|
I agree with the needto check for lost motion (slack) in everything from the steering wheel shaft (there is at least one universal joint or "rag joint" between the steering wheel and the steering box.) By the way, your chassis does not have a rack and pinion steering setup, as do most trucks. My first guesses, given the relatively low miles vs age, would be the pitman arm, and tie rod ends. Even though they are theoretically lubricated for life, they still need occasional grease. As to locating appropriate used parts, pretty much any junk yard will have Econoline vans and derivitaves. Look for E-350 and E-450 chassis of similar year, and you will find the exact setup. The sway bar, by the way, should have no effect on the lost motion in the steering.
One thing that I found out to check on a used steering box is direction of rotation of the wheel vs the output shaft! In my youth, a friend and I were building a hot rod F-1 pickup, and wanted to install power steering. After he fabricated a beautiful new bracket to install a Saginaw steering gear, everything was great, except when you turned the wheel left, the truck turned right...
Later on, we discovered the 1975 and later Econoline van gear had the right rotation, and was also made by Saginaw.
|
Linear Mode
