Steering Gear?? help with drift...
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 360
Likes: 2
From: Greenville, SC
Steering Gear?? help with drift...
I know there are some posts about this, but I haven't dug them all up so I figured I'd ask.
I'm all over the road. I just put new tires on my '05 F250 (michelin LTX A/T). I kept telling myself that it's the taller, spongy tread block causing this, but I think that's crap.
For certain, when there's a change in inertia, it drifts one way or the other. On the interstate, for instance, if I let off the gas (particularly from accelerating), it pulls right and I countersteer to the left. If I accelerate, it drifts left, and I countersteer right. Braking, drift is to the right.
I lifted each side of the front end last night, and there's no play left or right, top or bottom in either front tire. Of course, I'm not putting anywhere close to the amount of force that the weight of the truck puts on the linkages, so I'm not sure I can rule anything out by that test.
I got an alignment done about 4 months ago too.
What are the initial symptons of the steering gear starting to wear??
Thanks for the help!
I'm all over the road. I just put new tires on my '05 F250 (michelin LTX A/T). I kept telling myself that it's the taller, spongy tread block causing this, but I think that's crap.
For certain, when there's a change in inertia, it drifts one way or the other. On the interstate, for instance, if I let off the gas (particularly from accelerating), it pulls right and I countersteer to the left. If I accelerate, it drifts left, and I countersteer right. Braking, drift is to the right.
I lifted each side of the front end last night, and there's no play left or right, top or bottom in either front tire. Of course, I'm not putting anywhere close to the amount of force that the weight of the truck puts on the linkages, so I'm not sure I can rule anything out by that test.
I got an alignment done about 4 months ago too.
What are the initial symptons of the steering gear starting to wear??
Thanks for the help!
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 0
From: knox Tn
Welcome to the club my 03 has had slopy steering sense day one am on 2nd steering gear and is a little better but not perfect. I have heard REDHEAD steering gears are the **** and to try one. They cost a little more but are supposed to be worth it .
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 2
From: Alberta, Canada
I just went through the same thing. Just replaced most everything in the front end that I could see or feel wear, and here's the list.
Red Head steering box
New Ford hubs/wheel bearings
New XRB ball joints
New Ford axle u joints
New Sky Jacker steering stabilizer(truck didn't have one)
New Ford sway bar bushings, front and rear
New front pads and vented pro slot rotors
Alignment
I can still say after this the truck still likes to find the grooves in the road, this might be a tire issue(front tires are at least 4 years old, I just replaced the rears last month). The truck is much more stiff and easy to correct any movement within my lane. The steering box is alot tighter and there is no more movement of the steering wheel back and forth. Will be doing the front tires once a little more cash comes in.
Red Head steering box
New Ford hubs/wheel bearings
New XRB ball joints
New Ford axle u joints
New Sky Jacker steering stabilizer(truck didn't have one)
New Ford sway bar bushings, front and rear
New front pads and vented pro slot rotors
Alignment
I can still say after this the truck still likes to find the grooves in the road, this might be a tire issue(front tires are at least 4 years old, I just replaced the rears last month). The truck is much more stiff and easy to correct any movement within my lane. The steering box is alot tighter and there is no more movement of the steering wheel back and forth. Will be doing the front tires once a little more cash comes in.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 2
From: Alberta, Canada
Not that I know of. I've only had the truck a year and a half. When I got the truck the fronts were like new and the rears were almost bald. Pretty sure the bald ones used to be on the front and the previous owners rotated them.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,074
Likes: 247
From: Saratoga Springs,UT
I think you guys need to check your u-joints on the front axels
Its easy just turn truck to right and check the to the left then check
leave it in 2wd dont lock the hubs in when its turned grab the axel and try to spin it it should spin freely both side the check the other way
If the bearings are bad in the u-joint the axel wont spin or at least not smoothly
and it has to be turned fulley to left and right this is the point where the u-joints do there job when turning
bad u-joints will also cause the steering wheel to not want to return to center after a turn
If it pulls one way and then another without no rhime or reason suspect bad u-joints
Its easy just turn truck to right and check the to the left then check
leave it in 2wd dont lock the hubs in when its turned grab the axel and try to spin it it should spin freely both side the check the other way
If the bearings are bad in the u-joint the axel wont spin or at least not smoothly
and it has to be turned fulley to left and right this is the point where the u-joints do there job when turning
bad u-joints will also cause the steering wheel to not want to return to center after a turn
If it pulls one way and then another without no rhime or reason suspect bad u-joints
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 2
From: Alberta, Canada
I just did the joints, so that's not my problem. Although my front end will be stiff for a little while.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 16
From: Ouray, CO
Try changing the air pressure too.
I have Mich LTX M/S and I find higher air pressure helps
but you might already have more than me?
I find 60 to 65 both front & rear seems to be the best for me.
I have Mich LTX M/S and I find higher air pressure helps
but you might already have more than me?
I find 60 to 65 both front & rear seems to be the best for me.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
I too have an '05 with 59,000 miles on the truck. I changed tires from original Pirellis tires to Michelin LTX-M/S tires at 48,000 miles. Since than I also experience a slight drift both left and right which makes for an uncomfortable ride. I keep 80 lbs air in all tires and have tried lowering air pressure to correct steering drift with no change. Rotating tires made no difference. After 10,000 miles the tires show no uneven ware. The truck is stock except for Bilstein shocks and an A.R.E. cap; CC, SRW, Short bed, Lariat....Mike, Long Island, NY.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 12
From: BC Canada
Way to much tire pressure for running empty. Empty I run 65 psi front, 62 psi rear, hauling trailer or loading truck, run 70. These trucks with solid front axle will follow the ruts in the road. Read your door sticker for loaded pressures.
Things to make sure they are working in highest priority: tire pressure, steering stabilizer, ball joints, bushings in track bar.
Things to make sure they are working in highest priority: tire pressure, steering stabilizer, ball joints, bushings in track bar.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 2
From: Northern Utah
I'm not the only one who thinks your problem is related to the tires
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