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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Steering Gear Setup

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Steering Gear Setup -- page: 1 2     sarahcecelia 09-28-2020 @ 7:48 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1196 Joined: Mar 2013 This is wierd! With both wheels straight ahead, and toe in, castor, camber, all to specs, and main spoke of steering wheel parallel to the dash board; If I jack the car w/ front wheels off of the floor, and check the turns - the right side has more than the left. And YES! the wheels do hit the "Stops" on both sides, so I'm getting the same amount of "Turn" to the left, and to the right. Can't correct this by re-setting the steering wheel on the steering shaft, because it only goes on in one position. "IS THIS NORMAL??- More turns of the wheel to right than the left?" It bothers me, because in the "1949-50-51 Fordpassenger car SHOP MANUAL," it says something in the steering section, (p.128-132) about counting the turns and setting it midway on the "High Point." With the front end jacked off the floor, I can feel about an inch of "High Point" when my steering wheel is in the straight ahead positon,and I move it a little (1/2" ) right (1/2") left. Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 9-28-20 @ 7:58 AM 1931 Flamingo 09-29-2020 @ 5:05 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 396 Joined: Nov 2019 Turn the wheel , how many turns lock to lock?? Now put the wheel half way between, where are the front wheels pointing?? Adjust them straight. What has been done to get you to this point?? Paul in CT sarahcecelia 09-29-2020 @ 12:02 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1196 Joined: Mar 2013 If I do that-"Count the turns of the steering wheel, and make them equal, then adjust the wheels to Straight Ahead," the Main Steering Wheel spoke won't be parallel to the floor or the dash- it will be low on one side, and high on the other! In my 83 years I've never owned, or driven, a car where the steering wheel was "off "like that! Regards, Steve Lee 37RAGTOPMAN 09-29-2020 @ 1:28 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1992 Joined: Oct 2009 HI Steve I think you have to center your steering wheel [ this should be the center of the steering box,] if it has key way, and not splines ,. and then adjust your toe, using both tie rods, so your toe is correct, this way you steering wheel will be straight, if it has splines you could remove the steering wheel and put in the straight ahead position, hope this helps, 37Ragtopman This message was edited by 37RAGTOPMAN on 9-29-20 @ 2:41 PM TomO 09-30-2020 @ 9:11 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7386 Joined: Oct 2009 Follow the instructions in the Service manual Count the turns lock to lock and move the steering wheel to the center endearment. (22 turns lock to lock, wheel is at 11 turns in each direction. Do NOT pay attention to the steering wheel spoke position. Tie the steering wheel in position so it will not move while you adjust the pitman arm. Check the pitman arm position, it should be in the straight ahead position, if it is off to one side or the other remove and center it. Drive the car so that the wheel are in the straight ahead position Check the position of the steering wheel, If the spoke are not in the horizontal position, turn them to the horizontal position and them mark the adjusting sleeve and tube with a scribe. This will be the starting position of the adjustment. If the left spoke was down when driven, adjust both sleeves downward the same amount. One complete turn of the sleeve is equal to 1" of spoke position. Both sleeves must be adjusted the SAME amount. If the left spoke was above center turn both sleeves up to correct the wheel position. Recheck your toe in adjustment and adjust the tie rod end sleeves equaly to bring it with in specs. Tom 37RAGTOPMAN 10-01-2020 @ 8:07 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1992 Joined: Oct 2009 hi Steve I have a genuine FORD MANUAL for the 1949 1950 1951 and supplied 2 photos of the steering linkage, seems to me the only toe in adjustment is with the tie rod adjustment, the drag link seems it is not adjustable, but maybe I am missing something,? hope this helps,37Ragtopman This message was edited by 37RAGTOPMAN on 10-1-20 @ 8:10 AM sarahcecelia 10-01-2020 @ 11:17 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1196 Joined: Mar 2013 Tha steering wheel has a "KEY WAY," thus, it will only go on in ONE POSITION!! Regards, Steve Lee 37RAGTOPMAN 10-01-2020 @ 11:27 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1992 Joined: Oct 2009 HI Steve looks like you need to center the steering wheel and the adjust your tie rods, to get the correct toe, with the steering wheel centered there is a tool to hold the wheel centered, you can try your local WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHOP, for help my 2 cents 37Ragtopman 51woodie 10-01-2020 @ 11:44 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 561 Joined: Jan 2017 Steve. I may have missed something in reading these posts, but when I look in the parts book, the steering arm looks to be splined, and no key is shown. Is it possible that the arm is off by one or two teeth? sarahcecelia 10-02-2020 @ 5:30 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1196 Joined: Mar 2013 I Shimmed The top of the box with the proper paper gaskets to attain proper shaft bearing pressure, and installed a new sector gear and seal. By the way, If my memory is right, the pitman arm only goes on where the sector shaft is KEYED, and it is pointing straight back, parallel to the frame rails like it is supposed to! If I put the steering wheel at an even number of turns, right and left, the steering wheel spokes would not only be "Cocked,"the pitman arm would not be pointing straight back, parallel to the frames, and you can't take it off and put it on that way, because as I previously stated;I think it is it is KEYED to the sector shaft, and only goes on in one position! With the wheels straight ahead, the steering wheel is in it's proper position, and the steering does go full right, and left,(hits the stops) so I guess the only answer is to just leave it alone. Does anyone have a pitman arm that is not installed , that can tell me if it is keyed, or splined, to save me The hassle of removing mine to see? Thanks if you do and tell me! Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 10-2-20 @ 5:39 AM

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