Steering linkage question
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Likes: 18
From: mid-nowhere AZ desert
Steering linkage question
I have a 97 F350 CC 4X4, single rear wheel truck. Dana 60 front axle.
I have started getting a "death wobble" in the steering while I am pulling a heavy load.
As I tried to diagnose the problem, I see that the entire steering linkage rotates in a twisting motion when I move the steering wheel back and forth while the truck is sitting still. This motion allows the wheels to move slightly without the pitman arm moving, if I grab the linkage and rotate it by hand.
I have lifted each wheel and checked independently for tie rod and center link slop, but see none, however the joints do move freely.
Is there a way to stop this motion? Or if I replace the components with new will it resolve the issue/
Seems to me that the components are designed to rotate, so what could be going on?
There is no other slop anywhere that I can detect.
Any ideas?
I have started getting a "death wobble" in the steering while I am pulling a heavy load.
As I tried to diagnose the problem, I see that the entire steering linkage rotates in a twisting motion when I move the steering wheel back and forth while the truck is sitting still. This motion allows the wheels to move slightly without the pitman arm moving, if I grab the linkage and rotate it by hand.
I have lifted each wheel and checked independently for tie rod and center link slop, but see none, however the joints do move freely.
Is there a way to stop this motion? Or if I replace the components with new will it resolve the issue/
Seems to me that the components are designed to rotate, so what could be going on?
There is no other slop anywhere that I can detect.
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Likes: 18
From: mid-nowhere AZ desert
Thought I would check back in and let you know what I found out about my "death wobble."
As I said in the first post, the steering linkage had NO slop side to side, the steering box was tight, but when I had someone move the wheel while I was underneath looking at the steering parts, the whole assembly would rotate before the wheels would move. Then as I grabbed the tie rod / center link assembly and rotate it by hand, the pitman arm would move (along with the steering wheel) as the tires stayed put.
I decided to buy new tie rod, center link, and both ends and replace them hoping it would fix the problem.
I ordered Moog parts (surprisingly the least expensive I could find was on Amazon - even cheaper than ebay or anyone else!).
When the parts arrived, I realized that the problem I was having must have been common, and Moog had developed a fix on the new parts.
On the main Tie rod, the one the center link attaches to, they now send it out with a solid bushing instead of a rubber boot at the ball and socket joint. This solid bush (kind of the firmness of a sway bar bushing) prevents the rotation problem. The rest of the sockets have the standard boot.
Problem solved, steering is fantastic!
Thought I would post this in case someone in the future does a search for a solution of the same problem.
As I said in the first post, the steering linkage had NO slop side to side, the steering box was tight, but when I had someone move the wheel while I was underneath looking at the steering parts, the whole assembly would rotate before the wheels would move. Then as I grabbed the tie rod / center link assembly and rotate it by hand, the pitman arm would move (along with the steering wheel) as the tires stayed put.
I decided to buy new tie rod, center link, and both ends and replace them hoping it would fix the problem.
I ordered Moog parts (surprisingly the least expensive I could find was on Amazon - even cheaper than ebay or anyone else!).
When the parts arrived, I realized that the problem I was having must have been common, and Moog had developed a fix on the new parts.
On the main Tie rod, the one the center link attaches to, they now send it out with a solid bushing instead of a rubber boot at the ball and socket joint. This solid bush (kind of the firmness of a sway bar bushing) prevents the rotation problem. The rest of the sockets have the standard boot.
Problem solved, steering is fantastic!
Thought I would post this in case someone in the future does a search for a solution of the same problem.
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