This is topic Crap! in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
Steering just broke here in LA. I think the ram or control valve stuck and then snapped the bolts that hold the ram bracket to the frame. [Mad]

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Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
That sucks. You're really supposed to weld those drop brackets to the frame because the extra leverage will do exactly that. It looks like it pulled the capture nuts out of the frame rail.
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
Ya ripped the captured nuts out and snapped the cross bolt. The bracket was supported with steel plate,has held up for years with no issues. At least it happened in the hotel parking lot and not while driving it down the road/freeway. The steering pressure was very random before it snapped. I just went thru all the steering stuff last year too with professional rebuild of the control valve, new ram, new pump and lines. Think it's time to go power rack and pinion. For now, I just pulled the bracket off the ram and removed the power steering belt so I can drive it back home from LA today. Gotta go eat my wheaties for the workout/ drive home. Yes, this sux! [Smile]
 
Posted by 68dustin (Member # 5388) on :
 
I snapped mine before too.

[ 2013-04-22, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: 68dustin ]
 
Posted by 68dustin (Member # 5388) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by wilit:
That sucks. You're really supposed to weld those drop brackets to the frame because the extra leverage will do exactly that. It looks like it pulled the capture nuts out of the frame rail.
now that this has been brought up..i'm going to be welding my cougar this weekend. lol..
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
or the side bolt was never there lol. put it back in place and weld it. id reinforce that braket lol, they break to.
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 68dustin:
quote:
Originally posted by wilit:
That sucks. You're really supposed to weld those drop brackets to the frame because the extra leverage will do exactly that. It looks like it pulled the capture nuts out of the frame rail.
now that this has been brought up..i'm going to be welding my cougar this weekend. lol..
That bracket was another reason I converted to a rack and pinion setup. My bracket came loose twice. Never again.

[ 2013-04-22, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: wilit ]
 
Posted by MaK_1967v8 (Member # 12187) on :
 
Wow... that's pretty scary, especially since i have power steering on my 67. I never knew these brackets were an issue. So basically when this happens you lose all power steering and become standard? or what?
 
Posted by 68dustin (Member # 5388) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by MaK_1967v8:
Wow... that's pretty scary, especially since i have power steering on my 67. I never knew these brackets were an issue. So basically when this happens you lose all power steering and become standard? or what?
do you have the drop bracket for header clearance or the stock one. Never heard of the stock one giving any problems
 
Posted by ECOboostin (Member # 4347) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 68dustin:
quote:
Originally posted by MaK_1967v8:
Wow... that's pretty scary, especially since i have power steering on my 67. I never knew these brackets were an issue. So basically when this happens you lose all power steering and become standard? or what?
do you have the drop bracket for header clearance or the stock one. Never heard of the stock one giving any problems
i broke like this 3 times, sucks. i ended up needing the drop bracket and it has been good ever since.
 
Posted by MaK_1967v8 (Member # 12187) on :
 
As far as I know? it might be the stock one. I haven't really touched the 67 since july of last year, and its been sitting in the garage. But It does have headers, and looks to be the stock steering. I'd have to get under there and look to be sure.

But damn, that's pretty shitty. haha I'll have to look into getting this welded up
 
Posted by 66_5.0 (Member # 9974) on :
 
Damn that's harsh! That's why I have no power anything...the less parts=less to break. Lol

That is some bad luck man at least you were able to make it home.
 
Posted by MaK_1967v8 (Member # 12187) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 66_5.0:
Damn that's harsh! That's why I have no power anything...the less parts=less to break. Lol

That is some bad luck man at least you were able to make it home.
haha well... thats my attitude, but i like the power steering :/
 
Posted by 66_5.0 (Member # 9974) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by MaK_1967v8:
quote:
Originally posted by 66_5.0:
Damn that's harsh! That's why I have no power anything...the less parts=less to break. Lol

That is some bad luck man at least you were able to make it home.
haha well... thats my attitude, but i like the power steering :/
I'm not going to lie I start working up a sweat in tight parking lots lol
 
Posted by MaK_1967v8 (Member # 12187) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 66_5.0:
quote:
Originally posted by MaK_1967v8:
quote:
Originally posted by 66_5.0:
Damn that's harsh! That's why I have no power anything...the less parts=less to break. Lol

That is some bad luck man at least you were able to make it home.
haha well... thats my attitude, but i like the power steering :/
I'm not going to lie I start working up a sweat in tight parking lots lol
hahaha I bet! but you're also saving yourself a lot of headaches... replacing the ram, pump, fixing leaks, ram bracket fatigue... etc etc.
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
the stock one does not break ever, its strong like cast steel or sumthing stout, plus its shorter so its a bit stronger just for that. whats in the picture is a aftermarket one to clear headers and is a must if u have headers. i brace those aftermarket ones for 20 bucks, it will never break, bolt it in as well as u can then weld it gd, it will never break again. problem solved continue driving. if u want me to do it. for 150 bucks just bring your car and ill finish it and warranty it for life.
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Duncan Motors:
or the side bolt was never there lol. put it back in place and weld it. id reinforce that braket lol, they break to.
The bolt sticking out of the frame in the pic is the side bolt. The bolt ripped in two. Before it broke the steering power assist was very random, being hard then easy to turn while going around the corner. Or easy to turn one way then hard to turn back the other. I really think the control valve gave out and locked the ram to stay it one position. The backet was just weaker than the ram and then ripped out when I turned the wheel. At least I got it home without tow. I'm really limited on space with those headers. I might have to keep the stock setup.
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
it feels like that right before they break, believe me it didnt lock up. that bracket was bending back and forth giving u that feeling right before they break, people think i just spe3cialize in the fox bodys when i know these older cars even better. dont worry i swear. just do what i said on that. its a done deal for life, those rams are great unless u bend one in a crash, they only leak when they go bad. the weird feeling was that bracket just swaying back back and forth, its needs that braket to hold tight to assist your steering, very common. brace that bracket, put back in place and weld it gd with another side bolt. once welded the two lil bolts dont matter anymore. if u ever wana remove just cut the welds if u wish, i wouldnt go rack and pinion only cause this is a very easy fix and all the racks ive seen lose steering angle, that stock finicky 4 hose steering system has great steering angle and great steering response if in gd order.
 
Posted by MaK_1967v8 (Member # 12187) on :
 
haha I climbed under my 67 and the bracket has some light fatigue ( bent, slightly ) and the ram is leaking like crazy, and the shaft is bent. I plan on replacing mine anyway, so not a big deal. glad I got around to hearing that these need to be welded. I need my driver side shock tower repaired, so i'll do this while im in there.
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
Well my belt was squealing on the power steering pump too when u was trying to turn the wheel from left to right. I was forcing the wheel to make the turns so I could park it.

I hope the bracket is the cause of it all. I still need to take a look at it closer. I just drove it home and parked it. I have the other half of the bolt that snapped off, I'll see if it had backed off at all before snapping or just snapped due to pressure.

If I hook the belt back up on the pump without hooking up the drop bracket, I should be able to see if the control valve is working properly?
 
Posted by MaK_1967v8 (Member # 12187) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Secnd2nun64:
Well my belt was squealing on the power steering pump too when u was trying to turn the wheel from left to right. I was forcing the wheel to make the turns so I could park it.

I hope the bracket is the cause of it all. I still need to take a look at it closer. I just drove it home and parked it. I have the other half of the bolt that snapped off, I'll see if it had backed off at all before snapping or just snapped due to pressure.

If I hook the belt back up on the pump without hooking up the drop bracket, I should be able to see if the control valve is working properly?
mine has those same exact symptoms right now. and it also makes a popping noise when turning to the left... like i said, mine is showing fatigue.
 
Posted by 68dustin (Member # 5388) on :
 
welded a few spots on my cougar's lol.. It actually was starting to pull apart as well.
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
The top portion of my bracket was a little twisted up. I'll just need to flatten it out and the weld it on. Saw another option from American Powertrain. Electric steering, fits under the dash. Seemed like a cool idea.
 
Posted by 68dustin (Member # 5388) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Secnd2nun64:
The top portion of my bracket was a little twisted up. I'll just need to flatten it out and the weld it on. Saw another option from American Powertrain. Electric steering, fits under the dash. Seemed like a cool idea.
what's the link?
holy shit.. it cost 2k.. [Eek!]

[ 2013-04-29, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: 68dustin ]
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
I didn't say it was cheap. haha It would be nice to get rid of that pump, move the alternator to the drivers side. Then I would have some room to work a cold air intake where the alternator is for the paxton. I'll wait till the price drops... in half. Here's the link.

http://americanpowertrain.com/c-321388-shop-by-category-electric-power-steering-ford-1965-70-mustang-cougar.html
 
Posted by MaK_1967v8 (Member # 12187) on :
 
2k? jesus... i'd rather weld the bracket and go on to doing better things to the car. lol
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
Cool thing about that electric steering is that it makes room the engine compartment for better things. [Big Grin]

Duncan, thanks for input. You were dead on with that bracket being the cause this time. The top cross bolt fatigued and snapped right where the threads started. Once that gave out, that bracket had no hope of staying attached to the frame. Looking at the bolt, it was a grade 5. I thought I had all grade 8 in there. I got the nuts welded back in, bolted it down with grade 8 hardware and then had the bracket welded to the frame and a support plate welded. All is good now. [patriot]
 




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