On my recently purchased 84 T-Type, I've had issues with the steering since the day I got it.
When I got the car, the steering was very 'squirrelly' and hard to control even at speeds under 40mph.
The previous owner had recently installed all new ball joints and tie rods. First thing I did was get a front end alignment. All settings were out of spec. The alignment helped a bit but steering still really sucked. The alignment guy said it needed a new steering box.
I replaced the entire steering column with a rebuilt unit (to fix a number of other problems, not necessarily related to this issue.) I also suspected the rag joint might be toast, so I got a new intermediate shaft from Mike's Montes that does not use the rag joint anymore, and I had my steering box rebuilt. (did not replace, but sent my box off for rebuild, got the same box back)
In my first test drive around the block, it seemed like the steering was better. Not sure that it was perfect, as it still wasn't as good as my 2008 daily driver, but maybe it never will be considering its 30+ years old. However when I drove the car again yesterday one of the original problems was back that existed before any of the work was done.... the steering wheel won't return to center after turning the wheel. After all this work, the squirrelliness is mostly gone, but the wheel won't recenter.
I can't explain why I didn't notice the steering not centering on the first test around the block. Was it still there and I just didn't notice because I was more concentrating on whether or not it was going to be squirrelly or not??? Don't know. But anyway.... with the car aligned, and a steering box rebuilt, what could would still be causing the steering wheel not to recenter? Otherwise, I think the steering feels OK. The level of effort is OK, No unusual noises, turns to lock is the same going right and left. The only other thing that doesn't seem quite right is when I turn the wheel all the way to lock, to the left, it pulls the front end of the car down. I don't see this condition when turning to the right lock. Unrelated problem?
When I got the car, the steering was very 'squirrelly' and hard to control even at speeds under 40mph.
The previous owner had recently installed all new ball joints and tie rods. First thing I did was get a front end alignment. All settings were out of spec. The alignment helped a bit but steering still really sucked. The alignment guy said it needed a new steering box.
I replaced the entire steering column with a rebuilt unit (to fix a number of other problems, not necessarily related to this issue.) I also suspected the rag joint might be toast, so I got a new intermediate shaft from Mike's Montes that does not use the rag joint anymore, and I had my steering box rebuilt. (did not replace, but sent my box off for rebuild, got the same box back)
In my first test drive around the block, it seemed like the steering was better. Not sure that it was perfect, as it still wasn't as good as my 2008 daily driver, but maybe it never will be considering its 30+ years old. However when I drove the car again yesterday one of the original problems was back that existed before any of the work was done.... the steering wheel won't return to center after turning the wheel. After all this work, the squirrelliness is mostly gone, but the wheel won't recenter.
I can't explain why I didn't notice the steering not centering on the first test around the block. Was it still there and I just didn't notice because I was more concentrating on whether or not it was going to be squirrelly or not??? Don't know. But anyway.... with the car aligned, and a steering box rebuilt, what could would still be causing the steering wheel not to recenter? Otherwise, I think the steering feels OK. The level of effort is OK, No unusual noises, turns to lock is the same going right and left. The only other thing that doesn't seem quite right is when I turn the wheel all the way to lock, to the left, it pulls the front end of the car down. I don't see this condition when turning to the right lock. Unrelated problem?