9:48 AM |
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That screw on the top of the steering box is for adjusting end play in the sector shaft, and to check it you have to remove the pitman arm and try to move the sector shaft up and down. The play should be zero. If it has too much play, turn the screw clockwise to remove it, but not so tight that the screw binds on the sector shaft. It's all in the 1949-50-51 Ford passengercar Shop Manual, pages 128 and 129. Regards, Steve Lee
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