Poor Handling- new column?

[bitt01]

Hi All,
I’m new here! I own a 66 f100 with a straight 6 and auto on column. The truck doesn’t handle very well at high speeds (anything at 40 or higher. If I hit a bump in the road, she wants to veer of to one side. I have to put a death grip on the wheel to avoid anything. I’m not sure if I have the original column because the wheel is from A 70s ford ( two spoke , big horn button). So far I have replaced the front springs,shocks, rag joint, two front tires and drag link.
I would like to replace the column but there are so many sites out there that seem to sell anything but the column I need. They are all GM or related. Does anyone have some input on what to tackle
next to have better steering and/or a good website to by a column and correct steering wheel?
Thanks.

[sparky72]

Check your radius arm bushings, when they rot out they can really make it wander and bump-steer

[bitt01]

Thanks! I actually ordered news and installing them finally. Hope it works.

[390FE1972]

Just to let you know that there is a website for 1961 to 1966 Ford trucks, that may help you with specific questions related to that generation of trucks. There are a number of members here at Fordification that have what are referred to as Slicks, so you can get great information here as well.

truck: http://www.slick60s.com/

FYI

[bitt01]

great! thanks for letting me know. The handling has greatly improved after changing the radius arm bushings. I still think I need a new column or somehow fix the current ones. The wheel tilts up and I DO NOT have tilt steering wheel.

[390FE1972]

Your welcome! Here is a few threads and links in regards to identifying your steering column, where to buy parts if you want to rebuild your column, and Sargentrs excellent thread on rebuilding an automatic steering column.

http://www.fordification.com/partnos/st ... column.htm (identification info)
https://www.lmctruck.com/1957-72-ford/s ... onents-2wd (identification info)
https://www.lmctruck.com/1957-72-ford/s ... components (identification info)
https://www.fordification.com/forum/vie ... =5&t=38880 (issue thread)
https://www.fordification.com/forum/vie ... =5&t=45466 (issue thread)
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =5&t=72274 (rebuild thread)
http://www.carolina-classics.com (they have excellent steering parts)

Regards

[cep62]

Don"t forget to check your king pins.
They can be too loose OR too tight.

[bitt01]

I will def check out those links!

I also have new King pins ready to be installed but just need to get to a front end shop. Or I was debating taking the front end apart and just bringing the spindle to a machine shop to push the old pins out and new pins in. Any thoughts on that?

[sargentrs]

That's what I did. There's more to it than just the king pins. The bushings will need to be replaced and reamed. Cost me $150 for the machine work but the bead blasted and painted the I-beams and spindles black too.

[bitt01]

So you took the I-beams out and left spindle attached , then had the shop do the work?

[390FE1972]

The cheapest way to do this, is to do it yourself, a front end shop is going to be expensive, pulling out the I beam, radius arm, and spindle as one piece, and taking it to a machine shop is the way to go. Here is a youtube from one of our members (Autorestomod) that is replacing the drum brake set up on his truck with disk brakes (F100) from a Dent side truck. He shows you how to remove the I-beam etc. as one piece, and then you can have the machine shop press in the new king pins. I'm not familiar with the 1966 suspension, and this video is on a 1972 F100, so hopefully it is done that same way.

https://youtu.be/nLlxzfe28-M

Regards

[sargentrs]

So you took the I-beams out and left spindle attached , then had the shop do the work?

Yes. I'd read other people's problems and figured I'd save myself some headaches.