Power Steering or No Power Steering?

[Mercracer]

Would you recommend the newer CV axle?

I would recommend just getting a set of gears and diff for yours or find a diff with 3.55's already in there. If you were going to take any axle and weld brackets to it for your car, it should be a 99+ PI axle. 3.55's with a traction-lok already there. That axle should be the same at 63.3". They went back to 3.27's before 2003 when the axle got wider.

[Southern_Pride]

On the power steering issue. I tried to turn my 90 at 50mph when the engine died. Almost impossible to turn the wheel. I think my k5 on 44's was easier to turn without power steering.

[Freshmeat]

Thanks for those measurements, Mercracer.

the full size truck axle wont work cause they have a different lug spacing anyway

to make the 98-02 steering box fit you need the 98-02 steering box, the lines, and the coupler (first section of shaft)
cut the coupler apart at the rag joint (i drilled out the large pressed rivets with a 5/16" dril bit left me with two sleeves lol) then use two 5/16" bolts and locking nuts to bolt the 98-02 coupler to the 89 steering shaft and rag joint.........total steering box swap time about 4 hrs......o yeah need to swap over to a 79-91 pitman arm also or use the 96-02 pitman arm and use the 96-02 centerlink
good luck!
scott

Forgot the trucks are 5x5.5

Would you recommend the newer CV axle? The cutting and welding wouldn't be that bad- like I've said, we've done it several times before (how else would an Explorer SUA axle fit on a 1995+ Wrangler [coils in the rear]?). However, it had entirely slipped my mind to even look into the CV axles- was thinking Explorer the whole time, since I know where I can get a pile of them for $200 a pop.

I'll take a look at the steering equipment tomorrow. I have a 1989 pitman arm... wouldn't that work? Could use replacing anyhow...

Going to price the 98-02 box tomorrow. Don't know of any yards with one, but I'll make some phone calls, see if I can pull some strings.

I didn't get much of anything accomplished all weekend. It's hard to do my own mechanic work during my weekend with my son. Not that I'm complaining- he's a blast... just means I'll need to work my ass off in the afternoons this week if I have any hopes of having this complete on the 20th. Pull transmission tomorrow, motor Tuesday, etc. That's the current schedule.

[Lincolnmania]

just freshen up your 28 spline axle in the vic..........sounds like too much uneeded hassle to swap over brackets and do all that welding........the full size truck axle wont work cause they have a different lug spacing anyway
i have a set of 3.73's in my townie.........have done a handfull of 3.55 swaps in vics and townies

to make the 98-02 steering box fit you need the 98-02 steering box, the lines, and the coupler (first section of shaft)
cut the coupler apart at the rag joint (i drilled out the large pressed rivets with a 5/16" dril bit left me with two sleeves lol) then use two 5/16" bolts and locking nuts to bolt the 98-02 coupler to the 89 steering shaft and rag joint.........total steering box swap time about 4 hrs......o yeah need to swap over to a 79-91 pitman arm also or use the 96-02 pitman arm and use the 96-02 centerlink
good luck!
scott

[Mercracer]

Now that you say that, I'm second-guessing the WMS on the axle I pulled from the parts wagon. I'll need to measure it, again, to check the Explorer width. If it's too narrow, I'll go with a F-150 axle, since they're roughly 5" wider..

Box track width should be 63.3.............2004 CV is 65.3.........95 F150 should be 64.4.......2002 Explorer should be 61.2.......2000 Explorer is only 58.5........

[Stu]

I want to get an 03 frame and drop my body on it, and use the rack and pinion.

Also, use teh marauder brakes

That would be awesome. I have thought about that too.

[Freshmeat]

I got that backwards.......The Explorer axles are up to 5 inches more narrow than a box Crown Vic. Either way, you can change all of the brackets that you want, and the axle will not fit.

Now that you say that, I'm second-guessing the WMS on the axle I pulled from the parts wagon. I'll need to measure it, again, to check the Explorer width. If it's too narrow, I'll go with a F-150 axle, since they're roughly 5" wider.

The $425 does include shipping. And mounting (I have a friend who works at a dealership). If I'm going to replace tires, why not go ahead with some big ones? I never saw a problem with it and I'm not sure I ever will.

Pass it off as the only cosmetic modification I'll have, if you must... but I want wider tires. It looks extremely funky having a big ass station wagon on 225s. Again, the cost difference isn't great enough for me to consider it as a reason to stick with what looks like donuts.

At no point did I say the 295s would be a necessity- it'd be more so the thing doesn't look like a sharp turn could tip it over.

[Mercracer]

The front tires lost traction- it wasn't from the brakes locking up (wasn't even on them). .

So you had understeer in a 4200+lb car with tires you feel are junk?

What is motivating you to put 295 tires on the back of your wagon?
2----295/50's and 2-------255/50's for $425 including shipping?

I never said you were a complete moron.........I am trying to understand your motivation for even considering oversize tires anytime in the near future when you have so much other stuff to to to your car to get any kind of decent performance out of it.

[Mercracer]

I got that backwards.......The Explorer axles are up to 5 inches more narrow than a box Crown Vic. Either way, you can change all of the brackets that you want, and the axle will not fit.

[grandpaslincoln]

Power steering is good.





I still miss the manual steering on my truck though

[Mercracer]

I'm using the entire Explorer axle. .

I thought that this was discussed in the past between here and CVN and the Explorer axle was wider..........

[Freshmeat]

keep the ps just use a 98-02 cvpi steering gear.....they are in teh cheap and will fit with some mods to the steering linkage and some customising of lines........if u get a used box, request that they save at least part of the pressure and return lines
scott

Okay- so what do I need to do to the steering linkage itself? The current pressure and return lines are already "custom", so I don't think it would be much harder than what I did last time to run the lines.

[Freshmeat]

why spring for all that traction when I won't really need it, yet. .

Big tire does not equate to big traction if your car can not utilize the tire size. You are not driving a Corvette or even a lowered Mustang.

That's what I just said.

What happened to trying to be more patient and at what point did I drop in ranking to "complete fucking moron"?

I understand that suspension has just as much if not more to do with traction than tire size. I also know that it's going to be a few more months before I even bother with all that crap, so let's focus on what I'm doing.

GT-40P and T5 information is what I'm looking for, as well as the power steering stuff, since while I'm replacing it, I want to go with something that will enhance the driving experience. The tire arguments can wait. I know what I want to do with the suspension, thanks to Scott giving me the information I need, but again, it'll be a while before I'm there.

[Freshmeat]

If the front tires lock up before the rear, then it is not because your tires are to small. Just because you changed your parts does not mean that your brakes are adjusted/working as they should. All 4 wheels should lock up at the same time if you are sliding due to ice or snow. If you are sliding in rain with all 4 tires, you need to get a better rated tire. Good 225/70's with an A traction rating are all you need in front, but feel free to spend away.
An Explorer axle will not bolt into your wagon. Traction-Lok is Ford's name for their clutch pack diff. You can not put the Explorer diff in your axle as it is 31 spline.

The front tires lost traction- it wasn't from the brakes locking up (wasn't even on them). You can say, "Spend away" all you want, but I'll be spending a grand total of $425 for a full set of plenty-wide Yokohamas when my last/current tire purchase was $300 for 225/70/15s of some of the crappiest tires on the market.

I'm using the entire Explorer axle. It's "easy"- pick up the Explorer axle, clean it out, swap the bearings (I have friends to help with all that), cut off the spring perches from both axles, and weld the CV perches onto the Explorer axle after making the necessary measurements.

We do it all the time with 4x4 vehicles. I don't NEED the 31 splines, but the gears would be nice and it'd have the entire rotor/caliper assembly for the rear. All for under $300.

[Lincolnmania]

Who is Scott?

keep the ps just use a 98-02 cvpi steering gear.....they are in teh cheap and will fit with some mods to the steering linkage and some customising of lines........if u get a used box, request that they save at least part of the pressure and return lines
scott