need help find a power steering rebuild kit

[Sniper]

the steering on my '69 has alot of play in it, mechanic said i need to look at a new gearbox but first should try a rebuild kit? and that the pinion is worn but i should try rebuilding the coupler to remove the play in it and see if that fixes it before i get a new power steering box. i'm really not too sure what he was talking about rebuilding.

 

[Sniper]

i believe this is what he is referring to...

http://thmotorsports.com/i-177084.a...type=pla&kw=&gclid=COymvsWe8bYCFUJa4Aod7zQAgg

or...

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-12884-steering-shaft-repair-kit.html

 

[needabronco]

Like I said before, find a new mechanic!

He's likely suggesting you replace the rag joint before you try to rebuild your power steering box. BUT he could have spent about 2 minutes and adjusted the box to tighten up the box before he suggested anything else? There's a screw and a lock nut on the top of the steering gear that is adjusted, it doesn't take much, too much and you'll cause permanent damage to the box.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Steering_Rag_Joint_7377yr

I'm not sure what 'pinion' he's talking about? The pinion gear in your differential? If so which one, front or rear? Not sure how one diagnoses that from diagnosing a loose steering issue??? 'Pinion' in the steering box? Again the only fix is to adjust the box, which literally takes 2 minutes and there's no rebuilding needed. If the box is leaking it can be rebuilt, but that kit is about $50 from Napa and takes maybe 20 minutes to rebuilt on a bench...

 

[Sniper]

yep he meant rag joint, this guy was pretty muddled, i had to lead him through exactly what i was wondering about and my concerns on the truck, and then he tried to go way too far into detail, i'll try the box adjustment, if that doesn't help at all with alittle adjustment then i'll look at replacing the rag joint.

but i'm not sure if that specific rag joint you linked will work on my '69

after looking at my truck and what you've said and the link, yea he meant rag joint and i need to find a mechanic who gives a shit about what he's doing, probably go back to the old guy at a gas station who tuned my carb, he loved the truck and really cared.

and yea... probably not going to work with that guy again, it was just a random mechanic but he works at an auto shop so he must know more than me... or atleast that's what my parents think, anyways appreciate the help once again, always nice to have second opinions especially by owners who are experienced in the exact vehicle.

i have said it before in the other threads i have made but i really appreciate the help, still very very new to all of this, but i'm figuring it out

 

[ENDLIFE]

Needabronco is way right; find a new mechanic! If your rag joint is torn, smushed, or rotted beyond belief replace it regardless of the condition of your steering box. First go through the motions of pulling and tugging on things connected to your steering box, look for things moving that shouldn't be moving, and make your assessment of what you need to do from there. As for adjusting the nut on the top of your box is a simple adjustment that you should have two people doing. If you have a beam type torque wrench available, gain access to your steering nut, jack up the front of your vehicle, and have someone turn the torque wrench while you adjust the screw on the steering box. Once you've achieved 5ft lbs. your steering box is adjusted, and you'll have no worries of damaging your box.

 

[Sniper]

i'll get on replacing the rag joint, don't have a torque wrench that i know of, then again dad has a way of misplacing tools, i'll get on it. i'm guessing it has a 1973 power steering system even though it's a 1969, the owner before the previous owner which was the original owner did most of the work i believe, it has duff shocks and the leaf springs and coils are new, i think it has new axles both front and rear, but i can't be sure. it was hard to tell what all has been done to the truck because the previous owner was not very knowledgeable about it at all, and he took it around running through his farm field and it's still caked in mud on the bottom after a pressure wash.

 

[Bronconut]

If your Bronco is the Camo one in your pics, it looks like someone may have used the stock manual steering shaft and adapted it to your p/s box. It is a little hard to tell from the pics though.

The stock Bronco p/s rag joint would be located up near where the column comes through the firewall.

Best thing to do is have someone move your steering wheel back and forth while you watch all the pivots and connections. It should be pretty easy to tell if the play is in the steering shaft joint, in the box or somewhere else in the linkage.

Good luck and keep us posted, this site is a great place for patients and help.

 

[Sniper]

it is indeed the one in the picture i think, i'll try to get a pic of the rag joint and steering column assembly if i can.

 

[Sniper]

got pics of the steering column up, i wish i had a manual or some sort of instructions on how to get this thing out, because i have no idea how to replace the rag joint... i hate being ignorant about it. but this is about the only way to learn.

i took the bolt out of the thing on the column in the last pic, it wasn't connected to anything, just on the column, i don't know why, trying to figure this out, i'm pretty frustrated not having anything to go off of, and i can't figure out how to get the steering wheel off.

if anyone needs me to i can shoot a video of everything including pictures

got the cap off the steering wheel... previous owner fucking glued it on so you couldn't get to the bolts, broke the plastic piece inside holding it on... wonderful. this cap probably will not go back on anytime in the near future...ordered a replacement on ebay... there goes another $15

slowly getting more and more frustrated with this

 

[Sniper]

progress made, got the steering wheel removed without a puller kit, undid the coupler to the steering box and slid the steering shaft up, now trying to remove the coupler but it's held in mechanically somehow, i don't know how to remove it.

does appear coupler is the source of some play in the steering.

don't see the rag joint.

what i am talking about in this post refers to the first picture i posted.

 

[Sniper]

this came out of the "tulip" coupler... still don't know how to get the "tulip" joint off the steering column/shaft

 

[Sniper]

and... got the tulip coupler rapart and sprayed all the grease out of it, there's alot of wear on the parts. can't seem to find a replacement.

and i'm beyond lost on what parts are being used, if this is factory or not.. ugh


no stores in town had any replacement parts, re-greased and installed everything, then adjusted the screw on the power steering box and it tightened the steering up a good bit, so... all that for nothing mostly. removed the steering dampener shock aswell.

 

[thegreatjustino]

You can get replacement manual boots from Wildhorses, but I'm not sure how yours was adapted to the power steering box.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Manual_steering_box_boot_kit

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Manual_steering_box_coupling

 

[Sniper]

for right now adjuting the set screw on thetop of the power steering box got it tightened up enough for my parents to feel it is safe to drive and at highway speeds.

 

[kaw550]

I would go with Bronconut's advice. Have someone move the steering wheel back and forth and see if you can find where the play is coming from. It could be something simple like the bolts that mount the steering box to the frame.

 

[Sniper]

everything is solid, i've driven it for about an hour or so and it seems to be working much better, though sometimes turning to the left it feels like i have no power steering. this was happening before i adjusted the screw on the steering box. not sure what is causing it. i had asked the mechanic to check on it when i took it in but he didn't say anything about it, but i really don't trust anything he says at this point anyways...

 

[Sniper]

looks like a new steering box may be in order sometime soon

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Losing power steering in a turn indicates that your box has worn seals. I would contact West Texas Offroad and send them your box for a rebuild. I would also look at getting a new steering shaft while its out. Another thing to do while it is out is to take the pump off and flush it as well as the lines so you do not take any chances of running any debris through the fresh box. You can source the proper steering shaft through the vendors here.

Since you seem to think the system is from a 73 it would also improve your steering feel and response to have it converted to a 4 turn box.