loose steering
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Franklin, Georgia
loose steering
the steering in my truck is loose. i thought i had read somewhere that you can tighten this up on the steering box. when i asked my dealer about it he told me it was not ajustable on this year model. it looks like an place for adjustment on the steering box. my truck is a 06. does anyone know and or have instructions on how to set it right and maybe some pictures.
thanks
thanks
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I took about a sixteenth of play out of my 04. Look for the allen head bolt and lock nut on the box.i went clockwise on the adjuster.you're not suppose to do it,but there's a lot of stuff you're not suppose to do,so I did it.
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From: Franklin, Georgia
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you may have allready checked it but there is a u-joint type coupling on the steering shaft you might want to check before doing the steering box. I've seen at least one thread where it was coming apart. 
Reads ***** rules!
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: So.Ca./ N.E. UT
I had already adjusted my steering box, there was a little play due to the 37 x 13.5's I was running, I now have 37 x 12.5 and at only 1 inch width difference it steers alot easier. So after putting about 2,000 miles on the new rubber I still felt some "delay" in the reaction so I crawled under and had my son wiggle the steering wheel while having the front end up off the ground on stands. Didn't take long to find the nut on the pitman arm was WAY loose! Luckily, with the lift and hardware I have from DR the nut was not "allowed" to move any further south. After a quick trip to Harbor Freight to get the right size socket and torquing to 350 my truck feels like it did when it was new.
Just wanted to post this so others might look in the same place.
Just wanted to post this so others might look in the same place.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Middle Tn.
Be very careful. That adjuster is for initial setup. Adjusted too far on the daughters Firebird and the steering locked up 2 blocks from the house. Luckily I was doing the test drive when the box locked up. Bought a new one. Wasn't worth the risk.
Reads ***** rules!
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: So.Ca./ N.E. UT
Here's a post from bismic stating Ford's procedure for steering gear adjustment, very important to follow directions. Also, if you find yourself constantly having to tighten it up, it will only adjust so far due to the the worm gear mesh, it most likely will need replacement with a RedHead.
"There are adjustments that can be made to "tighten things up".
The steering box is accessible from underneath - to a degree and depeding on the model year.
Ford's procedure is to loosen the jamb nut, (nut and set screw combination on top of the box) turn in the set screw till snug(not tight) then back off 1/16th of a turn, and tighten the jamb nut. If you get it too tight it will make the steering difficult.
To access the jamb nut, there is a big radiator hose in the way on '05's and up. You can get very little control over adjustments from underneath.
The box is VERY accessible if you remove the fender liner. The extra 15 minutes to take it off and put it back on was well worth it. The adjustment is right out in the open this way.
It may be easier to adjust older trucks w/ leaf springs from underneath."
"There are adjustments that can be made to "tighten things up".
The steering box is accessible from underneath - to a degree and depeding on the model year.
Ford's procedure is to loosen the jamb nut, (nut and set screw combination on top of the box) turn in the set screw till snug(not tight) then back off 1/16th of a turn, and tighten the jamb nut. If you get it too tight it will make the steering difficult.
To access the jamb nut, there is a big radiator hose in the way on '05's and up. You can get very little control over adjustments from underneath.
The box is VERY accessible if you remove the fender liner. The extra 15 minutes to take it off and put it back on was well worth it. The adjustment is right out in the open this way.
It may be easier to adjust older trucks w/ leaf springs from underneath."