Roadmaster Steering... Pretty much all of it is now new

[Fast_Ed]

Roadmaster got some new parts this weekend:
Passenger side ball joints (drivers done within the last month)
Center link
inner/outer tie rod ends both sides
steering damper
9C1 steering box
new power steering lines

I hadn't planned on this job being so extensive, but the old power steering lines developed a decent leak soon after the other steering parts came in. Given that most of the steering box would be disconnected, this was a prime opportunity to install a 9c1 steering box. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a dial-type inch-pound torque wrench in time, so I did not get a chance to adjust the 9c1 box before installation.

I was quite surprised when I tried to turn the steering wheel after installation (engine not running)... Even with the front in the air, no wheels on the car, it was much heavier...

With the car running, the difference is noticeable, but definately an improvement. Post alignment, the car tracks very well, and the slop seems to have been minimized. Some of this is probably the all-new parts, the rest would be from the quicker ration 9c1 box. Overall, I"m quite pleased with the result. My wife was pleasantly surprised as well. So the Wife Acceptance Factor is good on this mod as well....

Now she's asking me to get that sweet loud exhaust installed already.. I cant wait!

[kevm14]

May still be worth doing the adjustment. I wish I knew what happened to my inch-pound torque wrench. Disappeared years ago.

What did you do with the variable effort thingy?

Very interested to see/hear how it drives with quick ratio and heavier effort.

Gears and a decent exhaust would definitely add to the hot rod wagon situation (if only a tune was cheaper). These are the kinds of things I was hoping you'd eventually do, and here we are. So that's fun.

[Fast_Ed]

I bought the pressure line that had fittings for variable effort. So that's still as intact as it was. Not sure if it actually did anything before, still not sure if it does now. But it doesn't leak.

I'm definitely interested in the exhaust. I doubt I will get to gears anytime soon. But electric fans are likely. I still think I would want to do an aftermarket fan controller. More adjustability, simpler, and cheaper.

[kevm14]

More adjustability, simpler, and cheaper.

I'll grant you adjustability because you have an OBD-II car. But simpler and cheaper? Remind me again why that would be. Yes, you'd have to fix your relay box. Was it the cost of the harness (does Innovative Wiring still exist?)? Your PCM already knows about fans (both fans) and your car has provisions to drive two fans, plus A/C control and all that. Aftermarket controller will be based solely on coolant temp. And unless you find a way to get an actual temp sensor that touches coolant, you have to jam a probe into your radiator fins. Ask me how I know.

Now, does mine work? Actually yeah, the last controller I bought seems to work alright. Temp control is somewhat inconsistent, and all it can do is turn both on. No individual control. Again, your PCM not only knows about dual fans, but is influenced by A/C condenser pressure AND vehicle speed. So when my car is driving 75mph down the highway with the A/C compressor cycling, BOTH fans are coming on and going off with the compressor. OEM setup disables the fans above a certain speed. You'd lose all that, and end up with a less reliable solution at the same time.

[Adam]

Did you install the 9C1 sway bars yet?

[kevm14]

How did the ball joint separator work??