Hello my name is Floyd from southern Illinois I just found this forum and I am sure I will spend many hours on here reading and asking what some may consider dumb questions.


My first question is this, my 95 ford f150 4x4 is in need of a new steering gear box, I am not 100% sure that is my problem. Not being 100% sure I am just going to replace ever thing I have to take off to get the job done. I will also be replacing the passenger side spring tower as I already replaced the driver side.


All 4 front shocks will get changed and adding 1" levelers. My question is what all should I replace ? The truck has 187000 on it which means most all front end parts has the mile also. I have changed brakes a bearing, a shock tower, a shock and u-joint on drivers side , but nothing else, so things are probably wore slap out.


I am a motor builder, nothing about a motor I cant fix, but the rest I haven't done to much. For sure not 4x4 front ends. I have a 84-91-95- and 97 F150 but only the 95 is 4x4.


I have no doubt of being able to do the work, just need advice on the things I should look for and change out under the front end. Wont be doing any of it till spring, so just going to buy up the parts.


Also if was to buy a rack and pinion does that include the steering gear ?


Anyone know where a guy can get a deal on shocks ? My 95 takes 8 total and the guy and Napa quoted me at $700+

 

Having been thru the front end of my 94 a few times, I would recommend replacing all of the following at once - could be done in a weekend:

Springs
Shocks
Wheel bearings/seals
Spindle bearings/seals
Ball joints
Tie rods
Radius arm brackets/bushings
TTB pivot bushings
Axle shaft u joints
Front driveshaft u joints
Steering box
Any brake components you need - rotors/pads/hoses
Sway bar/link bushings.

Moog brand for springs/tierods/ball joints/bushings/u joints
Timken brand for bearings
National brand for seals
If you can afford it get a redhead steering gear.

Can get almost all of it at rockauto.com and save a ton of $$$. Search online for 5% off coupons they are everywhere. I replaced all 6 of my shocks with KYB original ride quality and it cost less than $200 for all of them.

 

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure your truck doesn't have rack-and-pinion steering.

If you really want to replace everything now to avoid maybe having to work on it later, then I think BLDTruth gave you a good list. But it's not a guarantee that all of that needs replacing, so you could probably save yourself some money if you evaluated parts and only replaced what you needed to. But there is some risk then that you will need to go back into it, so you need to make that call.

I don't think your truck would have come with 8 shocks new. Dual front shocks were probably an option, but I'd think it only had 1 rear shock per side. And going back to single front shocks isn't out of the question either (that was standard on your truck).

 

Thanks for the information guys. Wasn't sure on the rack and pinion, but it for sure has 8 shocks, and were on there when I bought it. I bought it from a farmer and he bought it new, so probably ordered it that way because the spring towers are made to hold duel shocks and came factory installed cause when I changed the drivers side I had to cut the rivets off then beat the tower off. I ordered new ones from bronco graveyard and they are heavy duty. The old ones were paper thin .... lol

 

My truck has the 4 shocks up front but only 2 in fhe rear. 4 shocks in the rear is definitely not a factory option.

 

Great info. to know, I will have to look over the rear and see what rigging has been done. Hope I can just cut away what ever rig job that has been done and go to the regular set up. If it don't need 4 in the rear I sure ain't buying 4

 

You don't NEED 4 shocks in the front either. Yes it was a factory option, and yes it has some advantages. But most F-150s only had single shocks at all 4 corners. I'm not sure if one of the 2 front shock locations on your truck is exactly the same as the single location that was standard. But I am sure you can find single shocks that will meet most needs.

 

The shocks in front of the steering knuckle are added for the quad shock option.