In 1987 I crashed my maverick. I was 22 years old at the time and I had put allmost every cent I could spair into it. The reason for the crash was loss of control. Ok...here is the story...I was going down a road at about 50 mph on a road with a speed limit of 35mph. ( a bad start!) I hit a rut in the road! This bump instantly rendered the steering wheel useless! Bla...bla...bla... I hit a phone pole! After closely looking at the underside of the car, I realized a part controlling the powersteering rack had been torn off. What part that was I simply confess, "I don't know". My knowledge about front ends was zero at the time. The powersteering on my maverick hung low enough to be damaged by this "bottoming out". It seemed to me at the time to be a design flaw. The question is this, has anyone else had damage to their ps system from chuck holes or bottoming out?
Damn! were you hurt? Looks like that pole hit pretty close to the drivers seat. I haven't heard of this before on Mavs but then again i'm still relativley new to them mine has manual steering. I have heard of a front end design flaw though on Mavs basically from what I hear if you hit a bump too hard the front end A Frame could snap, a friend of mine says his uncle had a Mav and had this happen to him he lost control and hit a tree, I dunno if it effects all model years though again this is just hear say..
Not a scratch! The impact was really not that hard. I was going about 15-18 mph (sideways) when I hit. Makes you look at things a little differently! After walking around the car I was feeling very lucky! It was a real lesson for me. How fast this car was taken away from me! I had put a lot of cash in this car when I really could not afford it. Then BANG it was gone! Now I can afford to fix one up and not break the bank. I'll drive this one like the old man that I am...
Yes i'll say you were very lucky looks like you had someone watching out for ya upstairs . Back in 1996, during Spring Break some friends and I were joyriding around in a 94 Ford Ranger, I was in the bed (not to smart I know) along with 2 others. We took a turn too fast (45 mph infact) and slammed into one of those center island signals, the impact was so strong we pulled that light right outta the concrete and knocked it 15 feet broke the signal. I was told i was very lucky as I wasn't really hurt (just a sore neck cause I was laying down) although to this day my back still hurts once and awhile lessons learned i'll never ride in the bed of a truck again. Amazingly the truck wasn't totalled the crome bumper took most of the impact once we pryed it loose we drove off we did bust the right headlamp, and later found out the right front rim was cracked.
Re: power steering I had a friend of mine back in high school (1980's) who had a '73 Comet GT. He had a set of headers and like all of us he had the PS control valve extension bracket to clear the headers. I don't know if you had headers, but he ripped this control valve cylinder off when he hit something in the road. So, I guess it can happen, probably with or without the extension. Seth
I did not modify the ps. system in any way! She just hung too dang low... I have a 71,72 and a 73 all have manual steering. Thank goodness!
Man! you bet! After that experience, I told my self "never again PS"! Ps saps hp and fuel economy. I like the feel of manual steering.
PS isn't neccessary for Mavericks anyway, the only time it really makes a difference is when the car is crawling at slow speeds or turning the wheel at a complete stop. With mine if I'm going 5 mph or better I don't even notice the manual steering the wheel turns very easily almost as if I had PS, and even crawling it's not like driving a tank. The worst thing though is a car with PS and a non functioning pump then steering is a nightmare at any speed, once the Club Wagon stalled while my dad was driving down the road at 40 mph (one of those lovely 80's igniton modules that were recalled due to stalling being caused by overheating) so of course no PS and he really struggled manuvering that 2 ton monster to the side of the road. Vehicles like that PS is a must but for Mavs I say no way.
Power Steering has a quicker steering ratio than manual. It RULZ. I have "bottomed out" several times in my '73 and have never damaged anything. Actually caught air a couple times on a dip in the road. Something else was wrong to cause your accident. I've driven a buddy's '73 Mav with manual steering and I'd never have manual steering...
Also, the lowest thing on these cars is the oil pan, and then the cross-member. The steering control valve or slave cylinder does not hang below that...
I am sure that Mavs without P/S are fine, but I am going to have to agree with T.L. Power Steering rules! Also like he says the lowest thing on the cars is the oil pan, and then the crossmember. The steering cylinder is tucked up relatively high compared to the aforementioned. -Corbin
Wow! This happened to me years ago. It seems Quite clear to me that the power steering "rack" hung well below the oil pan. I wonder if this could have been a defect , bad part or what ever? I certainly wish everyone safe travels in their mav's!
I agree; I hope everyone is safe in their Mavericks and Comets. I wonder what happened with the steering in your car mark_b? If the steering was below the oil pan, it sure would be scarey! I can see how your accident could have occured with it hanging down like that. Good thing you're okay though. Take care. -Corbin
