Steering System Rescue
5. Column Bushings
Working your way back up towards the steering wheel, the next potential weak link is the bearings or bushings in the steering column. It’s easy enough to diagnose. Grab your steering wheel and move it up and down and side to side. You’ll feel the slop, if there is any. Fords use a metal and nylon bushing. Merv Rego of Classic Creations, an advanced restoration shop in our area, (3620 Highway 92 East, Lakeland, FL 33801, 863 665-2322 www.classiccreationsfl.com), says that Ford steering column bushings rarely wear out. It’s a good thing because the bushing (shown) is obsolete. But they can be found at swap meets and probably eBay.
6. Out With The Old
Ok, now’s the time to break out the new ball joints and tie rod ends. Anything in the steering or suspension that moves is suspended with a rubber bushing or a ball-and-socket joint. With worn-out joints, your steering wheel input is wasted in moving the steering components to the end of their play before the wheels actually begin to turn. When several components in your system all have significant wear, the “hole” in your steering feels huge. Two millimeters of slop in your linkage gets multiplied by the ratio in your steering box to create much more play in your steering wheel. It’s your call, but urethane control arm and sway bar bushings, commonly available from suspension suppliers, have less deflection and will give you tighter, quicker-responding steering compared to conventional rubber.
7. Moog
We’re on the other side of the steering box now, working out towards the wheels.
We’ve used both cheap kits and more pricey name brand parts like these Moog components. For our money, we’ll pay the extra for Moog parts. The design and metallurgy are second to none, and the rubber boots hold up much better, protecting the critical joints inside from the grit and dirt that wear them out prematurely. In our opinion, this is a case where it’s worth asking for and paying for the brand name. All Moog components carry a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser (with receipt), provided the car has not been raced or modified. This is, after all, your car and your safety we’re talking about, so it’s not a place to skimp. Not all auto parts stores carry this brand, so you may have to ask around.
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