Steering System Rescue
It’s the most important system on your car, but usually the last to be restored. Here’s how to fully fix your Mustang’s steering system.
by Tom Shaw
photos by Tom Shaw
Let’s be honest. How many “restored” Mustangs have you seen with loose, sloppy, worn out, steering? In our experience, a lot of Mustangs, even the nicely restored ones, have dangerously worn out steering. And why?
Probably because we really don’t understand the steering system, and it’s hard to fix what we don’t understand. We go all out to restore these cars, spending thousands on parts and labor, but leave the steering system alone except maybe to bolt on a couple new ball joints and tie rod endsc.
Well, we don’t mind being the first to really dive into this much-neglected system and go all the way through it. When we’re done, your steering will be at its peak. Now it’s a fact that steering systems have come a long way since Mustangs were first introduced. But even though those early systems were not exactly engineered to the high degree of precision of today’s Mustangs, they are still decent if they are all the way up to spec. And that’s the catch.
Almost none are. Pardon the sermonizing, but would you accept paint and bodywork on a restored musclecar in as lousy a condition as your worn out steering? Of course not. Not only is it unsafe, but nothing subtracts from the driving experience like bouncing from side to side in your lane thanks to an on-center hole the size of Texas.
The standard remedy is to buy a kit and replace the ball joints, control arm bushings and tie rod ends. That’s a good start, but there’s much more to completely fixing the problem than that.
So here’s the deal; we’re going to walk you through the Mustang steering system and show you all the places that slop loves to hide. We’ve consulted with some experts and got the benefit of their experience too. The goal is to get that steering tight and right. I mean why on Earth would we spend hundreds on a deluxe simulated walnut grained steering wheel, but… well, don’t get us started again.
1. Steering Box
This is where your quest for tight steering begins. Ever see how raggedy an interior can get after several decades of use and neglect? Ever seen the inside of an engine or an axle after 40 years? Face it, most any classic Mustang steering box has its tongue hanging out and has earned its rebuild. No matter what else you do to your steering system, if you’ve got a worn box (and you probably do), your steering will always feel loose.
Steering boxes have two main shafts, each with precision gears, bearings, thrust bearings, and seals. They are among the most highly engineered components on your car. Given the input/output ratios, a trace of play in the box can feel like a big on-center hole at the steering wheel. A quality rebuild will correct this. Having your steering box rebuilt isn’t as sexy as a trick paint job or spiffy wheels, but Mustang that really steers right is a rare joy to drive.
If your box is trashed beyond hope, you can find a rebuildable core from a swap meet, salvage yard, or rebuilder listed in our source box (they often stock lots of cores) or buy a new box from Flaming River (Flaming River Industries, 800 Poertner Drive, Berea, Ohio 44017, 800 648-8022 www.flamingriver.com).
Once the steering box is up to snuff, then you can start working upstream towards the steering wheel and downstream towards the wheels.
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