Well after I have Rebuilt the carb, and completely redone the brakes, I finally got to take the Maverick down the road. Everything was good until I hit a dip in the road at 40mph and the car lunged to the left and back to the right! Holy S^&T Man! So after making it back to the house and running the front up on ramps, I think I have found the problem. My car was originally power steering, but someone before me has removed the pump (by the way I need one!). Now where the pitman arm connects to the drag link/power steering joint, it has a ton of play! It travels a good 3/16" either direction. The only other thing I see is that my drivers side outer is a little worn but nothing major. How and where do I get the part to replace the center link joint? I would appreciate any help! Thanks Josh
Looking at a NPD Mag I have It says the part I need is the Ball Stud. Question is? Do I replace it with a rebuild kit($19.95) and keep the power steering after I buy a new pump and brackets or buy the convertor P/S to M/S for($60.00)?
I think I have found a Falcon front clip, my buddy at the shop next door just swapped a rack and pinion under a Falcon. Will someone tell me if this will work under my maverick? Thanks Josh
you may want to lift the front off the ground and yank the tire to check the camber bolts/lower control arms/ and lower ball joint. any play in any of those will cause the steering to make changes as described when hitting a bump or pothole. the aftermarket ball joints i was getting for a mav were crap and kept going out, doing this.I could tell by pulling the bottom of the tire and actually seeing the ball joint move in the arm. also had a tire shop guy leave the camber bolts loose after doing an alignment once(good times). im trying some mustang performance ones this time....not positve on the falcon parts....
Thanks, I'll check the camber bolts tonight! I have already looked at the inner and outer tie rod ends, pretty good! I will also check the ball joints again to see if I can get some play out of them. However right now the Ball stud moves a great amount, I feel strongly that this is my biggest problem. Thanks Josh
there will be slop in the ball stud when the motor isnt running. the pressure from the pump takes up that slop and that is how the switching works for the power assist to happen.
man, driving power assist without a pump...... that car is going to be a different animal when you hook that up. just going from my truck to the grabber when it was power i would drive like a drunk the first couple blocks because the steering was so much easier. of course my cure was to make the grabber manual also ROFL!
then you need to change the center link and pitman arm or try that kit that basicly tightens up the controle valve. as for the power box not being good for use as a manual for saftey reasons i doubt it. i suspect that ford did it so little old ladys will be able to turn the wheel when not moving. most of our mavericks are well modifyed past any of fords intentions. i like many here am running a power stearing box with out power assist and it turns just fine. i do have skinys on the front and that defintly helps.
