Need tips on steering rebuild

Baugher Garage · Post by **Baugher Garage** » September 30, 2011, 11:29 am

Hey all - I'm gathering parts and knowledge for a steering rebuild. My '61 has gotten so hard to steer, it wears me out and scares me a little. I'm replacing the king pins, leaf spring shackle mounting brackets, tie-rod ends (maybe?) and anything else that I should replace in the process.

Any veterans out there who have done this and can offer some time-saving, money-saving and headache-saving advice??

Thanks in advance - I look forward to the experienced input.

** also - is the steering linkage bar supposed to have a slight bend in it or did I do that by driving it in this condition??

Baugher Garage · Post by **Baugher Garage** » September 30, 2011, 1:07 pm

What other stuff should I replace while I have the front end apart?

slickmainer · Post by **slickmainer** » September 30, 2011, 1:25 pm

I've never done it and can't add anything. sorry

Baugher Garage · Post by **Baugher Garage** » September 30, 2011, 1:29 pm

Gregg - that's a beautiful truck! Love the color combo.

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » September 30, 2011, 3:23 pm

Mike, what about adding power steering?

unibody madness · Post by **unibody madness** » September 30, 2011, 3:44 pm

I would replace all your rubber bushings with poly. Your steering linkage bar was bent by running it into things, or having a tow truck driver damage it with chains/hold down straps.
They say not to do it but I bent mine back with a good wack, it was not bent very bad.
John

Baugher Garage · Post by **Baugher Garage** » September 30, 2011, 3:54 pm

Power steering would be amazing! Can that be added later after I've replaced all the messed up stuff or does it need to happen in conjunction with?

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » September 30, 2011, 4:26 pm

here is a good read....says 48-60 trucks but it works up to 64.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/ ... rucks.html

i plan on doing this with my 63 f250

napass2004 · Post by **napass2004** » September 30, 2011, 4:49 pm

Check out classic performance products they have a tie rod for 61-64 it's twice the size as stock nicely built piece

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » September 30, 2011, 7:37 pm

unibody madness wrote:I would replace all your rubber bushings with poly. Your steering linkage bar was bent by running it into things, or having a tow truck driver damage it with chains/hold down straps.
They say not to do it but I bent mine back with a good wack, it was not bent very bad.
John

i think he is talking about the drag link.... if so, yeah it does have a slight bend in it.

unibody madness · Post by **unibody madness** » September 30, 2011, 8:46 pm

My bad, I thought he was talking about the tie rod, which tends to bend easily. Nice to know there is a better one out there
John