Have a 99 with 140K on it. The truck is a Crew Cab 2wd long box. I have owned it since 108K. Truck runs great just have seen over time the steering getting looser in it. I adjusted the nut on the top of the steering box. Has all new steering components up front as of Nov 2004. Has a ford steering damper I added in Dec 2004. I had the truck alligned after I had all the new components put on. The truck runs straight when I let go of the wheel. The tires show no uneven wear on them.
Im just wondering is there a way to test the steering box for excessive play and how much can I adjust the nut on top of the box?

 

gerneraly just feel the slop at the steering wheel. it will have some but i don't really have a spec for you. but i will say this i have been a mechanic for about 10 years and have never replaced nor adjusted a steering gear except one on a heavy duty truck and that was because it was leaking. so chances are pretty slim that the box is your problem. check the front end again to rule that out. then check the steering shast for play. have a buddy move the wheel while you watch the shaft. look closely at it near the steering gear (box) and in the middle where it has a slip joint.

hope that helps
tim

 

Im gonna check all that out today. I was told the early model 99 (what I have) has a different suspension then the latter 99 and up model. This was mainly in the control arms for the 2wd. I dont know if the early 99 has the same front as a 97 model or if it was a bad design and they needed to fix it. I looked at my brothers 01 2WD and my suspension is connected to the frame where his is connected to another bracket attached to the frame. This in the control arms. I will let you know what we find.

 

I had play in my steering box. I put the front end on vehicle stands, then adjusted the "set" screw down until I felt a little pressure on it. I went back and forth with the set screw to make sure I took out the play without putting any preload on it. I secured the lock nut, then turned the steering wheel from stop to stop to make sure there was no binding in the steering box. Then I had a beer.