Close



Results 1 to 15 of 15
  1. #1
    FEP Super Member Bryan Knebworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lexington, MA
    Posts
    2,777

    Default Steering Problems...

    Does anybody know why the steering wheel would travel about 4-5" when the car is turned off, very 'sloppy.' Do I need a new steering box? Thanks in advance

  2. #2
    FEP Super Member bwguardian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Houston (Clear Lake), Texas
    Posts
    4,668

    Default

    Rag joint, steering gear box, etc.
    HAD
    '82 GT monochromatic (red)...black cloth

    HAVE
    '85 GT vert two tone (white on charcoal)...white leather
    '00 F350 two tone (white on silver)...gray cloth
    '00 Excursion Limited two tone (white on tan)...tan leather...wifes ride
    '08 Taurus Limited ice blue...tan leather...daughter ride
    '08 Edge Limited white sand tri-coat metallic...tan leather...other daughters ride

  3. #3
    FEP Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    middleboro massachusetts
    Posts
    350

    Default

    tilt wheel mechanism?i just went through the same issue in my 85.had to find another column.wheel would move a inch or more in each direction before my wheels moved.

  4. #4
    FEP Power Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    San Mateo, CA
    Posts
    2,271

    Default

    Check your inner and outer tie rod ends too.
    Fox Body/3rd Gen MCA Gold Card Judge
    84 SVO 24K miles, 85 Mclaren Capri Vert. 84 GT Turbo Vert.
    88 Mclaren Mustang Vert 20K miles, 89 Mustang LX Sport Vert,
    03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
    14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles

  5. #5

    Default

    Sounds like a rag joint to me. Order 1 for a 1969 Boss 302. Ford has been parts bin engineering for decades and it was also used in the SVOs.

    steve

  6. #6
    FEP Super Member Bryan Knebworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lexington, MA
    Posts
    2,777

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by teal95 View Post
    sounds like a rag joint to me. Order 1 for a 1969 boss 302. Ford has been parts bin engineering for decades and it was also used in the svos.

    Steve
    'April Fools!?'
    On an aside, this '83 T-top notch has something totally surprising; FACT0RY manual steering
    Last edited by Bryan Knebworth; 05-27-2022 at 03:40 PM. Reason: added question...

  7. #7
    FEP Senior Member gt4494's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Chas. SC
    Posts
    613

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bryan Knebworth View Post
    'April Fools!?'
    On an aside, this '83 T-top notch has something totally surprising; FACT0RY manual steering
    All the more reason to check the Rag Joint. :P
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
    Albert Einstein

    1984 20th Anniversary GT350
    Almost "Stock"

  8. #8
    FEP Super Member Bryan Knebworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lexington, MA
    Posts
    2,777

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gt4494 View Post
    All the more reason to check the Rag Joint. :P
    Ah! Incredibly this car has only 78K orig mi. I'm looking at the MSRP right now; evidently was $6727, but as delivered $8351. Think with Financing, it was $10K out the door.

  9. #9
    FEP Senior Member gt4494's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Chas. SC
    Posts
    613

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bryan Knebworth View Post
    Ah! Incredibly this car has only 78K orig mi. I'm looking at the MSRP right now; evidently was $6727, but as delivered $8351. Think with Financing, it was $10K out the door.
    Yep and in 2004 I paid $1750 for my DD '84 GT350. I could sell it anytime I want for $5 - 10k. and it still has its tired original paint. and I'm the 2nd owner with all paperwork including sticker.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
    Albert Einstein

    1984 20th Anniversary GT350
    Almost "Stock"

  10. #10
    FEP Super Member Bryan Knebworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lexington, MA
    Posts
    2,777

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gt4494 View Post
    Yep and in 2004 I paid $1750 for my DD '84 GT350. I could sell it anytime I want for $5 - 10k. and it still has its tired original paint. and I'm the 2nd owner with all paperwork including sticker.
    Oh sweet! With my '83 GT I am the 2nd owner as well. Question, were you near USC? A buddy of mine from High School attended USC, and also my cousin was stationed at nearby Ft. Jackson.
    Last edited by Bryan Knebworth; 05-27-2022 at 10:07 PM. Reason: added info

  11. #11
    FEP Senior Member gt4494's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Chas. SC
    Posts
    613

    Default

    US is in Columbia and that is about 1.5 hours away. We are on the coast. We have Joint Base Chas. here. Just A.F. and Navy.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
    Albert Einstein

    1984 20th Anniversary GT350
    Almost "Stock"

  12. #12
    FEP Power Member Broncojunkie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Barboursville, WV
    Posts
    1,773

    Default

    I installed a flaming river manual rack and steering shaft in my pace car. Control arms/bushings/ball joints, rack bushings, tie rod ends, struts, and pretty much everything associated is new. It's been installed for a few years now, but probably less than 200 miles on them. Steering is now very loose. I'm not going to drive it until I figure out what's wrong. Looking like it's the flaming river shaft at fault but I just haven't had the time to start digging into it. I know I didn't care for the design at all, but went ahead and installed anyway. Bolts still tight and I used red loctite. I think from now on, I'll just modify a factory shaft by welding on a u-joint in place of the rag joint. I have the parts on hand for manual and power steering shaft. The u-joints are available from Summit and several other places.
    79 Pace Car - 331, t5
    79 Pace Car- 302, 4 spd
    79 Cobra - working on 351w, t5
    82 Capri- working on 302, t5
    82gt - working on 408w, c4

  13. #13
    FEP Power Member Broncojunkie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Barboursville, WV
    Posts
    1,773
    79 Pace Car - 331, t5
    79 Pace Car- 302, 4 spd
    79 Cobra - working on 351w, t5
    82 Capri- working on 302, t5
    82gt - working on 408w, c4

  14. #14
    FEP Super Member Bryan Knebworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lexington, MA
    Posts
    2,777

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Broncojunkie View Post
    I installed a flaming river manual rack and steering shaft in my pace car. Control arms/bushings/ball joints, rack bushings, tie rod ends, struts, and pretty much everything associated is new. It's been installed for a few years now, but probably less than 200 miles on them. Steering is now very loose. I'm not going to drive it until I figure out what's wrong. Looking like it's the flaming river shaft at fault but I just haven't had the time to start digging into it. I know I didn't care for the design at all, but went ahead and installed anyway. Bolts still tight and I used red loctite. I think from now on, I'll just modify a factory shaft by welding on a u-joint in place of the rag joint. I have the parts on hand for manual and power steering shaft. The u-joints are available from Summit and several other places.
    Good to know. Thanks friend!

  15. #15

    Default

    Nice fix. I’m all about diy and saving $ I will keep this in mind.
    and yes to the harbor freight welder. I have the same 1, just wish it could use smaller wire for body work.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •