Steering Question

[rt9]

Hi guys. Starting to notice some play in the steering on my rig. Now I already know the bearing at the steering wheel connection needs replaced, but this is not my immediate concern. The coupling at the steering box has developed a fair bit of play. Is this fixable, replaceable or what.

Your suggestions are requested.

I am thinking strongly about a tilt column.

Thx,

Rick



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[Jesus_man]

Yes, a lot of bronco houses can custom build you a new shaft to fit between the splined shaft on the bottom of the steering column and the D-shaped shaft on your box. I might suggest a collapsible version for your safety. I ordered my last one from BCB.

Make sure it is not the shaft from the steering box itself.

[rt9]

Thanks for the info. Yep - going to disconnect this week to verify just that.
I will look up BCB and see what's available.

Thanks again.

[Kinder]

Manual steering box on a '66 is going to be the odd one out there. If you go with a aftermarket setup make sure they know what is needed. This could be a good time to upgrade the box & shaft together.

[rt9]

yep - torn between a whole new column setup ($$$$$) or a new collapsible lower shaft and rebuild the column I have. All it takes is money!
I think the box is good. The play is all in the bell coupling.

[akaFrankCastle]

Are you planning to add power steering down the line?

[rt9]

Not sure. Would be nice, but not really sure what all is involved. Any thoughts or things to watch out for ?

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[Gunnibronco]

Power steering is a great upgrade. You need a pump, the bracket to secure it to the motor, and the right pulleys to add a 2nd belt to your front dress, also needed is a P/S box. The stock direct bolt on boxes are limited in number, and therefore expensive. The usual Bronco vendors will have them available, and also complete kits, but you will pay for the convenience. There are other options, the 4x4x2 box (very strong combo of a 78/79 F150/Bronco box & another more common steering box) is popular, but the 78/79 box is becoming hard to find. There are other optoins, but I don't know much about them. You can find info on CB.com, I'm not sure I know of anyone in CCB running anything but stock & 4x4x2 boxes. Adding any box except the stock box involves some fab work & redrilling the frame for the new bolt locations.

Then you'll need the hoses to put it all together. Then you can start looking a hydroboost power brakes. LOL.

[rt9]

Gunni - appreciate the info. This is another Bronco Rabbit Hole to get lost in. I will check out the CB site and educate myself further. I would assume any new purchase of a tilt column will not affect a future change to PS. except for different hardware on the connection to the PS box and shaft.

I would be a nice upgrade, but then my wife will want to drive it all the time!!

[Eck]

I've got pump, bracket, one hose, and pulleys. Would let them go for cheap if you go this route.

[rt9]

Thanks - First I need to read up on the change over. I'll assume I need a pump and mounting hardware, lower shaft, 1 hose, belt? I imagine I can keep my existing column for now (tilt will be nice, but maybe later :)

I appreciate it - I'll let you know.

[Eck]

Thanks - First I need to read up on the change over. I'll assume I need a pump and mounting hardware, lower shaft, 1 hose, belt? I imagine I can keep my existing column for now (tilt will be nice, but maybe later :)

I appreciate it - I'll let you know.

The most expensive thing will be the PS box depending where you can find one and which one you go with.

[Kinder]

You're still rolling the straight 6 right? The rabbit hole is going to get deep fast trying to source the correct PS Pump bracket & compatible pulley. For now you may just want to keep the manual setup. Especially if it's going to stay as your town driver & not go off road.

I think the critical piece will be the u joint at the box, the manual box has a different spline than the PS box I believe.

[rt9]

Definitely a town driver (date nite rig) and has the 289. Although, we are sending my sons truck back to Fort Bragg in October and I'm going to be relying more on the Brocno this winter in bad weather.
I've got some studyin' to do first.

[Gunnibronco]

I ASSume the 302 brackets would fit the 289, but really don't know.

Kinder is right, the spline count on the manual box is different than the stock power box is different than the 4x4x2 box. So the new steering shaft would have to use a different lower u-joint for a P/S box. Unless they weld the u-joint on the shaft, you could always buy a new u-joint when you do the swap. But those u-joints aren't cheap, I think around $70.

[Justin]

Actually, I reused my previously welded u joint. Took about 3 minutes with a grinder to unweld it.

[Eck]

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showth ... p?t=250174

This looks to be a good deal and pretty complete including the lower shaft.

[Justin]

That is a good deal. Youd still need to find the upper half of the lower shaft, but they're out there.

[rt9]

Eck/Justin - Thanks for the info on the PS setup. I just emailed the seller and it sold yesterday. RATS!

So,, I think I'm going to go at this in stages:
First - replace the lower shaft with the Wild Horses collapsible set up and couplings. This should get me rolling again fairly quickly. To do this I will need to remove the current column and this would be a good time to either rebuilt it or get a new rebuilt one.
Second: I'll keep an eye out for another one of the PS systems (Eck) and/or a box. The tilt column will have to wait for now.

It's all about fund-ige!!!

Rick

[sykanr0ng]

If it is the one in your avatar pic then a 4x4x2 would be an unnecessary expensive overkill (don't get me wrong, I like overkill but.....)

The better choices are either a stock PS box from a later Bronco or what is commonly called a Delphi box which can be bought new or found in various vehicles such as Nissan Pathfinder's and Xterra's.
I saw one on CL that would have been less than $100 a few months ago.

The Delphi box bolts to the three holes already in the frame and only needs one hole drilled.

Some people have problems with the Saginaw pump and stock Bronco boxes, the pressure from the Saginaw may be too much.

[rt9]

sykanr0ng - thanks, this is good information. I have some learnin' to do before I pull the switch to PS.

[rt9]

Well - so the plan is to get the new shaft (just ordered from WH), measure and cut the shaft, grind the flats, and countersink the set screw locations. Guy at WH says it can all be done inside the engine compartment easily.

[mickphatmac]

That's exactly what I did.
Plenty of room in your engine bay to do it while it's in the Bronco!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-6VJSzaojI

[rt9]

Mickphatmac , thanks for the link. That's helpful.

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[rt9]

Hooyah. Installed and ready to test!

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[Justin]

Like.

[Kinder]

^ x2

[rt9]

Thanks guys. Drives nice. Thanks everyone for the help.

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