Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-06-2018, 07:48 PM   #1
flathead 53
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: central nj
Posts: 717
Default hard steering f-100

I have a 53 f-100 ,replaced steering box , tie rod ends ,center link ,rebuilt drag link,correct adjustment on steering box , truck steers hard when backing up or moving slow ,king pins are good ,only items not replaced are outer and inner wheel bearings , A good friend has a 52 f-1 pick up and it steers a lot easier then mine. I also have new tires ,same as his ,and run 36 lbs pressure in them ,I am lost on what the problem can be .
flathead 53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2018, 08:51 PM   #2
cmbrucew
Senior Member
 
cmbrucew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North of sandy ago, CA.
Posts: 2,063
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Flathead53
Does your truck still have the I beam axle? Some times spring sag can cause caster angle changes. Have your front end alignment checked.
Bruce
__________________
Works good
Lasts long time
cmbrucew is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 06-06-2018, 10:12 PM   #3
Lanny
Senior Member
 
Lanny's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mn
Posts: 2,402
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Quote:
Originally Posted by flathead 53 View Post
I have a 53 f-100 ,replaced steering box , tie rod ends ,center link ,rebuilt drag link,correct adjustment on steering box , truck steers hard when backing up or moving slow ,king pins are good ,only items not replaced are outer and inner wheel bearings , A good friend has a 52 f-1 pick up and it steers a lot easier then mine. I also have new tires ,same as his ,and run 36 lbs pressure in them ,I am lost on what the problem can be .
==============================================


Just curious if you replaced the steering box with a used one or a rebuilt one?

And how sure are you that the adjustment of the steering box is correct ?

I know if the adjustment screw is turned in too tight, the steering gets tight.






.
__________________
My Wife Says That I Never Listen to Her,
I Think That's What She Said


If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
But if daddy ain't happy...RUN
Lanny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 04:32 AM   #4
flathead 53
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: central nj
Posts: 717
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Steering box has been replaced with a rebuilt one from mid fifties , it is adjusted correctly, the driver side spring does sag about 3/4 lower then pass side,even with new springs .there is more weight on driver side do to location of gas tank under frame rails driver side on 53/55 f100,plus weight of driver .thinking about heaver spring pack on driver side.
flathead 53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 07:49 AM   #5
deuce5wndw
Senior Member
 
deuce5wndw's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Liberty, KY
Posts: 896
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Worked on one for a friend with the same problem and it turned out the kingpins weren't taking grease. Pulled the grease fittings and cleaned all the hard grease out no more problem!
deuce5wndw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 10:59 AM   #6
flathead 53
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: central nj
Posts: 717
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
thank you, I will give it a try
flathead 53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 11:16 AM   #7
G.M.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Florida and Penna.
Posts: 4,471
Default Re: hard steering f-100

I would put a floor jack under the center of the axle an jack it
up until the tires just clear the floor and see how it feels. Then
let it down so the tires lightly touch the floor and feel it again.
Double check tire pressures. All old Fords turn hard when not
moving. G.M.
__________________
www.fordcollector.com
G.M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 12:07 PM   #8
Mart
Senior Member
 
Mart's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Solihull, England.
Posts: 8,732
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Skinny bias plys or wide radials?

Good suggestion above re kingpin grease.

I'd remove the drag ling and test each individual part for tightness.

Steering box, left spindle, right spindle. tie rod ends etc etc etc.
Mart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 12:17 PM   #9
FortyNiner
Senior Member
 
FortyNiner's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: u-rah-rah-Wisconsin
Posts: 1,129
Default Re: hard steering f-100

In addition to the above suggestions, overtightened drag links can affecting steering effort as well.
__________________
19 and 49 F1 - jes' like Henry II built
1946 Deluxe - as Henry built it
FortyNiner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 12:35 PM   #10
rich b
Senior Member
 
rich b's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,813
Default Re: hard steering f-100

I've found a spindle thrust bearing dry and rough causing a bind.

Also as mentioned above the drag link adjustment can be troublesome if the balls are worn, adjusted OK in the straight ahead worn area; but get tight as turned into the less worn area.
rich b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 12:52 PM   #11
Ggmac
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Lake worth Florida
Posts: 1,073
Default Re: hard steering f-100

I'd jack it up and remove a tie rod end , either will do . Turn each wheel by hand and determine which , if any , it is then proceed with walking thru the pieces
Ggmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 01:51 PM   #12
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,369
Default Re: hard steering f-100

You can test each item of the system individually for binding but the key factor is the steering gear if all else is smooth & easy. If the roller sector is too tight, it won't rotate as it should. If the tapered rollers are set with too much preload, it will be tighter than normal. If the sector shaft bearings are too tight, it can also stiffen the action. If the sector roller to worm gear fit was adjusted off center then that will make turning movement through the center too tight.

It ain't power steering but it was a big improvement over the earlier designs with no sector roller gear.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 06:19 PM   #13
flathead 53
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: central nj
Posts: 717
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Ok pulled the grease fittings off, cleaned in the holes ,not much old grease .put fittings back in and greased the king pins .pumped hard to get grease in then grease came out at the very bottom of the king pin and the very top of the king pin ,nothing at the spindle joints. Grease should come out there also . Correct ?
flathead 53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2018, 09:04 PM   #14
cmbrucew
Senior Member
 
cmbrucew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North of sandy ago, CA.
Posts: 2,063
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Flathead 53
Look at your axle good to see if it is bent anywhere. That could cause hard steering.
Bruce
__________________
Works good
Lasts long time
cmbrucew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2018, 10:50 PM   #15
cars2cool
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sioux City Iowa
Posts: 196
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Try lifting the pickup at the axle and take vehicle weight off of the king pins leaving the front tires still in contact with the floor. Then pump the grease into the zert. Yes you should see grease come out of the top and the bottom of each knuckle. Highly recommend using jack stands under the frame rails while doing this task, don't trust a jack by its self. I also grease my leaf shackles with the vehicle weight off of them and pump till grease comes out both ends. Keep us posted on the out come.
cars2cool is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2018, 10:17 AM   #16
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,369
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Greasing with both wheels on shop floor and wheels off the shop floor changes the pressure application on the spindles. This could be why grease only comes out of one side or the other due to pressure application on the spindle king pin bosses.


Some of the new king pin kits come with thrust bearings that have smaller ball bearings than original. I always look for kits with the best possible thrust bearings in them. Sometimes I get lucky and find good NOS OEM stuff. There is some crap out there for sale these days.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2018, 02:50 PM   #17
Ed Pitts
Senior Member
 
Ed Pitts's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Irving, Texas
Posts: 598
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Another suggestion is to replace the top bushing with a bearing. O'Rilleys has a wheel bearing part number 7-04133 (12 bucks). This bearing has a small lip which you grind off and it fits perfectly into the F1 barrel. This makes a world of difference in the steering. Ed
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0222.jpg (34.8 KB, 26 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0052.jpg (28.1 KB, 26 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0055.jpg (30.0 KB, 27 views)
Ed Pitts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2018, 04:54 PM   #18
[email protected]
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sharon, Conn.
Posts: 112
Default Re: hard steering f-100

Too much positive caster will also tend to make a vehicle steer hard. The only way to correct caster adjustment on a straight axle is to bend the axle or shim between the spring and the axle. Just a thought- good luck!

Bill
patbill@megahits.com is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:11 PM.