Steering Issues/Upgrades

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Jan 24, 2012 | 08:42 AM

Capt.Schenk

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Joined: Sep 2007

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From: Richmond, Texas

Steering Issues/Upgrades

I tried reading as much as I could regarding pumps and gear boxes. From what I can tell, no one has had any luck with any of the after-market, high-output pumps, and the best gear box seems to be Red Head. Has anything changed? Has anyone found a good after-market pump? I have 370k miles, and I'm looking to change the pump and gear box. I have too much play in my steering.

On the same topic...I changed all of my ball joints about 8 months ago, and my steering was still loose after an alignment. When I told the mechanic who did the alignment that the steering was still loose, he said one of the holes on the axle into which the ball joint mounts (please forgive my lack of vocabulary on this topic) was "wobbled-out", so my ball joint wasn't completely tight, creating a little play. Does this really happen, or is the play in the steering caused by a bad gear box?

Jan 24, 2012 | 10:47 AM

miller_feed

Hook it, I'll pull it.

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 15,037

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From: Grand Lake, La.

Bump.........................

Jan 24, 2012 | 11:08 AM

89LX306

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,815

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From: Houston

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt.Schenk

When I told the mechanic who did the alignment that the steering was still loose, he said one of the holes on the axle into which the ball joint mounts (please forgive my lack of vocabulary on this topic) was "wobbled-out", so my ball joint wasn't completely tight, creating a little play. Does this really happen, or is the play in the steering caused by a bad gear box?

It's not totally far fetched if you had a really bad ball joint that was moving around. However, if it is really "wobbled-out" he shouldn't have installed a new ball joint in it and would be hard pressed to ever get the alignment right or to remain the same. A replacement knuckle would fix that if it is truly bad. You can tell if you have a bad ball joint by jacking up the front ended and grabbing the top and bottom of the tire and trying to rock it back and forth. If you can move it, you have a problem.

I would get someone to help you and have them turn the steering wheel while you are under the truck. Look for looseness in any components. Start at the pitman arm and move down the line. It might at least give you an idea.

Jan 24, 2012 | 11:43 AM

riverrat41

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Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 2,667

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From: Glen Rose,Texas

Just like mentioned above.You and some help can diagnose the play in the steering box.Do not fire the truck up.Have someone turn the wheel and you watch(from up top)how much movement you have before the tires start to move.I have been through all of this several times before I finally fixed my steering issues.I have a reman(all you can get now)ps pump from Ford.It still whines some when turning?

You can tighten the steering box up a little which may buy you a little time if you want.

Jan 24, 2012 | 02:07 PM

Capt.Schenk

Thread Starter

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Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 335

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From: Richmond, Texas

89....it's not the steering knuckle he was saying had the play in it, but rather the hole that the top of the ball joint fits into which is attached to the axle. The knuckle is fine. I've gone through the exercise of lifting the truck and prying on the wheels to check the ball joints, but I haven't done it since I changed all of them. I'll try that.

I've played with the adjustment screw on the gear box, and I've felt a difference, but I can't get it to th point that I don't have any play. I'm really leaning towards a new Red Head.

The pump is really what bugs the hell out of me because I have to push in the clutch and rev-up the motor to turn the steering wheel. I have a high-idle setting on my DP Tuner, and when I set it to high idle, I can turn the wheel with my little finger. But at 600rpm, the wheel won't budge. I was hoping someone had a fix for the pump problem by now.