Test drive

[Charter]

I took my Ranchero down the road today. Handling SCARY. The oldest vehicle I have driven was a 63 f100 with manual steer, twin I beams. It was pretty decent. A 63 galaxie with P/S it was decent to. I have replaced everything in the front suspension except the steering box. Tires seem ok. Does need alignment. That should not cause the crazy wandering I would not think. Is there an adjustment for the box ?  The pitman arm drag link adjustment, how tight ?

[Fabulous50s]

A poor alignment will cause wandering for sure. Did you at least set the toe with a tape measure? Wandering can be from worn steering/front end and poor alignment. Do you have radials or bias tires?

[RICH MUISE]

The '57 boxes have an adjustment for wear on the top of the box cover. If I remember, it's an allen head set screw with a lock nut. As old as our cars are, yours may already have used up that adjustment. Mine got pulled for R & P, so I never adjusted, but the instructions gotts be in the shop manual I would think.

[Fabulous50s]

That adjustment on top of the box is for preload. If you set it too tight you will kill the box in very short order. To correctly set preload, you need to disconnect the pitman arm and measure turning torque on the steering shaft.

Basically if the box has play in it...its worn out and it needs to be rebuild. There is no magic fix for recirculating ball steering boxes. Get it properly checked for play in all of the front end, by getting under the car while someone moves the steering wheel back and forth. Note any places you see slop. Do this with weight on the front tires to be the most accurate.

[FiveSevenLiter]

And a good greasing with quality grease.

[Charter]

The only play I can see is in the drag link adjustment, How tight should this be ? Since there is a cup and pressure spring I would think there must be some play.

[thomasso]

Alignment, alignment,alignment.  Yes the selector valve moves to select direction of assist.

[djfordmanjack]

I believe Charter is talking about a manual steering w/o power assist.
I think an og 57 steering gear is not yet a fully recirculationg box like on a 58 or 59 and the 57 maybe can be somewhat adjusted.

Usually, compared for the time our cars were produced, 57s handle VERY WELL. very stable and good weight distribution. little to no wander even with bias ply tires.

Is your car severly lowered ? pics?
the camber and especially caster adjusmant range is very limited with the 57, and if you have a heavy nose down rake, it is very well possible that you can't obtain any positive ( stabilizing) caster anymore. you would have to rework the A arms or use special offset washers and longer bolts.

[hiball3985]

G is correct, the 57 is worm and sector, no recirculating ball until 58. I put a 58 box in mine, a world of difference.
The adjustment on the drag link where the pitman arm ball rides in the two spring loaded bushings is tighten down the plug until it stops and then back off 1 1/2 turns. I would remove them for inspection first, clean, lube. I think they make replacements if needed.

[Jeff Norwell]

Great info here.

[Ford Blue blood]

Sounds like it is the early attempt to dampen road vibrations (rag joint).  Always wondered why you would want those springs in the linkage.  Found out when racing, converting the Boss into a B Sedan competitive car, even on smooth tracks every pimple in the surface was felt after the rag joint was removed!

[Ecode70D]

X2   What Günter  and Fabulous stated ,