Here's a question for those of you who consider yourselves "conscious" or "aware" of all the things that are going on with your Mustangs. How many times have you ever stopped and thought about those critical but dull parts that make it function on a daily basis? Sure, there are some components that we expect will never require replacement, such as washer-fluid reservoirs, trunk-lock actuators, and so on. However, the majority of a Mustang's mechanical pieces are constantly in use.
After removing the retaining...
After removing the retaining bolt from the steering column (inside the Mustang/below the dash) and lifting Joe Galloway's Pony on a twin-post hoist, Brandon Ford's service tech, Mark Bingham, disconnects the fasteners in the engine compartment and removes the badly worn factory shaft.
A 'Stang's steering gear (rack-and-pinion, steering shaft/linkage, power-steering pump) is a system that really is taken for granted by most car owners. Outside of making sure the fluid level is where it should be (and we usually don't even check that until we hear the power-steering pump groan), most of us view the steering gear as something that will always be "fine." The truth is, however, a Mustang's steering mechanism experiences more wear than many other high-use parts and systems on the car, and it's something that really should be inspected more often.
Our associate publisher, Joe Galloway, found this out firsthand, when he noticed the steering in his '98 Mustang-turned-Mustang GT was becoming less precise. Joe's 'Stang is a former V-6 car that received a complete 4.6-liter makeover, so it needs all the precision it can get.
After lifting Joe's Mustang on a hoist and inspecting the steering gear, we were able to pinpoint a badly worn power-steering shaft as the source for sloppy steering. We're correcting that ill by installing Flaming River's '94-'04 Mustang Power Steering Shaft Kit (PN 1509P; $334.95).
The new shaft is a bolt-in replacement for the factory link (manual-steering shafts also are available under PN 1509M) that improves steering response by creating a more-direct link between the steering wheel and the rack-and-pinion unit. A new shaft will eliminate dreaded steering wheel slop. If the connection is too direct, Flaming River also offers a vibration dampener to quiet things down.
We put the part replacement in the more-than-capable hands of Mark Brigham, a service technician at Brandon Ford, and Big Steve grabbed the following shots to show you a few highlights of the procedure.
Flaming River's '94-'04 Power...
Flaming River's '94-'04 Power Steering Shaft Kit (PN 1509P; $334.95) must be preassembled before installing it in the Mustang. The shaft and universal joints are marked with letters that must be matched [A-to-A, B-to-B, and so on; then it is taken apart, and a series of 1/4-inch dimples are drilled for the set-screws.
Mark pumps grease into the...
Mark pumps grease into the new steering shaft assembly, to ensure its smooth operation and protect it against corrosion. After lubing and applying red Loctite on the set screws (screws are secured with 25 lb-ft of torque), the shaft is built for the final time and ready for installation.
The new link is clean, streamlined...
The new link is clean, streamlined (1.5-inch diameter), and a lot more solid than the factory hardware.
The new steering shaft is...
The new steering shaft is slid into place. Once the universal joint is properly seated on the rack-and-pinion, Mark tightens the included fastener with 18 lb-ft of torque (set screw and jam nut get 25 lb-ft).
With the 'Stang back on the...
With the 'Stang back on the ground, Mark reconnects the retaining bolt for the steering-column universal joint, and then it's off to the alignment rack for a couple of adjustments to straighten the steering wheel.
The OEM steering shaft is...
The OEM steering shaft is ready for the scrap-metal guy to haul away.