power steering and oil leak questions

[Pinhead]

Hello all, thank you for any help you can give me with my mark viii. My power steering is not working. Its full of fluid and when i look inside the resv it looks like fluid is flowing. My right upper ball joint is going out and theres an oil leak behind the power steering pump. i have no idea where the leak is but its streaming from the top of the oil filter mounting adapter. i grew up a chevy guy and this is my first lincoln. Can anyone tell me where i should start?

thanks,
pinhead

 

[DLF]

Hello all, thank you for any help you can give me with my mark viii. My power steering is not working. Its full of fluid and when i look inside the resv it looks like fluid is flowing. My right upper ball joint is going out and theres an oil leak behind the power steering pump. i have no idea where the leak is but its streaming from the top of the oil filter mounting adapter. i grew up a chevy guy and this is my first lincoln. Can anyone tell me where i should start?

thanks,
pinhead

The oil filter adapter leak is a common issue, search for more info.

 

[Pinhead]

thnx i'm beggining to think the oil leak is causing some of my power steering issues. the ball joint isn't helping either.

 

[Big Mike]

A motor oil leak won't make your power steering go bad. A leaking oil filter adaptor gasket isn't a big deal, just keep it topped up, and when you get the time, replace it. Also, a bad balljoint can cause binding, which can cause power assistance to feel weak due to the increased effort of moving the wheels. Binding balljoints means the grease has gone out of them due to the boots being worn out, so now they are dry and cannot move smoothly. Best idea is to change them asap, on Mark VIII's it's best to just buy a new control arm assembly and replace it as a whole. Moog/TRW are the best parts to buy to replace the control arms, get them from rockauto.com if you want them for a good price. You could also get upper control arms from arnott on ebay for $100 a pair shipped, they are good as well. The job isn't that hard if you have a place to work. Make sure to buy an 18mm ratcheting wrench.

 

[Pinhead]

wow thanks i'm waiting on income tax then the work begains.

 

[Big Mike]

No problem, did you buy it recently? Or is it just the issues that are recent? The '95 I just sold needed balljoints and an oil filter adaptor gasket. I told the new owner before he bought it, though. I wouldn't want to have that info sneak up on me soon after purchase.

 

[chris2523]

A motor oil leak won't make your power steering go bad. A leaking oil filter adaptor gasket isn't a big deal, just keep it topped up, and when you get the time, replace it. Also, a bad balljoint can cause binding, which can cause power assistance to feel weak due to the increased effort of moving the wheels. Binding balljoints means the grease has gone out of them due to the boots being worn out, so now they are dry and cannot move smoothly. Best idea is to change them asap, on Mark VIII's it's best to just buy a new control arm assembly and replace it as a whole. Moog/TRW are the best parts to buy to replace the control arms, get them from rockauto.com if you want them for a good price. You could also get upper control arms from arnott on ebay for $100 a pair shipped, they are good as well. The job isn't that hard if you have a place to work. Make sure to buy an 18mm ratcheting wrench.

yup. thats thats about as good as answers get.
but only the upper control arms from arnott, other arnott stuff isn't so great.

 

[Big Mike]

but only the upper control arms from arnott, other arnott stuff isn't so great.

^This.

Also, do not replace a single side, suspension work is meant to be done in pairs. What you do on the left, should be mirrored on the right.

 

[Pinhead]

cool. so far i've swapped out the air ride for conventional springs and shocks and changed the swaybar end links. I got mine back in august 2010 for $100 bucks and a flat top stove. the air ride was out and rather than chase my tail i found a conversion kit at advance auto. with my online coupon i got it for $470.00

anyone know why my head lights would be super dim i get a warning on the dash to check external lights? when i push against the console with my right knee. the a/c control comes on, otherwise its off and the a/c or heater doesn't work.
also my tach is not working, any ideas?

i'm plannin a bumper to bumper service once my taxes come in. then i'm working on air flow in and out. the car has been very dependable other than the oil trail i leave in the apartments parking lot. its titled as a lsc but the vin says its not.