That was a lot of work for nothing. I read that these vans don't have the best steering feel or response so I wasn't expecting much. We had a '77 E250 way back when which steered like a truck but was perfectly acceptable. Classier steering wheel with cruise controls I could figure out in the dark, too. The steering in this '93 feels like there's simultaneously slop and binding in the box. I thought about insufficient toe-in but my experience with other RWD vehicles with insufficient toe-in is keeping it straight gets more challenging and downright scary with speed. Not the case here. It's the same challenge to keep it going straight at 25 mph as 65 mph and it's easy to hold a turn at speed.

I replaced the ball joints after reading about steering issues and shaking the front wheels. The upper port side and lower starboard side joints were floppy and had vertical play. New greaseable XRF joints tightened things up considerably at the knuckle but didn't improve steering one bit. Tie rods were replaced in June. I guess that leaves the box and coupling.

Next is flushing the power steering fluid for kicks. If that doesn't do it, it looks like the same box is used across the E- and F- lines through '96. Is there a way to static test this box or a used replacement? Should I skip the pick-n-pull and get a reman? Atsco vs Cardone - is one less, uhh... Chinese?

Sixto
'93 E150 Chateau 5.8 185K miles

 

the box on my 2008 is sturdy surviving an out of balance problem, self healing.

the suspension needs Bilstein rear shocks with a Hellwig anti roll bar.

suspension stops rear wheel steeering, plants all 4 ON THE ROAD