yeah my pinto has about 3in. of slack in the steering wheel and it only has 77250 miles on it what is my problem
I'd take a look at the "rag" joint in the steering column. If that's ok you MAY need a new steering rack.
I know my '74 has 87000mi on it (yes just 87k) I put in urethane bushings & inner/outer tie rods, & if I think left it swaps lanes! Your slop is definately excessive.
My 79k 1979 needed one, as well as my 65k 1978, and my 34k 1977. (bragg)The stock ones are plastic that get brittle with age. When I needed the first one, no-one had a part # for a replacement, so I made one out of an old tire sidewall. I have a napa part # now for one that fits(not listed as an application), just not handy right now. The easy way to change it is to remove that section of the shaft. Those are not bolts, they are rivets. Take a good look over the front end of your car, might have more than one issue to work on.
Bill
My first uprade to my 78 w/ ~288k is a new rack. It has so much play in it I got pulled over for weaving. :(
Could be a bushing inside the steering column. That's what happened to mine a couple years ago. There's a bushing that can give way. On my Pinto it gave way all at once. I was still able to steer the car, but it was loose, and had a definite 'clunk' when I'd turn the wheel.
it could be your tie rod ends. I had the same problem. my bobcat would wander all over the road, and my friend that helped me change the master cylinder told me that he wouldn't let me drive the car until the tie rod ends were replaced. he handed me one and there was about 2 inches of play in it. I don't reccommend driving the car until the problem is repaired.
krazi
It was the rag joint guys sorry i havent been on in a while but my pc has been down
hey 77turborpinto guy, same problem, would it be too much trouble for you to dig up the napa part number?
i have been all over the internet looking for part numbers/replacements, as i too am now suffering the same fate as the others...i'll continue to track what phone numbers and sites, in the hope that i might find, what must be, somewhere, a tremedously huge stash of ford nos...it's gotta be somewhere. i'll keep looking, if i ever find it, i'll tell you all. ever hopeful....janet
Murray's Auto and AutoZone both sell that part in the section of the stores where they stock parts that are labeled with the name "HELP". I'm not sure what the section is but they are red & white packages that hang and they have HELP written across the top.
Napa # 630-1012
Bill