Hey, I've got some experience with this, but, I am going to ask and I'll bet I learn something new. This 1972 Maverick I just bought has plugs where the zerk fittings go in the steering linkage. I used to just replace those with zerk fittings and grease every time I change oil. Is there any reason I can't do that? The power steering unit is of course that linkage type Ford had for years and dad tells me that there is a plug on the other side of the unit opposite the pitman arm that should be removed and replaced with a zerk fitting and greased. So, while I was replacing those strut rod bushings, I replaced that plug with a Zerk fitting. I hit her with the ol' grease gun and water came out. Dad says that there is a "spool" in that unit that is sticking and should be disassembled and repaired. (I did notice when I took the car for a test drive that when I made a steering correction that the car wanted to head in the direction I turned the wheel and the steering wouldn't return to a straight-ahead position.) He says there is rust on the spool and the unit will need to be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled and the spool will have to be centered with the adjustment under the cover at the end of the valve body. Is he pulling my leg? Finally, is there a low profile Zerk for the upper control arm bushings? I used to have to use a special tool, take the plugs out, screw in the tool, and grease the bushings. On early Mustangs there was enough room for a Zerk fitting and a 90 degree adapter; on Mavericks there isn't. (I do remember that; I had to take a prybar and drive in there and make room for those tools. Sorry for the long post. Thanks, Craig.
Those were available 30 years ago. Back then it was a common stock item in most every parts store. No reason to not replace the plugs with Zerk fittings. Just check clearance once they are installed. In regards to the power steering http://www.stangerssite.com/HowItWorksControlValve.html
Then let me rephrase that: I wish I had known about them 30 years ago! Dad worked at the local Ford dealer from 1962-72 and there was a kit he had that required the plugs in the upper-inner shaft bushings be removed, this flat washer-like tool to be screwed in (and there wasn't necessarily that much room on Maverick/Comets, not like the early Mustangs) and lubricated and removed and the plug replaced. I believe the service manual called for that to be done every 30,000 miles. Very time consuming; especially for me. You are right about the clearance. I can install those fittings and hit that with my grease gun when I libricate the rest of the chassis. Great! As far as the link you provided, I guess dear ol' dad was right. That is as good a picture as I have seen of that linkage type power steering unit. One other question: Did I see where there is an integral power steering box for our cars? I thought I saw that somewhere on this site, but, I can't get back to it. Oh well, I'll do some more searching. Thanks for the reply and the link. Craig.
integral power steering. I posted this a while back. http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/catalog/19701977_Ford_Maverick-orderby_0-p-1-c-126.html plugs are designed to be removed and replaced with zerks and reinstalled if desired. If your power valve spool is sticking, it could be rusted but could also have been damaged from improper removal(ie: pickle fork). count on a bushing/seal/rebuild kit for the valve and don't use a pickle fork to free it from the pitman arm.
I thought I had seen that elsewhere on the site, I just couldn't remember where. The power valve body doesn't look like anything has ever been done to it, but, in 39 years and as prone to leaks as those units are you could have something there. Dad seems to think greasing and driving could help out somewhat. I'm thinking of going and replacing the seals and hoses even though it isn't leaking yet. He worked at the local Ford dealer from 1962-72 and replaced many. I don't use a pickle fork on anything I am going to reuse. I try to "shock" parts loose using two hammers and loosening nuts and using the nuts to cover exposed thread areas. (I have ruined many.) The 1974 dad bought used was like that. After we installed a Zerk fitting and greased the unit it worked good. That car had over 150,000 miles on it when we got rid of it. My 1974 didn't have power steering, so, this is new to me. I can make a steering correction and the thing goes in that direction and stays until you correct it again. Thanks for your reply, and the link. Craig.
If you are trying to say that when you make a right or left turn and the steering wheel doesn't return to center without manually turning the wheel back that opposite way, that could also be your tow-in, tow-out/cast and camber adjustment is off. If those things aren't correct then the steering will not return to center by it's self
Absolutely correct. If I am not mistaken, excessive negative caster will cause the steering not to return to center. I believe excessive positive caster will make the car hard to steer, athough, that really isn't an issue if the car has power steering. No, I just aligned the front end and I know those things are correct. I am talking about just driving down the road and making minor steering corrections while driving straight. I can make a minor steering correction and the car continues to drift that direction until I correct it. Then it will drift the other direction until another correction is made, etc. Dad says that that power steering spool is "sticking" due to never having been greased (there wasn't a Zerk fitting installed and when I installed one and lubricated the unit water came out the top seal at the pitman arm) and that is causing the power steering to "assist" when it isn't called for, hence the contant corrections. It is already better since we installed the grease fitting. Thanks for your reply. Craig.
