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Author
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Topic: Steering issues
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-05-2003 04:27 AM
 
Priced a steering box today for my daily driver '75 Gran Torino...  Though I'd ease the pain by getting another opinion on this.. After everything is warmed up (about an hour's worth of running time) The steering develops a tight spot when turning right slightly... It is not there when cold.. I replaced the power steering pump and lines, and swapped the steering box from my much lower milage parts car about a year or so ago when I was getting sick of adding fluid every day.. I'm thinking that it's a problem in the steering box.. Either the spool valve or the o-ring on the piston...  Has anyone ever rebuilt one of these themselves??? My old one worked fine other than it leaked all over the place.. Not sure what all the lotions and potions that I dumped in the power steering may have done to it..
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-05-2003 09:42 PM
No,I haven't had any problems with my 72. Someone told me once to find a Saginaw box,rather than a Ford box,for dependability. The Saginaw has 3 bolts on the cover,while the Ford unit has 2. Look at it this way: 30 or so year old parts are bound to wear out. 
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-10-2003 02:11 AM
Someone else had mentioned the Saginaw box... And to be honest I've gotten some replacemment Ford boxes that felt as sloppy as an old one.. Is the Saginaw a direct bolt-in as far as the lines, pitman arm. etc??The original box may be 30 years old, but it only had 268,000 miles on it
The box on the car now was from my parts car with approximately 45k on it.. It's been sitting for years, I have a feeling age took it toll on that steering box... Although amazingly is doesn't leak.. Just has that annoying tight spot... Makes driving in snow much more exciting that it used to be.. 
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-17-2003 11:16 PM
That is a good idea,to check for any clearance issues in the linkage.
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-18-2003 03:17 AM
Double checked, all the linkage is clearing..
Damnedest thing is, it stopped doing it a few days ago... Either all hell is going to break loose or it fixed itself..(Just in time for the snow)
My father did mention that my parts car had been sitting for ages, that maybe somthing finally worked loose, some dirt dislodged itself, or something started sealing properly again... The last would make sense since it only acted up after it was good and warmed up.. I guess I'll run it and see what happens... Nothing looks like it's going to fall apart... Except maybe my quarter panels 
I think I am going to replace the idler arm... I can't believe they just used rubber bushings on that... Doesn't seem loose, but it can't be all that tight from the age and miles.. Are the replacement ones made the same way???
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-20-2003 01:41 AM
Nevermind... It came back after about 200 miles today..  Ordering a new steering box tomorrow...
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-20-2003 10:33 PM
Did you make sure the Idler arm is good?
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-22-2003 05:24 AM
Got the idler replaced... It made a world of difference in how it steers.... Much tighter... But still the ocasional catch...
My father keeps telling me to take it apart, clean it up, and replace the seals but with running 800+ miles a week I need it to
work.. So I guess I'm just going to suck it up and get a reman box.. Gotta do somthing.. Not that the mid 90's Grand Marquis is a bad car... It just isn't the Gran Torino.. People (mostly soccer mommies) seem to fear it, and yeild to me in traffic.. Anywho back on track, Does the saginaw box connect up the same as the Ford box as far at the pitman arm, lines, that kinda whatnot??? Acutally I think I'm going to get a new pitman arm.. Don't feel like wrestling if off of there again..
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-23-2003 09:57 PM
I believe it does. Look for them in the 73-up cars.
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-24-2003 01:45 AM
Thanks for the info!
Look out soccer mommies..
Big Blue is coming back
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-10-2003 05:00 AM
Put the Saginaw box in today.. It drive like a whole different car!!!!There is one thing that I had to change.. The input shaft is larger on the Saginaw box than it is on the Ford box.. I roamed the junk yard for most of the day and one would think that out of 20+ Torinos and Montegos(not to mention the other Ford mid and full size cars) that one would have a Saginaw box.. I ended up taking a coupler from a '75 Camaro  (which uses a similar coupler to Fords) I used the piece that goes on the input shaft in the box and bolts to the rubber disk.. I'm trying to keep this hush hush (still havened heard the end of it when I used on the the plastic GM vaccum canisters on the Torino) But at least there's some use for GM crap...
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-12-2003 10:20 AM
Yep,that's what they're good for! Is the ratio the same,and what did you get it out of?
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-25-2003 12:46 AM
I got a reman box from Carquest for a '75 Torino.. I have no idea as to what the ratio is.. It feels quicker but compared to the old box my lawn mower had better steering... And since I have never driven one of these cars with less than 2 million miles on it so I'm not sure.. Either way it steers like a dream..
Now to eliminate some body roll.. I drove my friend's 79 XR-7 and wow no body roll.. Will the front and rear sway bars from a late 70's Cougar/Thunderbird fit a Torino??
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-25-2003 08:57 AM
I've heard ones from a Crown Vic will.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-25-2003 10:36 PM
Yes,the parts from a Big Bird/XR7/LTDII will bolt. You can also source from the Crown Vic/GM up to the mid 90's! Look for the police package cars. That is my plan.I know what you mean by body roll. Mine goes over like a fat cow. It dives into the bump stop,and drags the other 3 tires! [This message has been edited by MLariviere (edited 03-25-2003).]
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-26-2003 08:53 AM
Mike, you need new springs under that puppy. 30 years of holding up that weight has taken it's toll. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-26-2003 10:40 PM
I know,but I will also upgrade to police parts.
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-27-2003 04:01 AM
People have told me that rifing in the back seat of my car is better than most roller coasters... It's even better if I Armorall the heck out of the vinyl..
I've replaced the springs all the way around, as well as a few different kinds of shocks and all the bushings are now neoprene.. It helped, but I took this '79 Cougar a drive with 150,000+ miles on it.. Hasn't had shocks in years and everything else is original, and it handles 1000's of times better than the Torino.. I made some comparisons and the sway bars are huge! That and the Torino doesn't have a rear sway bar.. It's the only thing left in the equation.. That and the fact that this 4000lb automobile was never intended for taking 90 degree turns at 100mph..
Ya say the GM as a source for sway bars... as in a Craprice???
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-27-2003 08:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Maxwell_fax:
Ya say the GM as a source for sway bars... as in a Craprice???
I think he meant Grand Marquis. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-27-2003 07:30 PM
I will not let you put chevy parts in your car! It was Grand Marquis. I have a front bar from a Sport with a handling package. It measures 1-1/8",as opposed to the stock 7/8". I will use that,and get one from a police car for the back. I think I will rebush the suspension too. Maybe polygraphite? The parts car had a rear bar,5/8" IIRC. I deemed it worthless,so I'll just get a bigger one. I hope it will clear my custom dual exhaust. [This message has been edited by MLariviere (edited 03-27-2003).]
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Maxwell_fax
Gearhead Posts: 221
From: Port Royal, PA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-28-2003 04:46 AM
Ahhh Grand Marquis... That makes more sense... Now that the weather is improving I'm finally going to be able to do some serious junkyarding....The new bushings made a remarkable difference for me. As far as harshness it's baraly noticable... But I kinda with I would have gone with the polygraphite over the poly urathane.. A Pennsylvania winter or two and all the times it has been pressure washed underneath took care of the silicone grease... It sounds like a mouse on speed on rough roads...
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