Hi folks,

I recently replaced my drag link which was loose and clunking around. I noticed my steering wheel is pointed at 11 while driving straight now. I'm not sure if it was like that before, the vehicle was new to me when I did most of the initial work.

It looks to me like I should be able to just adjust the drag link turnbuckle to change the steering wheel position but I'm not sure. Is that okay to do?

Thanks in advance,
-Brad

 

Yes, go ahead and adjust the turnbuckle. Did it get rid of any steering wander?

 

That's all the encouragement I needed. I ran out and adjusted it real quick. One turn "shorter", which may have actually been too much. I did three turns before retightening and checked the steering wheel, it had way over corrected. So one turn is all I did.

If the one turn was too much, I'll move it back half a turn. I guess I was pretty close in my original replacement measurements.

I think it helped the wander quite a bit, mostly because it made my steering a lot more responsive and accurate. Now slight corrections are adequate at highway speeds. The damn thing is still a chore to drive but its worth it to have the biggest thing on the road and it keeps me awake!

The improvement was most noticeable at low speeds. I didn't realize how loose the steering was. After the drag link R&R, my steering was much improved. I just wanted the clunk to go away. The improved steering/wander was just a welcome side benefit.

Thanks!

 

You should get an alignment. Counting turns and measuring is good enough to drive it to the alignment shop.

 

Great write up on how to center the steering wheel!

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...with-pics.html

 

An alignment is needed now, if you center the steering wheel it still will be out of alignment.

 

UPDATE. One rotation was TOO much. My wheel was now pointing at 1 o'clock.

Half a turn back. I'll see if that does it. Correcting this wheel is like a Newton-Raphson root solver...for you nerds out there.

Can you educate me? I've heard this before but don't understand it. I understand the relationship between the steering column, pitman arm, draglink, and steering knuckle. But I do not see how adjusting that connection can mess up the camber or toe. The tie-rod sure...but the drag link? What am I missing?

Cheers,
-B

 

Agreed. Alignment will not be affected by adjusting the drag link sleeve.

I'll be replacing mine soon as well.

 

Ditto. Been there done that. Your good to go. Alignment wouldn't hurt, but not necessary.