Steering problem

posting for a friend with a 4door 74 mav. He says that recently when he is turning the steering wheel it only grabs to turn the wheels on the second pass around in a full circle. After it grabs the wheels to spin it slips. He says it's not safe to drive. When he got the car it had the power steering removed.

 

Sounds like a stripped steering box gear..

I have a complete p/s setup (used) available if he is interested , have him shoot me an e-mail or pm.

 

i have a spare stearing box. he needs to have somebody turn the wheel while he watches the stearing shaft turn in the box and see when the pitman arm starts to move. that should verify that the box is where the problem is.

 

Is the rubber between the stearing shaft and the box broken?

 

is it safe for him to drive it to a shop or should he get it towed?

 

If I had doubts abt steering safety I wud have it towed.
JMO

 

if it takes a full turn of the wheel then it is not safe to drive. definitly get it towed.

 

I'll relay the message . . . is it hard swapping the steering box?

 

not to hard. 3 bolts on the stearing box. one bolt on the stearing colum. the hardest part is the pitman arm. it takes a special puller.

 

i can bring the stuff with me tomarrow and do it at the shop if your friend wants.

 

I sent him a text, see what he wants to do. It's this guy I ran into in the Del Mar area. He drives a sweet black and red 4 door, the guy is our age, maybe younger.

 

Have him check the rag joint first. Much easier to replace, and about $10.

 

Dittos on the rag joint.