Light steering wheel
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
Light steering wheel
I have an 03 250 with the 7.3. I replaced my gear box a couple years ago for an OEM replacement because the stock one was bad. The steering is very loose. It's been that way since I put it in but just have been dealing with it. There is no slop at all. But when I hit a bump it's like my front end is in the air and the steering wheel gets really light. So every bump i hit I have to correct my steering. My front end is aligned. Tires are good. Shocks I think are good. They are bilstien 5150s. The drag link and both tie rods are newer. Everything is tight. Steering damper is new.
What can I do to get it to drive straighter and have a little more tension in the system? I know I can turn that little screw on the gearbox but I don't know if that will fix my issue.
Any thoughts, ideas, advise would be great.
What can I do to get it to drive straighter and have a little more tension in the system? I know I can turn that little screw on the gearbox but I don't know if that will fix my issue.
Any thoughts, ideas, advise would be great.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: NW Burbs of Illinois
I put the new one on there hoping that was the issue but nothing changed with the new one.
I'm out of ideas but it's been a year so I'm kinda willing to revisit the issue again ha.
I'm out of ideas but it's been a year so I'm kinda willing to revisit the issue again ha.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
Does it have good feel when sitting still or slowly moving or is it easy to turn when stopped? If it's been like that since the box went on, then I would venture to say it's a problem with the box...but a few more details might help figure it out.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: NW Burbs of Illinois
It was kinda light before I put the box on and I had some monkeys that tried fixing it and all they did was crank down the screw on the box which destroyed the box. So I put the new one in. If I am on the highway for example and on a long turn it feels fine when I hit bumps. It's just when I am going straight that it's squirrly. Sitting still it turns fine. It's labored of course but turns fine.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
Important detail. That means it's not just related to the NEW box but something else. Looks like you have a lift? How is it lifted? what was done to correct the track bar? If it was dropped, does it have a dropped pitman arm? Is it the stock style steering stablizer?
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
I have a 1" shackle and 2.5" add on spring pack. The front packs are 2 years old. I'm only running 285 tires on stock wheels. No drop pitman arm but I got the adjustable track bar. They are both at the same angle. It's a newer but OEM replacement stabilizer.
Return to center is also very soft. It kinda wanders
Return to center is also very soft. It kinda wanders
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Ohio
This.
There is very little caster adjustment on a Superduty. Most shops will not put shims in during an alignment. Shackles should increase caster on a SD, but the spring packs should have built in shims, and could be on wrong. I would start by finding out the caster setting. If you go to shop tell them you want numbers, not just "It's OK". I haven't looked to see if there is good way to check it yourself on these trucks.
There is also a TSB on lower balljoints getting stiff, but light steering should rule this out.
Post 13 & 14 beat me to it. I need to learn to type faster.
There is very little caster adjustment on a Superduty. Most shops will not put shims in during an alignment. Shackles should increase caster on a SD, but the spring packs should have built in shims, and could be on wrong. I would start by finding out the caster setting. If you go to shop tell them you want numbers, not just "It's OK". I haven't looked to see if there is good way to check it yourself on these trucks.
There is also a TSB on lower balljoints getting stiff, but light steering should rule this out.
Post 13 & 14 beat me to it. I need to learn to type faster.