1969 FORD MUSTANG Volume One Chassis

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03-05-20
Steering Columns And Linkage

03-05-20

placed if it becomes worn or damaged

(Figs.
18 through 21). Do not attempt

to straighten the sleeve if damaged.

1.
Remove the spindle connecting

rod end assemblies as described in the

previous sub-section.

2.
Screw the spindle rod end assem-

blies into the new sleeve the same

number of turns as the ends that were

removed. Do not tighten the clamp

bolts at this time.

3.
Position the sleeve and end as-

sembly on the center link and the

spindle arm. Install the attaching nut,

torque it to specification, and install

the cotter pin.

4.
Check and, if necessary, adjust

toe-in (Part 3-1). After toe-in is

checked and adjusted, oil the sleeve

clamp bolts then torque them to speci-

fication. The sleeve clamp must be in-

stalled as shown in Figs. 18 through

21.

CENTER LINK

REPLACEMENT

The center link connecting the Pit-

man arm and the idler arm is non-

adjustable and is provided with ta-

pered holes to accommodate the ball

studs (Figs. 18 through 21). The link

should be replaced when damaged or

when worn at the ball studs. On Lin-

coln Continental models, the link

should be replaced if excessive loose-

ness is noticed in either ball stud sock-

et.

REMOVAL

1.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist and

position safety stands.

2.
Remove the cotter pins and nuts

that attach both inner connecting rod

ends to the center link (Figs. 18

through 21).

3.
Disconnect the inner connecting

rod ends from the center link using

Tool 3290-C (Fig. 22).

4.
Remove the cotter pin and nut

attaching the idler arm to the center

link. Disconnect the idler arm from

the center link using Tool 3290-C for

Lincoln Continental models only.

5.
Remove the cotter pin and nut

attaching the Pitman arm to the cen-

ter link. Disconnect the Pitman arm

from the center link (use Tool 3290-C)

and remove the center link. On ve-

hicles equipped with the non-integral

power steering system, remove the

center link from the control valve as

detailed in Part 3-7.

INSTALLATION

1.
Replace the rubber seals on the
spindle connecting rod ends, if re-

quired.

2.
Position the center link to the

Pitman arm and idler arm and install

the attaching nuts loosely. On all ve-

hicles except Lincoln Continental

models, place the idler arm and the

front wheels in the straight ahead po-

sition to insure keeping the steering

wheel aligned and to prevent bushing

damage after the attaching nuts have

been torqued. On Lincoln Continental

models, insure that the seal is properly

installed on the center link. Torque

the nuts to the low end of the specifi-

cation. Continue to tighten each nut

until the slots in the nut align with the

hole in the stud. Then install a new

cotter pin.

3.
Position the spindle connecting

rod ends to the center link and install

the attaching nuts. Torque the nuts to

the low end of the specification. Con-

tinue to tighten each nut until the

slots in the nut align with the hole in

the stud. Then, install a new cotter

pin.

4.
Remove the safety stands, lower

the vehicle, check and adjust toe-in to

specification (Part 3-1).

STEERING IDLER ARM

AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY

REPLACEMENT

REMOVAL

If the idler arm bushings are worn

the complete idler arm assembly must

be replaced. In Lincoln Continental

models, if the socket at the idler

bracket is excessively loose, replace

the complet assembly.

1.
Remove the cotter pin and nut

attaching the steering center link at

the idler arm (Figs. 18 through 21).

2.
Disconnect the center link from

the idler arm (on Lincoln Continental

models, use Tool 3290-C).

3.
Remove the two bolts that attach

the idler arm and bracket assembly to

the frame.

INSTALLATION

1.
Secure the new idler arm and

bracket assembly to the frame with

the two attaching bolts (nuts and flat

washers as shown in Figs. 18, 19 and

21).

2.
On all vehicles except Lincoln

Continental models, place the idler

arm and the front wheels in the

straight ahead position to insure keep-

ing the steering wheel aligned and to
prevent bushing damage after the at-

taching nut has been torqued. Insert

the center link stud through the hole

in the end of the idler arm and install

the nut and washer.

On Lincoln Continental models, in-

sert the center link stud through the

hole in the end of the idler arm insur-

ing that the seal is properly installed

on the center link.

3.
Torque the idler arm rod nut to

specification and install a new cotter

pin.

PITMAN ARM

REPLACEMENT

REMOVAL

1.
Remove the cotter pin from the

castellated nut that attaches the steer-

ing center link to the Pitman arm.

Remove the castellated nut.

2.
Disconnect the steering center

link from the Pitman arm with tool

3290-C.

3.
Remove the Pitman arm attaching

nut and lock washer.

4.
Position the front wheels in the

straight ahead position. Remove the

Pitman arm with tool T64P-3590-F

(Fig. 23).

INSTALLATION

1.
With the front wheels in the

straight ahead position, place the Pit-

man arm on the sector shaft making

sure it is pointing forward.

2.
Install the nut and lock washer.

Torque the nut to specification.

G1663-A

FIG. 23— Removing Pitman

Arm—Typicalprocarmanuals.com

03-05-21 Steering Columns And Linkage 03-05-21

3.
Secure
the
steering center link
to
insure that
the
seal
is
properly
in-
tighten
the nut to the
next castellation

the Pitman
arm
with
the
castellated stalled. Torque
the nut to
specification
if
necessary
to
install
the
cotter
pin.

nut.
On
Lincoln Continental models,
and
install
the
cotter
pin.
Alwaysprocarmanuals.com

03-06-01
Manual Steering

03 06-01

PART
3-6
Manual Steering

COMPONENT INDEX

STEERING GEAR

Cleaning
and
Inspection

(See Part 03-01)

Description

Disassembly
and
Overhaul

Removal
and
Installation

STEERING WORM
AND
SECTOR

Adjustment
and
Repair
MODEL APPLICATION
All
Models
Ford

06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Mercury
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Meteor
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Cougar
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Fairlane
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Falcon
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Montego
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Mustang
06-01

06-03

06-02

06-02
Lincoln-
Continental
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Thunderbird
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Continental-
Mark
III
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

A page number indicates that the item
is for
the vehicle listed
at
the head
of
the column.

N/A indicates that the item
is not
applicable
to
the vehicle listed.

DESCRIPTION

STEERING GEAR

The steering gear
(Fig.
1) is of the

worm
and
recirculating ball type.
The

sector shaft
is
straddle mounted
hav-

INPUT SHAFT
ing
a
bushing located
in the
cover

above
the
gear
and a
roller bearing
in

the housing below
the
gear.

SECTOR SHAFT ADJUSTMENT SCREW

LOCK
NUT

IDENTIFICATION
TAG

SECTOR SHAFT COVER
The worm bearing preload
is con-

trolled
by the
large adjusting
nut

which
is
threaded into
the
housing.

The sector shaft mesh load
is con-

trolled
by an
adjusting screw located

in
the
housing cover.

The steering linkage consists
of the

Pitman
arm,
steering-arm-to-idler
arm

rod, idler
arm and the
spindle
con-

necting rods
(tie
rods).

A steering gear identification
tag is

provided under
one of the
cover
at-

taching bolts
(Fig.
2).

STEERING GEAR

MODEL
SERVICE IDENTIFICATION

CODE NUMBER

FIG.
1—Manual
Steering Gear
SERIAL NUMBER
OR
DATE CODE

G 1625-A
G
1626-A

FIG. 2—Steering Gear Identification
procarmanuals.com

03-06-02
Manual Steering

03-06-02

IN-VEHICLE ADJUSTMENTS AND REPAIRS

STEERING WORM AND

SECTOR

GEAR ADJUSTMENTS

The ball nut assembly and the sec-

tor gear must be adjusted properly to

maintain minimum steering shaft end

play (a factor of preload adjustment)

and minimum backlash between sector

gear and ball nut. There are only two

possible adjustments within the recir-

culating ball-type steering gear, and

these should be made in the following

order to avoid damage or gear failure.

1.
Disconnect the Pitman arm from

the steering Pitman-to-idler arm rod.

2.
Loosen the nut which locks the

sector adjusting screw (Fig. 3), and

turn the adjusting screw counterclock-

wise.
(On models equipped with the

Cobra Jet engine, it may be necessary

to use a suitable holding tool with an

extension and a long screwdriver to

make the gear adjustment).

3.
Measure the worm bearing pre-

load by attaching an in-lb torque

wrench to the steering wheel nut (Fig.

4).
With the steering wheel off center,

read the pull required to rotate the

input shaft approximately 1 1/2 turns

either side of center. If the torque or

preload is not within specification

(Part 3-1), adjust as explained in the

next step.
.•ADJUSTER
LOCK
NUT

SECTOR
SHAFT

ADJUSTING
SCREW
G
1627-A

FIG. 3—Steering Gear

Adjustments—Typical

4.
Loosen the steering shaft bearing

adjuster lock nut, and tighten or back

off the bearing adjuster (Fig. 1) to

bring the preload within the specified

limits.

5.
Tighten the steering shaft bear-

ing adjuster lock nut, and recheck the

preload.

6. Turn the steering wheel slowly to

either stop. Turn gently against the

stop to avoid possible damage to the

ball return guides. Then rotate the

wheel 2-3/4 turns to center the ball

nut.
7.
Turn the sector adjusting screw

clockwise until the specified torque

(Part 3-13) is necessary to rotate the

worm past its center (high spot) (Fig.

1).

8. While holding the sector adjust-

ing screw, tighten the sector adjusting

screw locknut to specification, and re-

check the backlash adjustment.

9. Connect the Pitman arm to the

steering arm-to-idler arm rod.

G-1495-A

FIG. 4—Checking Steering Gear

Preload—Typical

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

STEERING GEAR

REMOVAL

1.
Remove the bolt(s) that retains

the flex coupling to the steering shaft.

2.
Remove the nut and lock washer

that secures the Pitman arm to the

sector shaft using Tool T64P-3590-F

(Fig. 5).

3.
To obtain clearance on some

models equipped with standard trans-

mission, it may be necessary to dis-

connect the clutch linkage. On some

8-cylinder models, it may be necessary

to lower the exhaust system.

4.
Remove the steering gear-to-side

rail bolts and remove the gear.
Too /-MB
STEERING
GEAR
HOUSING

T64P-3590.F

(PITMAN
"APU'^M
-
.-. •
-"
•.:,.17''i.a—
r.iMI.
A

F'G.
5—Removing Pitman Arm
INSTALLATION

1.
Position the steering gear and

flex coupling in place; then, install

and torque the steering gear-to-side

rail bolts to specification (Part 3-13).

2.
If the clutch linkage has been

disconnected, reposition, install and

adjust it. If the exhaust system has

been lowered, reinstall it to its proper

position.

3.
Position the Pitman arm and the

sector shaft and install the attaching

nut and lock washer. Torque the nut

to specification.

4.
Install and connect the flex cou-

pling attaching nut(s) and torque it to

specification (Part 3-13).procarmanuals.com