Long time Dodge man just bought first Superduty (2002 F250 4x4 V10). I got it for son's first truck. The steering was a bit crappy so for safety I went out and bought and installed all MOOG steering replacement parts,i.e. ball joints, sway bar links, tie rods, track bar, drag links, etc.. If MOOG made it I replaced it. I then replaced both hub bearings with Timken hubs, Relex shocks, replaced all four rotors and all pads, poly bushings on sway bar, etc... I went to discount and installed the Copper ATP tires in a 285. At this point the only thing I had not replaced was the springs and shackles. Well the truck still felt like it was fighting itself going down the road and the tires rode a bit hard, so to eliminate springs I installed a ProComp 4" kit with MX6 shocks, extended SS brake lines and 16x10 ProComp wheels with 315 BFG. Have a 5Star tuner installed to help calibrate everything. Also installed Hedman headers, cat delete and gibson cat back just FYI doubt it has anything to do with my issue. Okay so the truck should be AWESOME! I've replaced everything to new parts etc.. Now for the issues I have...

The steering wheel when you turn it either direction has a 'rub' sound coming from it, sounds like it is from inside the cab- is there a rubber bushing anywhere that could be worn out?

Bump Steer is HORRIBLE- a speed bump pulls the steering wheel a 1/4 turn to the right. I have a new Monroe steering damper, drop Pittman arm and drop track bar bracket that came with the kit installed by 4WheelParts- what gives?

Sound from front driver side spring area, when spring flexes it gives out a squeak or moan of sorts like it is an old spring. It did this with the stock springs and I assumed it was old wear pads in the stock springs. Hew springs do it too. Could it be either the poly sway bar bushings or the shackles? Anyone else have these noises?

Truck wanders quite a bit. I have 325/70R17 on my Ram 2500 stock and no wander or bumpsteer. This thing with 315/75R16 BFG and 4" lift has bumpsteer over the smallest terrain and wanders all over the place. Alignment is 100% and confirmed with 3 alignment and frame shops.

Not sure if these are normal topics in the Ford world but if anyone could help out a newb get this truck to 100% for my son I would greatly appreciate it. My first car was a 1977 PowerWagon and I wanted him to have a solid truck as well for his first. Just want to get the truck to SOILD and make sure it steers fine and is safe. a 4" lift should not affect a truck this bad, especially one with 100% all new parts.
Thank you all in advance for the help. I am a newb so I do not mean to beat a dead horse if these topics are common in the FoMoCo world. If they are please send me links to the solutions and I will follow as best I can. Last resort is take it to the stealership.

 

No replies. This not the correct section for this?

 

First, did you install a dropped pitman arm to accommodate for the lift?

Second, have you checked the steering gear box for play?

Third, has the truck been aligned?

 

He said he did your 1 and 3 in the post above..read more carefully..i would have to say it is the steering box..since you replaced everything else...i would defiantly recommend a red head steering box to you.
Red-Head Steering Gears

They are well known to be loosy goosy on these superduties

 

Hi TexasTonka, welcome to FTE! After seeing how quickly the cab will fold in a heavy duty pickup I'm not sure I'd ever want to see my son in a lifted truck, but that's a discussion for another day.

This is certainly the right place for it, and if your steering is loose then the steering box is the next thing that should be checked for play. It's a common thing for them to get a bit loose as they age, and the box on my Excursion is about the same way.

As for the wandering this reminds me of a conversation with another FTE member after he rebuilt his entire steering system and still had the problem. Turned out that the caster was out of spec, which was what was causing the truck to wander all over the road. Once he got it to a decent shop they were able to fix it in short order. I would recommend taking it to your local Ford dealer that has experience with these issues.

 

I think a fresh steering gearbox is your next step as well. But I would get another Super Duty owner to take the truck for a spin as well to see if its just normal loosness. Presision instrument the steering is not on that truck. Far as your scrapping noise I just replaced my buddys 2001 super duty's column due to the bearing right behind the steering wheel failed. It is the first I've seen or heard of it happining thou.

 

Hey TexasTonka, do you want to adopt me?

 

Think I figured out the wander issue, or at least reduced it. The genius at Discount Tire were the ones who installed the new ProComp 16x10 wheels and 315 BFG. The 315 BFG is a D load range tire, max fill to 50psi. Because the label on the door called for 70psi, they maxed all 4 of the 315s out to 50psi all way around. Took it down to 35psi rear and 32 front to start out with and that reduced a lot of the wander. The bumpsteer is still there big time. The steering box was replaced with a motorcraft box when I did the initial steering replacement. Alignment was checked by three very good shops including 4WheelParts when they did the lift, a commercial truck shop that does alignment and frame work, and my buddy who runs a NTB that used to be a Ford Service manager. Alignment is 100% within standards.

Alignment is great. Steering is great. Wander is there a little bit but not as much. The bumpsteer is killing me. Buddy at NTB sid something about using MOOG parts instead of Motorcraft, said MOOG was great parts but for some reason only motorcraft ball joints and such seemed to work on the Ford trucks correctly. Any of you experienced that or heard of that?

 

I know with 35" tires I don't need it, but what is the word out on the AGR Rockram system?

Also anyone installed the sulastic shackles front and rear to smooth out the ride any?

 

Welcome to FTE!

A few questions:

1. What setting did you select for the ProComp MX6 "adjustable" shock?

2. Have you considered an adjustable trac bar for the front suspension?

3. Can you take a pic of the front suspension to allow us to see the alignment of the trac bar and drag link (see pic below).

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...02-sc-4x4.html




Comments:

You do NOT need hydraulic steering for your current configuration. A total waste of $$$.

Also, I would not invest the $$$ into the sulastic shackles until I maximized the settings on the ProComp MX6 shocks.

 

I have 10 ply tires on mine and it doesn't bump steer no matter the tire pressure.

As for ball joints, I have all MOOG and no bump steer.

Wish I could help more.

 

Who installed the ball joints? Thinking they maybe installed a little "tight"-basically one of the ball joints is not quite fully pressed in due to dirt or rust and when the nuts were tightened it put some vertical tension to the joints. Can feel a lot like bumpsteer. Jack the truck up and disconnect the steering linkage. You should be able to turn it by hand with little effort. Good luck!

 

1. What setting did you select for the ProComp MX6 "adjustable" shock?
HAve not adjusted, they are on middle setting

2. Have you considered an adjustable trac bar for the front suspension?
ProComp lift came with drop bracket for new MOOG track bar- do I need adjustable too?

3. Can you take a pic of the front suspension to allow us to see the alignment of the trac bar and drag link (see pic below).
PM me your email and I will send pictures- won't let me post here- please post for me?

 

Ball joints were put in at the local Dodge dealership as well as all other MOOG parts for the front. Granted it is not a Ford dealership but the mechanic there gives me great rates because I take my fleet vehicles to him.

Trying to avoid the $1000 from Ford to 'investigate' the issue and replace the balljoints that are brand new.

The bumpsteer I have is when hitting a speed bump, railroad tracks or an incline the steering wheel pulls 1/4 turn to the right. Seems excessive even if balljoint not installed correctly.

 

And to all... A BIG Thank your for the welcome to the FTE. Been so focused on the issues I forgot my manors... Sorry about that and thank you all for your input. With your help I know I can get this figured out.