front end slop

[140cilx]

On this '84 SVO I purchased it has 143k miles. My '88 LX has 153k and zero play in the front end versus lot's of slop in the front end of the SVO.

What should I replace?

Can I do everything but the alignment?

-thanky for your recommendations!

[svobud]

main thing I would check RIGHT NOW ...is the nylon bushing on the steering shaft. I've had a couple of SVOs that had bad ones...and it's a very notorious part for failing. Your car is VERY DANGEROUS to drive with this bushing torn.

Fixes....

1. You can go to the local parts store "HELP" section and get a replacement bushing. Take a serious look at the steering shaft - it's harder than it looks to just replace the bushing.

2. Get a steering shaft that's not F/U and swap it in...

3. Fix the problem with a permenant solution. Get a Flaming River solid steering shaft. Their pricey - but you'll never be replacing/worring about it again. Oh yeah, and the road feel in your hands with be outstanding. I love mine.

[140cilx]

yikes, will do! thanks, I'll let you know the outcome.

[140cilx]

yep, that bushing is torn, at least on the top, didn't check out the bottom side. I'll check around to see which one I'll buy. Thanks for the Flaming River link.

I'd be very tickled if that got rid of the play!

Like you said, it looks easy to replace. I guess I'll find a suprise or two when I get started with it.

-you know, when you buy a $1500 car there are going to be things to fix. But in my little pea brain, I didn't expect so many little things. Willikers, these are SVO's - the gods of car's in my book!

Let me see if I can list them, just for my typing pleasure.

Still to go:
window tinting,
hood pull cable
oil leak where elbow goes into turbo
buff turnsignal lenses out
front speaker dash repair
fluids in tranny & rear end
tweak timing
take radiator fan off of '88 (same) fix wiring snafu & put on SVO

Already done:
-Head gasket & all accompanying maintenance like 180' therm.
-remove air conditioning components after former owner pulled compressor
-replace rear hatch struts
-replace on both doors the nylon clips holding interior panels to door.
- a few trim pieces ordered from Ford
-shampoo'ing interior
-replacing various fuses
-bending front end back together
-TC intercooler
-Gillis Valve
-new battery cables
-hours and hours of cleaning
-touch up

that's all that comes to mind

*driven it 200 miles. & I know, I know, I'm getting off good!

[vrinner]

Mine too.

My 84 had the same problem. I went down to the junk yard and pulled one out of another Mustang and it fit perfect. I do have one question...

The one I pullout of of the other car didn't have plastic as a bushing, it was like a plastic/canvas material. Is that a good or bad thing?

[svobud]

bad thing...they are very prone to tearing. that bushing is definitely the weak link in the steering setup on a Mustang.

[8T6 SVO]

Rag Joint

Bud,

Which part did you use from Flaming river? I would like to get one of these and get rid of the bushing.

Thanks

[svocudd]

Mileage levels

What is the typical mileage level where the rag joint begins to show significant wear. Is it a mileage/wear issue? or can it also be an age issue?

Cudd

[8T6 SVO]

Shaft Kit

Bud,

Did you get kit #FR-1504-P? Do you have any opinion on the aluminum shaft?

Cudd,

My bushing is broken and my car only has 30,000 miles on it.

I expected mine to be perfect, but after reading this post - I checked - and sure enough, it was cracked bad. I'm just glad I read it here and didn't have to learn about it the hard way!

Thanks Bud.

[140cilx]

well, not being rich like you guys, I did like Bud said and went to Pep Boys and bought the new one in the Help section. It was $8 and is Ford Specific and looks just like the original minus rot, crack and tears. Will install this weekend and let you know if it removes some of the slop I anticipate.

[svobud]

140ci - yeah ...the flaming river piece IS expensive....and thus why I gave the two options

8T6 - I can't remember what the part number was. Best bet is to call their Tech Line and ask about your specific application. I'm pretty sure it was a normal 85 and up MUSTANG application but(thinking maybe the 84 with the TRW rack may have a different application...- but I am NOT sure)....still best to call. Gary Alsobrooks had one before me in his 84 autoxer...driving his car once is all it took - next week I had one in my car.

As for my opinion on the solid shaft piece. I won't own another late model Mustang (that I drive often) without one. I've let quite a few people drive my white car...I always forget about the shaft being in there until they start asking why my steering feels so "crisp." Think Mike Ray had the most fun driving it (on the Interstate no less) - for about 30 miles...I could see him in the rear view mirror - zipping and darting from one lane to the next like he was in a F1 racer and trying to warm his tires or something.

svocudd - both of the ones I replaced were on 60-80k mile cars (less than 5 years ago).

Again - if you got the money to spare - get the flaming river piece...you won't be dissappointed. if not, there's always the HELp section repair kit for much less.

[140cilx]

Okay Okay Okay, I'm an idiot and been smacking myself for about 9 hours now. Just want to get that out of the way.

Last nite at 10 pm I began the steering bushing replacement. It was tough as Bud mentioned. Finished it at 12:30 this morning so no biggy.

I now have almost zero slop in my steering... BUT,

-somehow at some point my steering wheel rolled over on me and the steering wheel is now upside down. AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!

-so I'm tickled to death with the new feel of the steering wheel and all that, but can I pull the steering wheel and just flip it over?

(& can someone tell me how to pull a steering wheel - never done it!?! , don't I need a SW puller? )

-it was nice to give my wife such a great laugh this morning, she awoke, sun coming in through the window on her face, looking lovely, asks me how the steering fix job went, and then she bust's a gut because I tell her the SW's upside down!

[SVOeric]

You can flip the wheel, but I believe there will be a downside to this.....

when you click the turn signal, and you start to turn the wheel, the piece that kicks the turn signal lever off is in the wrong place, so it dont work right....

I have been a moron, and done the same thing, that is how I know

actually, my entire car was apart, and when I put the steering back together, I made a educated guess, I had a 50/50 chance.. right --- right
why is it that when you have a 50/50 chance of being right, there is a 75% chance you are wrong

Just take it back apart, and turn it... you already know how it comes apart, and goes back together, it wont take near as long the second time

[140cilx]

NO, PLEASE NO!!! but I used thread lock and tightened everything beautifully, and my knuckles are skinned, no...

Crap

double Crap!

I was actually enjoying myself last night, I shoulda known something was up.

[svobud]

Sorry - but Eric is correct.

As for your Wife....I can't see fault in her actions, I would have been bustin out laughing myself.

Glad you got it fixed...now fix it again