steering problems

[fordnut71]

my 94 explorer just started with a slopy steering a few days ago. could move the wheel 2in side to side with a total of 4in of movement in the wheel before the tires will turn. so iv done some searching here an found out its my box that has play in it. so some more searching tells me i can use almost any ford box from f150,250 rangers an explorers.(thanks guys for the info)so right now iv got my 97 ranger 2wd sitting in the garage for the winter so i was thinking of pirating it for my explorer.
but my question is the spline at the steeing shaft the same size an count between the 97 ranger an 94 explorer?
would like to know before i go hauling it out to find out it wont fit.

 

[Maniak]

Thats a good question.. I never looked late model for a steering box for our X.

My best guesse (unless someone knows for sure) is to do parts lookups on sites like Autozone.com and see if it gives you the same part# for the steering boxes for both vehicles..

The other way to test it is to just pull the pitman arm off the X and see if it fits on the ranger (or the other way around).. If they do, then they share the same box.

~Mark

 

[north/west,ex]

you can adjust the gears which might help the slop .
the adjustment is on top of the box (screw inside a locknut).
The other part that causes a lot of slop is the slip joint in the steering column just above the coupler to the box,remove it and carefully modify/tighten with a good smack on the flat side .It has to be able to slide to reinstall and for safety so don't tighten too much

 

[fordnut71]

well the spline side im talking ablut is the streeing shaft side not the pitman arm 1. i was comparing the 2 last night an noticed that the ranger has just a straight double d shaft with no rag joint. so that got me thinking is the spline the same count as iv seen gm's where the box will fit but the splines are different size an counts.
so right now i did adjust the stops as i really dont have time to find out it will or wont fit as we have a snow storm rolling in an i drive a highway plow truck an im on call an need the explorer ready to roll at moment notice.