My power steering control valve is pretty far gone, and it's been a rather quickly progressing ailment. There's now about 6" of play in my steering wheel. Add a little bump steer, an uneven road, a double yellow line, heavy traffic and a bit of rain to that equation and my trip to work yesterday morning was a bucking, twitching, white-knuckled suicidal hell ride. I'm parking this machine for now because dying sucks. I got under it last night and had a friend move the steering wheel, and I've figured out where the problem is. Where the pitman arm meets the power steering control valve, there's a shaft that's become very loose. It looks like it's about to rip itself right out of the valve, although curiously the valve is still functioning fine, leaks notwithstanding. (Can this actually happen? Can that shaft really rip out, resulting in a total loss of steering?) Power steering control valves aren't cheap and I've read here that the reman units you can buy through the parts stores are junk anyway, so when I saw Rockauto has a rebuild kit for $20 that seemed like an attractive route. Looking at the picture of its contents, I see that shaft which connects to the pitman arm is part of the kit so that's encouraging, but what I need to know is whether or not it sounds like my valve is even rebuildable. With that shaft so disturbingly loose, is it likely my control valve is ruined beyond rebuilding? A second option maybe: Couple of weeks ago I found a Maverick in a local junkyard. I've got a few parts off it already, and I think I recall it having power steering. If it does I may just snatch off the control valve and the ram too, and maybe rebuild both of them. I won't be able to get down there until Saturday though so I don't know if the car or the part will still be around. I might need to buy this stuff from someone here on the MMB. Can't let this linger too long...
Thanks sir! :Handshake I think I can do it. If it looks to be deeper than I want to get though I may hand it off to you. That makes good sense. It just does not look like it's designed to accept the kind of forces it encounters under normal use, let alone what we fools to do it... Lowering, wider tires, etc. I imagine without the power assist working that shaft would be under tremendous pressure.
So, with that shaft being sloppy... Like, incredibly, bout-to-rip-itself-out sloppy, will it still be rebuildable?
Yes, with the right kit, they give you a new ball/shaft, and the sleeve that it fits into, is what wares, and holds it in place.
Mine was pretty loose too, I was able to rebuild it, no problem. The workshop manual has invaluable information on adjusting it after installation for preload. I periodically grease the joint when I service anything under the car or it feels loose.
So I've decided to just rebuild everything related to my power steering system. All of my front end components are new and tight otherwise, my pump is new, but I'm replacing everything else. Just bought from Rockauto: Control valve rebuild kit Power steering cylinder rebuild kit PS cylinder shaft boot and rod mount kit PS cylinder ball stud boot Valve to cylinder hoses x2 PS pressure hose, pump end PS pressure hose, valve end PS return hose and hard line. All Gates brand except for the cylinder boots and rod hardware. I like the fact that my Maverick is the only one around with a stock-looking 351w, stock AC, power steering, power disc brakes, even power windows as of recently. All of this contributes to its uniqueness. However the idea of having a Maverick with power steering that doesn't leak? That just might make it one of a kind! This junk has always leaked. As of the last engine install it's the only thing that does leak. I am just ecstatic at the idea that finally my car just might stop marking territory in any way other than AC water! (Or maybe I'm dreaming. Maybe when it's all put together again it will continue to leak like they all do. But at least it will work right and stop trying to murder me.)
I worked on the tech line for ARI (Automotive Remanufacturers Inc.)/Atsco for many years before they were bought out and destroyed by investors..Anyhow you may already know this, but when you get everything back together make sure you put the car up on jack stands and bleed the system BEFORE you start the car up. Do this by turning the steering wheel lock to lock several times to work the air bubbles out of the system. Check the fluid level often to avoid sucking more air into the system. I always start the car and repeat the process before putting the car back on the ground. Ford pumps are notoriously whiny and this may help reduce that from happening as there is nothing worse for a power steering pump than running it dry.
Good advice, I appreciate it. Parts "should be shipped" by Friday. Looks like I probably won't have my car back this weekend unfortunately. Maybe I'll get lucky though...
