Steering Gear Box Adjustment
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 0
From: Dustbowl, NV
Lex2002, make sure you check the tire pressures... I had new tires put on and the installer put the pressures at 65 all around instead of the 50-55 that I had requested (and is on the door jamb). Some times it's the little things...
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,319
Likes: 89
Thanks for your feedback. I do check the pressure often. Keep the front at 55-60, rears at 70. I'm gonna experiment with pressures a little and see if it has any effect.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 0
From: Dustbowl, NV
It really makes a huge difference on my Ex. After I found the 'sweet spots' while unloaded and then a 'usual' load, I still had a little dartiness on flat roads that the box adjustment took care of. Good luck! 
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,806
Likes: 2,604
From: The Shenandoah Valley
I tried adjusting mine many times, had poor luck, 78-79 steering parts helped a bunch ….. one word fixed it …. REDHEAD.
Truck has always run 31-10.50x15s, no heavy off roading, just over 100,000 road miles
Truck has always run 31-10.50x15s, no heavy off roading, just over 100,000 road miles
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: west coast canadafishing
steering box
All the suggesting are very good but when you go to loosen the 5/8 nut make sure you have the Allen key inserted in the hole & hold it tight has you loosen the nut. Then keep the box end wrench on the nut & then tighten the allen shaft just a little bit clock wise. Then make sure to hold the allen shaft with the allen key in that position & then tighten the nut . This way you will not lose the place you started from. If you need to go further with you adjustment ,just repeat what you have done before. Always check the steering wheel for any slop after doing each adjustment before going for more adjustment. Hope this makes sense. When your checking the sloop just move the wheel enough that is sloppy You will feel that little space. Thats what you want to take away.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 571
Likes: 12
I am going to do this Friday when adding my front level kit. I have probably 1" to 2" of play with my steering. Only 97k miles. Hopefully this helps. Though should I maybe replace the tie rods first before going this route? Also should I replace all 4 up front or just the outers?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,351
Likes: 5,945
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
If you are adjusting the steering box via the bolt on the top, start looking for a replacement. There are plenty out there to choose from now instead of being told RedHead is the only good option. It isn't...
Personally, after trying to be a customer of RedHead, I refuse to send them any of my money.
Other choices:
1. Blue-Top Steering Gears - https://www.bluetopsteeringgears.com/apps/webstore/
2. West Texas Offroad - https://westtexasoffroad.wixsite.com/wtor
3. Local rebuilder
Personally, after trying to be a customer of RedHead, I refuse to send them any of my money.
Other choices:
1. Blue-Top Steering Gears - https://www.bluetopsteeringgears.com/apps/webstore/
2. West Texas Offroad - https://westtexasoffroad.wixsite.com/wtor
3. Local rebuilder
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: west coast canadafishing
steering box
In the box there is a steel bushing that wears out so now you have side play. . I had a local steering box builder machine me a stainless steel bushing [much harder material] & had them remove the old bushing & pressed in the new SS one. Now now more wear so no side play .
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 833
Likes: 4
I had installed x code springs to take up the weight of my ARB bumper/winch, and it made the truck sit level, which in-turn, made the steering slop worse and it rode like **** with weight. I added F350 blocks in the rear to compensate and get it back on a tilt, as it should be. When I sat the rear of the truck to match the front height (meaning match the factory height of 2" or so higher than the front) my steering problems all but went away.
I am going to do this Friday when adding my front level kit. I have probably 1" to 2" of play with my steering. Only 97k miles. Hopefully this helps. Though should I maybe replace the tie rods first before going this route? Also should I replace all 4 up front or just the outers?
Last edited by beef tits; Dec 4, 2018 at 11:20 AM. Reason: clarity
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 571
Likes: 12
Do you have a "leveling kit"? If your truck rides even slightly lower in the rear than the front, it will make the steering slop way more noticeable, especially with a load. I tried the rod adjustment on mine and it made no difference.
I had installed x code springs to take up the weight of my ARB bumper/winch, and it made the truck sit level, which in-turn, made the steering slop worse and it rode like **** with weight. I added F350 blocks in the rear to compensate and get it back on a tilt, as it should be. When I sat the rear of the truck to match the front height (meaning match the factory height of 2" or so higher than the front) my steering problems all but went away.
See above. A leveling kit effectively transfers vehicle weight to the rear axle, with load in the bed it is much more so. This will make any steering issues way worse. Trucks that ride level with no load in the bed aren't good for much other than parking at the mall anyway
I had installed x code springs to take up the weight of my ARB bumper/winch, and it made the truck sit level, which in-turn, made the steering slop worse and it rode like **** with weight. I added F350 blocks in the rear to compensate and get it back on a tilt, as it should be. When I sat the rear of the truck to match the front height (meaning match the factory height of 2" or so higher than the front) my steering problems all but went away.
See above. A leveling kit effectively transfers vehicle weight to the rear axle, with load in the bed it is much more so. This will make any steering issues way worse. Trucks that ride level with no load in the bed aren't good for much other than parking at the mall anyway
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
Do you have a "leveling kit"? If your truck rides even slightly lower in the rear than the front, it will make the steering slop way more noticeable, especially with a load. I tried the rod adjustment on mine and it made no difference.
I had installed x code springs to take up the weight of my ARB bumper/winch, and it made the truck sit level, which in-turn, made the steering slop worse and it rode like **** with weight. I added F350 blocks in the rear to compensate and get it back on a tilt, as it should be. When I sat the rear of the truck to match the front height (meaning match the factory height of 2" or so higher than the front) my steering problems all but went away.
See above. A leveling kit effectively transfers vehicle weight to the rear axle, with load in the bed it is much more so. This will make any steering issues way worse. Trucks that ride level with no load in the bed aren't good for much other than parking at the mall anyway
I had installed x code springs to take up the weight of my ARB bumper/winch, and it made the truck sit level, which in-turn, made the steering slop worse and it rode like **** with weight. I added F350 blocks in the rear to compensate and get it back on a tilt, as it should be. When I sat the rear of the truck to match the front height (meaning match the factory height of 2" or so higher than the front) my steering problems all but went away.
See above. A leveling kit effectively transfers vehicle weight to the rear axle, with load in the bed it is much more so. This will make any steering issues way worse. Trucks that ride level with no load in the bed aren't good for much other than parking at the mall anyway
changing the front to rear rake changes your caster angle and while the weight bias changes the handeling some it wouldn’t be as noticeable as the caster change, the added rear weight bias would change your understeer/overstreer.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 833
Likes: 4
Sounds like your caster settings are or were less then ideal. Worn steering components will certainly cause wandering and feel worse with lower caster settings then with higher caster settings.
changing the front to rear rake changes your caster angle and while the weight bias changes the handeling some it wouldn’t be as noticeable as the caster change, the added rear weight bias would change your understeer/overstreer.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
because alignment is 3 diffrent settings you can easily make it handle horrible and still be in “spec” its all about defing your desired handeling traits and then compromising on each. accordingly. most shops do not do this, they are “ set the toe and collect the dough” mentality
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 628
Likes: 10
From: Florence
Replacing my steering box at 300k miles fixed about 80 % of my play, i had already replaced all my suspension components. I am going to try this procedure and see if i can get the other 20 % out. Thanks for the information guys!
Rick
Rick
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
you would be better off finding the worn out component and replace it to cure your other 20% of slop.