Power steering project

[The_Epsicle]

Hey guys, I got myself a new gearbox to take the slop out of my steering and a new pump to get rid of the one that failed 150 miles ago. So far I've removed the pump and disconnected the gearbox from the lower steering column and then I quit for the day.

I did not buy a new reservoir so I need to get the one I have on there off, I have removed all the power steering lines from it but the reservoir isn't giving at all. I don't see anything that's holding it on except for the nut that the high pressure line screwed into, I'm not sure if this unscrews from the reservoir so I haven't tried for fear of breaking it.

My second issue is the pitman arm, what size is the nut on it? It's bigger than 1" and I am not going to try to remove it with an adjustable wrench.

1994 Ford Ranger 4.0, automatic, 4x4, with A/C. Dana 35 Front, Ranger 8.8 back, 3.73 gears.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Can't help with the reservoir. IIRC the pitman arm nut is 1 1/8".

 

[The_Epsicle]

Can't help with the reservoir. IIRC the pitman arm nut is 1 1/8".

I've got a 1 1/16" socket and it looked too small, I'm going to see about measuring it tomorrow. It's just in such a weird spot to get at I know it's gonna be tough to remove.

I got the reservoir out, the fitting for the high pressure line is a 15/16 socket I just needed to get some better leverage on it so I put it back in the car. The reservoir came off with some coaxing once I got the fitting off. I also figured out where my power steering pump was leaking... everywhere, all the seals are blown, good thing I'm replacing the entire system.

 

[enjr44]

I left the pitman arm on the gear and took to whole thing to a frame and axle shop. The guy took the thing apart in about 30 seconds and charged me 5 bucks. Getting the nut off is only about 10 percent of the work. Getting the pitman arm off the gear is the real rodeo!!!

 

[Lone-Ranger]

If you know anyone that owns or works on an 18 wheeler I'm sure they'd have a

wrench/socket for you to borrow. There are pitman arm pullers(and pickle forks, since

your replacing the gearbox anyway) you could possibly rent or buy as well. If

buying/renting a puller/fork is out of the question, well hopefully you can get a good size

hammer in there and get a good enough swing to smack the living crap out of the side of

the pitman to break it loose.

 

[The_Epsicle]

I've got a pitman arm puller already, I can't use a hammer or I won't be able to return the box for the core charge. I only had those two questions, I'm sure I'll have more when I get to installing the new equipment.

 

[Lone-Ranger]

Right on with the puller, but I said to hit the side of the pitman arm itself, not the gearbox...

 

[The_Epsicle]

So until getting into this I thought the cooler in front of my radiator was a power steering cooler since I've read that they were put in Rangers. However now that I've actually looked at it the lines do not run to the gearbox or pump but they run to the transmission, so I know this also is not stock. Anyway, did 1994 Rangers come with power steering coolers? Because until now I was under the impression that they did...

 

[Lone-Ranger]

I personally have never seen one, but by no stretch does that mean they do not exist. If your worried about it, you could always get a small aftermarket cooler and route it into the system. Ive installed quite a few over the years on many different vehicles, never had any come back with trouble.

 

[The_Epsicle]

I'm not worried about it, actually I'm happy. It looks like it was done good so it's the only thing the previous owner did that I like.