Wandering?
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
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From: Lee's Summit MO
Wandering?
I've been driving my '89 F-150 4x4 lately, and have noticed that it likes to wander quite a bit. One day it will veer to the left and the next to the right. I had new tires installed awhile back, and it didn't solve the problem. The alignment is okay, and ball joints are okay. I have ruled out everything but steering.
Any suggestions on what to look for?
Any suggestions on what to look for?
New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 24
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Wandering?
What kind of tires did you install. I once had some passenger tires installed, instead of LT's and I had that wandering problem. The salesman who sold me the tires (actually he was the manager and is no longer there) never told me that they were passenger car tires. He just made it sound like a good deal.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
Wandering?
That truck has 31x10.50 Trailmark AT's
I do know what your talking about, I had LT's on my 2wd '93 F150, and went back to P's with Extra Load. Made a difference in it instantly.
My friend recommended tightening the adjusting screw on the gearbox. Anybody done this?
I do know what your talking about, I had LT's on my 2wd '93 F150, and went back to P's with Extra Load. Made a difference in it instantly.
My friend recommended tightening the adjusting screw on the gearbox. Anybody done this?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Newport News USA
Wandering?
YES!!! I just tightened mine up on my '89 for the first time on stock gearbox, and it's a world of difference. I'm having to relearn how to drive a straight line in this truck. Don't have to move my hand as much now!!! 
Loosen lock nut, then tighten the adj. screw til it makes contact. Then back off about 1/4 - 1/2 turn. Retighten lock nut (while holding adj. screw) and you're done.
This setting was to my liking. adjust to suit your preference. I like mine really responsive.
Loosen lock nut, then tighten the adj. screw til it makes contact. Then back off about 1/4 - 1/2 turn. Retighten lock nut (while holding adj. screw) and you're done.
This setting was to my liking. adjust to suit your preference. I like mine really responsive.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 56
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From: Northern Virginia
Wandering?
The "wandering"/looseness in my steering was caused by a worn-out steering shaft(between the box and the upper part of the column). Costs just over $100 from Ford, and took me about 15 minutes to replace. The difference was amazing.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
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From: Lee's Summit MO
Wandering?
On the adjusting nut. I finally got it loose, with the help of some PB blaster, and tightened the screw as tight as I could get it with my hand and the shortest screwdriver i could get
. '
Is hand tight enough? I'm not sure if it's at contact or not, because I couldn't get it any tighter, and backed it down 1/4 of a turn and locked the nut down.
. 'Is hand tight enough? I'm not sure if it's at contact or not, because I couldn't get it any tighter, and backed it down 1/4 of a turn and locked the nut down.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32
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From: Salt Lake City
Wandering?
Phobia16V, what wore out on the steering shaft? I guess the rubber must have cracked because I can't see anything else that could go wrong.
I have heard that it is common for the steering gear to wear out after 90-100K. Many steering gears have two adjustments: shaft thrust + the gear engagement. My 94 only has the single adjustment, which I have called "gear engagement". An 89 may be different.
I have heard that it is common for the steering gear to wear out after 90-100K. Many steering gears have two adjustments: shaft thrust + the gear engagement. My 94 only has the single adjustment, which I have called "gear engagement". An 89 may be different.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 56
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From: Northern Virginia
Wandering?
If you look at the illustration here, it's part #1. The illustration doesn't really give you a proper idea of what it looks like.
Basically, you have a collapsable shaft that attaches the upper part of the steering column to the steering box. It's collapsable in the sense that it has one part of the shaft that fits inside of the other(so it can collapse in the event of an accident and avoid putting the steering wheel through your chest). At that point in the shaft, it's otherwise rounded shape is flattened on either side(this is shown in the illustration, right at the upper arrow indicating part #1). That's where mine wore out. After years and years of turning against each other, the edges of the flat sides on the inner shaft were worn down, and the outer part of the shaft was opened up. This allowed for quite a bit of play between the wheel and the box, so driver input was not being translated very well to the steering box, and hence not to the road.
The steering on your '94 is very different, from what I have been able to gather from the limited amount of pictures I have seen.
Basically, you have a collapsable shaft that attaches the upper part of the steering column to the steering box. It's collapsable in the sense that it has one part of the shaft that fits inside of the other(so it can collapse in the event of an accident and avoid putting the steering wheel through your chest). At that point in the shaft, it's otherwise rounded shape is flattened on either side(this is shown in the illustration, right at the upper arrow indicating part #1). That's where mine wore out. After years and years of turning against each other, the edges of the flat sides on the inner shaft were worn down, and the outer part of the shaft was opened up. This allowed for quite a bit of play between the wheel and the box, so driver input was not being translated very well to the steering box, and hence not to the road.
The steering on your '94 is very different, from what I have been able to gather from the limited amount of pictures I have seen.