SHIFT Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 I'm interested in a 1977 620 that needs some front end work. The owner says it needs new tie rod bushings and ball joints. He says there is a lot of play in the steering. He has owned it for 20 years and has never done any front end work on it. Mechanically everything else on the truck is sound- recent brakes, low mileage rebuilt motor, springs, shocks, catalytic converter. He has all the receipts. He says it's drivable, but I would prefer to have it fixed before I attempt to drive it home. What would a shop charge to replace bushings and ball joints? (on average) Is it reasonable to assume that the problem is properly diagnosed? What more could potentially be needed in the front end that could add to the repair expense? Quote Link to comment
nukeday Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 I think '77 still has kingpins and drum brakes. Kingpins are NOT ball joints. Competent shops still replace them, and parts are still available. Even if the kingpins need replaced, it sounds like a well maintained rig and worth the investment. I'm sure you'll get more comments on this... Quote Link to comment
Roadracer Al Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 To diagnose the problem, have someone sit in the cab and turn the wheel back and forth. Follow the motion down the "chain of command" -- steering wheel turns the steering shaft, which turns the steering box, which moves the .... yadda yadda. Look for "lost motion" or slop. Adjust or replace anything and everything that has slop. You may discover that there are more things worn than you think. Steering parts are cheap, it's the labor that kills you. The work isn't hard either, but I'd definitely budget for towing it to an alignment shop after you get all the shiny new bits in place. DO NOT drive it after replacing the parts unless you do at least a rudimentary "tight string" alignment -- it's easy to make the steering geometry so wrong that it's got erratic and unpredictable steering. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 The 620 steering box has a 19 to 1 ratio. This means that if ALL the steering components have just 1/4" of play in them there will be at least 4 3/4" of steering wheel play. Take a good look at the idler arm and the steering box itself. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.