Steering issue!
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New User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Mesa Az
Steering issue!
First time posting here and have a question about the steering issue with my truck.ffice
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I have an 04 f350 CC with the fx4 and the 6.0l with 215000 miles. The truck wants to wonder all over the road you have to keep turning the wheel to keep the truck in the lane. I have changed all the ball joints replaced the draglink and the steering box (was leaking). When I took it in for the alignment the tech said the thrust angle was out of spec. <O></O>
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If I remember correct he stated that it should be .25 and I was +.32. What do I need to look at to fix this? According to the tech everything else looked good under the front he just did not know what to do to fix the thrust angle.<O></O>
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Any help would be appreciated
ffice" /><O></O><O
></O>I have an 04 f350 CC with the fx4 and the 6.0l with 215000 miles. The truck wants to wonder all over the road you have to keep turning the wheel to keep the truck in the lane. I have changed all the ball joints replaced the draglink and the steering box (was leaking). When I took it in for the alignment the tech said the thrust angle was out of spec. <O
></O><O
> </O>If I remember correct he stated that it should be .25 and I was +.32. What do I need to look at to fix this? According to the tech everything else looked good under the front he just did not know what to do to fix the thrust angle.<O
></O><O
></O>Any help would be appreciated
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
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From: Corvallis, OR
Thrust angle meeds your rear axle is slightly out of square with the vehicle. To fix, you need to loosen the rear u-bolts and fudge one side forward and one side back, depending on which way it's off. Thrust angle won't cause a wandering issue though, it will just make your truck look like it's dog-tracking a little and that small number won't hurt anything. Better to not loosen the u-bolts if possible.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Oklahoma
This place has some really good gear boxes. Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA - Red-Head Steering Gears FAQ
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From: Mesa Az
I do not remember. When I went to have the aligment done the tech found the thrust angle off and said he could not do the aligment. Do I need to take it to a differnent shop?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Corvallis, OR
The spec is -0.25 to +0.25 degrees. Being 0.32 degrees off zero really isn't that much still, that makes the centerline of the rear axle hit the front axle about 3/4" off center, so you would get about that much dog-track. It works out to one side of the rear axle being less than 1/4" too far forward or back.
Has the truck ever been in an accident? My thrust angle was off about that much due to frame damage and one rail being pushed back slightly. They still aligned the front axle to the existing thrust angle and it drove great.
Has the truck ever been in an accident? My thrust angle was off about that much due to frame damage and one rail being pushed back slightly. They still aligned the front axle to the existing thrust angle and it drove great.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Corvallis, OR
I would find out what your castor and toe numbers are, those will have more influence on wandering. Also, check if your new steering gear has slop in it. With key on to unlock steering and engine off, see how much steering wheel movement you get with low force so the tires aren't turning.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2005
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The OP said his drag link was replaced. But what about the tie rod and ends?
In addition, thrust angle in a leaf sprung vehicle could be from one side's springs settled more than the other side. This would cause the lower side of the rear axle to be slightly further back, because as the spring flattens, the shackle moves backward, slightly moving the rear axle backward with it.
Just thinking outside the box.
In addition, thrust angle in a leaf sprung vehicle could be from one side's springs settled more than the other side. This would cause the lower side of the rear axle to be slightly further back, because as the spring flattens, the shackle moves backward, slightly moving the rear axle backward with it.
Just thinking outside the box.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
I've had many ford trucks (60's 70's 80's) and Many of them have had thrust angle issues. When following a ford truck down the road I often look down the side to see if it's dog legging down the road and the drivers side e-brake cable hangin down at the rear axle just waiting to snag a stump or something. Like Cartmanea said above, it shouldn't be a problem to align it. After the work you have done so-far it would be necessary.
Ther was an interesting post here a couple of weeks ago concerning a similar issue. The OP's truck was 4wd and it turned out to be binding at the u-joints on the front drive shafts. From what was posted the only grease zerks on the front of his truck were on these u-joints. After greasing them a couple of times and driving it a few miles the steering issue cleared up. A little off the wall I know but maybe worth a shot.
Ther was an interesting post here a couple of weeks ago concerning a similar issue. The OP's truck was 4wd and it turned out to be binding at the u-joints on the front drive shafts. From what was posted the only grease zerks on the front of his truck were on these u-joints. After greasing them a couple of times and driving it a few miles the steering issue cleared up. A little off the wall I know but maybe worth a shot.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,241
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From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Here's a link to the thread I was talking about. Had to get on the home computer to find it. Mobile version of FTE is not good for searching.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...g-problem.html
The OP didn't say if he had the shift on the fly system or if his hub were locked or whatever.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...g-problem.html
The OP didn't say if he had the shift on the fly system or if his hub were locked or whatever.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Hate to disagree with you, but I do.
I just had a u-joint failure (seized) on my truck and trying to keep it on the road at times was a chore. It felt like the front end would "float" from one side to another. I could feel a pulsation through the steering wheel. At times, when I made a corner, it would not return to center. If I yanked it back it would return to center...sort of. I t would pull to one side and if I pulled it back, it would pull the opposite direction. On occasion it would flop from one side to another driving down the street. I had to come to a complete stop, pop it into neutral, idle the engine up and turn the wheel from lock to lock to get it to straighten out.
I just had a u-joint failure (seized) on my truck and trying to keep it on the road at times was a chore. It felt like the front end would "float" from one side to another. I could feel a pulsation through the steering wheel. At times, when I made a corner, it would not return to center. If I yanked it back it would return to center...sort of. I t would pull to one side and if I pulled it back, it would pull the opposite direction. On occasion it would flop from one side to another driving down the street. I had to come to a complete stop, pop it into neutral, idle the engine up and turn the wheel from lock to lock to get it to straighten out.