The Ford Torino Page Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Model Specific Forum > 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Steering issue!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Steering issue!

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Turbo301 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 11-March-2007
Location: London, Ontario
Status: Offline
Points: 331
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Steering issue!
    Posted: 25-June-2010 at 5:32AM
Hi Guys,
 
Just when I thought my car was finally cured :). I was at a car show this past weekend (only Cougar out of, like, 500 cars!) and the steering jammed-up, or got super-stiff at least, when trying to turn counter-clockwise. I gave 'er and there was a mechanical popping/clicking noise, and it freed up and turned fine. The highway drive home was fine. Then, just last night, while backing into my garage, it did it again!
 
In both cases, clockwise turning was fine, and both situations were at nearly-stopped speeds.
 
Any ideas what the problem might be? Are my recirculating balls not recirculating? A sticking lingage perhaps?
 
As usual, thanks for any pointers!
1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
2009 Pontiac G8 GT
Back to Top
GranTorinoSport View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Admin of "The Org"

Joined: 20-May-2003
Location: Seattle
Status: Offline
Points: 2287
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GranTorinoSport Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2010 at 6:29AM
Unless there is binding in a steering component (tie rod, other links and arms), then I'd say for sure it is the steering gear.

Take a close visual inspection of the steering linkage underneath first, however. Look for anything with evidence of binding. If you are adventurous enough, disconnect the pitman arm from the steering link and with the front end in the air try and actuate the steering by hand and also the linkage by hand (now disconnected from the steering gear). You should be able to make a determination then.
Scott Eklund

Webmaster
Back to Top
Psquare75 View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group

Member of the Stroker Club

Joined: 26-November-2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 4591
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psquare75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2010 at 6:50AM
Without seeing it, I'm going to guess steering box.
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500
Back to Top
GranTorinoSport View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Admin of "The Org"

Joined: 20-May-2003
Location: Seattle
Status: Offline
Points: 2287
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GranTorinoSport Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26-June-2010 at 11:43AM
The more I think about it, ditto to Paul.
Scott Eklund

Webmaster
Back to Top
Regul8r View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: 26-December-2007
Location: Sarasota FL
Status: Offline
Points: 6624
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Regul8r Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-June-2010 at 6:30AM
yup thats what I would say!
 
Something in the steering gear box itself.
Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME!
1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae"
97 Suzuki Intruder 1400
US Army Retired
Back to Top
Turbo301 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 11-March-2007
Location: London, Ontario
Status: Offline
Points: 331
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-June-2010 at 11:26PM
Originally posted by cowboyupdjcarl cowboyupdjcarl wrote:

yup thats what I would say!
 
Something in the steering gear box itself.
 
 
Thanks for your help, guys, that at least gives me something to narrow down to! It drove fine yesterday, even at low speeds, but perhaps there is a particular worn ball and, when it hits a particular part of the ball return or something like that, it gets jammed up. Fudge ^_^.
1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
2009 Pontiac G8 GT
Back to Top
Psquare75 View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group

Member of the Stroker Club

Joined: 26-November-2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 4591
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psquare75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2010 at 2:20AM
Think of it as a perfect time to upgrade to a 3:1 box Wink
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500
Back to Top
72BlackGTS View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 10-April-2007
Location: Millerton, NY
Status: Offline
Points: 871
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72BlackGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2010 at 7:21AM

Check the pressure valve in the back of the pump. Hows the fluid look? Sounds to me like your pressure valve is sticking intermitently. Good luck.    Ron

Ron
1978 LTD II Sport-Green
2003 HD Road King Classic 100th Anniversary
Back to Top
Turbo301 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 11-March-2007
Location: London, Ontario
Status: Offline
Points: 331
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2010 at 7:24AM
Originally posted by 72BlackGTS 72BlackGTS wrote:

Check the pressure valve in the back of the pump. Hows the fluid look? Sounds to me like your pressure valve is sticking intermitently. Good luck.    Ron

 
Hmm, that's an interesting possibility; the steering did kind of feel like it was going to manual force (still turned, just really heavy). The pump is just a giant black box to me (literally - big and black), so other than the fluid I'm not sure what to look for. I'll consult my manual when I get home, though.
 
Thanks!
1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
2009 Pontiac G8 GT
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.06
Copyright ©2001-2023 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.105 seconds.