Manual Steering repair

[jeepcj7304 10]

My wife drove the mustang around the block today and said that the steering was really stiff. This is the first time this car has been driven in 5 years. What all should I grease, adjust, check etc. to get it to loosen up some. It takes tow hands to take a corner.

[manley 13]

Power or manual steering? If power, you might check your fluid level first. And remember it's not like new cars.

[jeepcj7304 10]

Sorry it is manual. I know that it is not like a new car but this doesnt seem quite right. Even at speed it takes to hands to make a turn. I did read last night that you can regrease the steering box and it can help alot. I guess I will try that this weekend.

[Print Dad 58]

Hello jeepcj7304,

Five years could be a lot of time depending on storage

conditions - -BUT - there are many things that you can do

to see if you can improve the steering. It will always

seem a bit harder than most cars today - -BUT

I would recommend several simple things

 

1. -Check tire pressure

2. - May be wise to have the front end aligned

3. - Re-pack the wheel bearings

4. - Greese all the steering components like center link,

control arms, ball joints etc.

5. - make sure you do not have a brake dragging especially if drum brakes

 

Keep in mind - the car may need to loosen up. My car sat for 20 years so

don't be discouraged. It will take some time to work the bugs out.

Give it a little time and see if after checking the above --things should get

better and easier.

 

Print Dad

[jeepcj7304 10]

Tire pressure is good, front end may need aligned but it doesnt seem to pull or wander, wheel bearings are all new and packed, brakes are new and not dragging. I am going to grease everything up this weekend and see if that helps.

[70mstang 11]

If you put wider tires on the car that would stiffen up your steering as well. I drove a friends 65 coupe that had manual steering and there was quite a difference between his & my power steering.

[manley 13]

Sitting for 5 years may have allowed corrosion/rust to build up in ball joints/tierods if they were dry/never greased. This could drastically shorten their lifespan, as well.

[jeepcj7304 10]

I greased the ball joints today but there is no fitting in the tie rod ends. Is this the way they were from the factory? I guess that is another thing to replace now.

[manley 13]

I think all my replacement tierods have grease zerks. I would think the originals did, but I'm not sure.

[Pakrat 1,043]

A lot of the factory original stuff did not have grease zerks and not even easily accesible ones when they did, they either have to be added or replace with ones that do. This is why you see so many original condition survivors with ugly giant holes chopped into the shock towers.

[jeepcj7304 10]

I guess that explains the holes in my shock towers. LOL