Power steering box contacts spring bucket

[Blackwaterforge]

I am adding power steering to my 66 F250.
I got a steering gear from Red Heads for a 73 F250.
That is the donor Year for the disc brakes.
The power steering gear contacts the spring bucket or tower as it tightens up.
Is this normal?
Thank you!

[MN66]

Not normal from my experience - is this a 2wd truck and Saginaw gear?

[third66go]

I had the same interference on my '66 PS conversion...
I just installed hardened/Grade 8 washers between the frame and the front 2 steering box mounting pads; figured that was better than preloading the casting - there's bound to be some amount of flex in the frame rails and didn't want it binding against the spring bucket.
If you shim all 3, it doesn't give you as much clearance up front. My stock length bolts still had full threads showing after torquing.
Makes you wonder if the '67 and up (or whenever they quit the Bendix gear) models have a slightly different spring bucket...

[Blackwaterforge]

Thanks for the replies!
I think I will add washers

[64 f100]

The fact that it touches makes me think that the frame may be warped in some fashion.

[longcabjohn]

I drilled a hole in spring tower where contact occurred. Figured a round hole would not weaken and look fractory.



Johnny

[slixty6]

I am about to do this soon to my 66. My research I found some say they had to use a hammer and bang in a small dent to clear the steering gear. You don't want to bang it in too far to interfere with the spring itself.

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

It wonders me that these political bookworms have not spoke up,, to be political correct the drivers side perch is different from manual steering to power steering,, BUT since I do not go by the book, keep the old one in shave a little off the perch and little off the gear box and will fit fine,,, If you shim it will throw the alignment off a little and can premature the bottom bearing

[Blackwaterforge]

I drilled a hole in spring tower where contact occurred. Figured a round hole would not weaken and look fractory.



Johnny

That sounds like a good idea

[bruceandersson]

I had this problem on a '54 I installed power steering on. I heated up the bucket at the interference point and used a hammer to create the clearance. Didn't take much and did not impact the integrity of the spring mount.

[bruceandersson]

Not '54 but '65.

[66camperspecial]

I had to do some grinding on my 66 when I added power steering.