Steering gear box
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 145
From: California
Steering gear box
I have just replaced all my tie rods, adjusting sleeves, and idler arm, but I am still getting over 5 inches of play in my power steering. There is no more adjustment left in the gear box. Does this mean I need to rebuild the gear box or should I just get a new Flamming River gear box? Rebuilding is cheaper, what are the benefits of having a flamming river gear box over a rebuilt one. Is there anything else I can adjust to get rid of some of that play in the Steering?
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 324
RE: Steering gear box
off topic but....solidgas I bought my suspension from mustangsplus today-I went with the 620 and 41/2 leaf-bought some extra hardware and upgrades it was 825 plus 170 for upgrades plus 170 for shipping...I was blown away by the shipping charge....cant wait to get it.....Scott
Steering box and exhaust is next on my list
Steering box and exhaust is next on my list
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 145
From: California
RE: Steering gear box
170 for the upgrades seem about right but I don't think I spent that much on my shipping, they sent it ground and I got it the next day. I only live about two hours from them though. You are really gonna like it, it is like night and day. Enjoy.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,302
From: Northernish Eastish Central Texas
RE: Steering gear box
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 21
RE: Steering gear box
Throw awayall your old technology gearbox, idler arm and tie rods and invest in a aftermarket rack and pinion conversion kit. Trust me this is the way to go. I tried all the other stuff IE .. Flaming river gearbox , new tie rods and numerous alignment changes and nothing worked! You wouldn't believe the difference in the way the car drives and tracks. I have the Unisteer manual conversion in my 69 Mach 1 and it works perfect. There is no slack in the wheel any more like I had with the gearbox. If your not too worried about keeping the car all original this is the setup to have. Good luck.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,212
From: Hills of California
RE: Steering gear box
If you dont want to go R&P like DanJ said you can always just get the FR gearbox I have one and I really like it.
The advantage is its all ball bearing no bushings so it takes a lot less force to operate. This means you can chuck out all your PS (which is about to fail soon anyhow) and just run a manual steer setup which doesnt require an unreasonable amount of force to operate once the gear box breaks in.
Thats what I did and im pretty happy
Just another option to consider
Gun
The advantage is its all ball bearing no bushings so it takes a lot less force to operate. This means you can chuck out all your PS (which is about to fail soon anyhow) and just run a manual steer setup which doesnt require an unreasonable amount of force to operate once the gear box breaks in.
Thats what I did and im pretty happy
Just another option to consider
Gun
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 145
From: California
RE: Steering gear box
UPDATE: I posted in a new thread and should of posted here see below.
So, I have the FR gear box arriving tomorrow, and don't know if I should return it or not. Maybe just keep it until the original takes a dump. I am going to hold off on R&P since I just replaced all the tie rods and idler arm, as well as the power ram cylinder. The purchases haven't stopped since buying the car, but I am learning alot and it is great.
So much for listen to the mechanic. Yesterday, I had a tire and suspension shop install a new cylindar ram since my old one was in bad shape and leaking. While it was there I asked them to adjust the steering gear box, as the car has been loose lately (more so at higher speeds). I got the car back and they said they were only able to adjust it about a 1/4 turn and that it may need to be replaced. I got in the car and right away I noticed the steering play was way off around six inches, it was maybe two inches when I brought it in.
So I drove the car home and came online here and did some research, (which I have been doing constantly it seems like) and I found out how to adjust the gears myself and shop around for prices on new boxes. After reading how to adjust the gears, I figured that it was simple enough and that the shop would defiantly know how to do that so I took their word, and ordered a new gear box. I just couldn't let it rest though, I knew they adjusted the gear because they left their ratchet in my engine bay (idiots), so today at lunch I decide to check the gears myself, I was able to adjust them like three turns. I tightened it back up, drove it, adjusted it some more and now I have like 1inch of play.
I can't beleive they were tring to hustle me, they have a very good reputation in town, and my classic mechanic recommends them for tires and alignment, anyway just had to vent and to thank you for helping out us newcomers. I have learned alot reading this forum.
I will return the gear box when it arrives and put that money towards the labor for my new disk brakes which arrive on Friday.
So I drove the car home and came online here and did some research, (which I have been doing constantly it seems like) and I found out how to adjust the gears myself and shop around for prices on new boxes. After reading how to adjust the gears, I figured that it was simple enough and that the shop would defiantly know how to do that so I took their word, and ordered a new gear box. I just couldn't let it rest though, I knew they adjusted the gear because they left their ratchet in my engine bay (idiots), so today at lunch I decide to check the gears myself, I was able to adjust them like three turns. I tightened it back up, drove it, adjusted it some more and now I have like 1inch of play.
I can't beleive they were tring to hustle me, they have a very good reputation in town, and my classic mechanic recommends them for tires and alignment, anyway just had to vent and to thank you for helping out us newcomers. I have learned alot reading this forum.
I will return the gear box when it arrives and put that money towards the labor for my new disk brakes which arrive on Friday.