Steering wandering
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 2
Steering wandering
I have a 2003 F350 extended cab single rear wheel 7.3 Diesel truck. I've had it a few years and it has always wandered a bit on the highway. It's not horrible, but I think I need to correct more than I should. My older pre super duty Ford was a similar technology leaf spring Dana 60 Front axle sterling rear axle never wandered this much. It makes it a bit stressful especially while towing. I've had the alignment done a couple of times. Replaced the steering damper with a Bilstine, replaced the tires. A couple of mechanics have looked at i and don't see anything wrong. I even added wedges to add 2 degrees of caster to the alignment.
Any Ideas? Could it be the steering box? is this just the standard personality of this generation of truck or is there something wrong?
Any Ideas? Could it be the steering box? is this just the standard personality of this generation of truck or is there something wrong?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 2
Tires are brand new. I had kind of wrote this off to the tires, but when I first got the truck they were too good to replace. They finally wore out so I just replaced them with a different brand. The last set was a mystery generic brand I never heard of put on by the previous owner. This new set are Brigstone DUELER A/T REVO 2. The stock size is 265/75-16, but my tires are a bit bigger they are 285/75R16 just a little bigger than stock. While not stock size these are far from monster truck size so I can't image that's the issue? The truck is not lifted, but it does have a snow plow on it and I think there is an extra leaf in the front springs to help carry the extra weight of the snow plow.
Sorry for the vague description of the problem, but it's hard to explain. It just seems to need more correction than I think it should while driving straight and level with little or no wind. at 70 MPH on I-81 (Legal speed limit) going through the blue ridge mountains with a camper in tow steering wheel grip is a bit tense.
Sorry for the vague description of the problem, but it's hard to explain. It just seems to need more correction than I think it should while driving straight and level with little or no wind. at 70 MPH on I-81 (Legal speed limit) going through the blue ridge mountains with a camper in tow steering wheel grip is a bit tense.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 642
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From: Onlsow, NC
Check for play in your steering wheel. There will be some normally, but if there is excessive, then you might have your problem. the first thing you can check is have some one else jiggle the steering wheel while you look underneath at the gear box. If the input shaft moves significantly more than the output then you need to replace it.
Next, check your ball joints. Think back to how your old tires wore if you can. If the fronts wore significantly more on the outside, that's a good indication your ball joints, or wheel bearings, or both are wore out. Jack up the front of the truck and rock the tire up and down. If there's play it's either from the ball joints, wheel bearings, or both. Both can cause wondering. Typically you won't have problems with your bearings unless you've run over sized tires. Ball joints wear normally.
Next, check your ball joints. Think back to how your old tires wore if you can. If the fronts wore significantly more on the outside, that's a good indication your ball joints, or wheel bearings, or both are wore out. Jack up the front of the truck and rock the tire up and down. If there's play it's either from the ball joints, wheel bearings, or both. Both can cause wondering. Typically you won't have problems with your bearings unless you've run over sized tires. Ball joints wear normally.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 2
Tires wore evenly. The Ford dealer put new ball joints on it when I bought it. The tire place checked them when they did the alignment. I've looked for steering wheel play a while back, but I don't seem to see anything significant. I'll take another look at that.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 2
I'm thinking of trying a new steering gear box. My truck only has 65,000 miles on it. Do these things normally wear out? Of course it could have been defective. Does anyone know If I buy a new steering gear box from a Ford dealer, Is it New or rebuilt?
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Onlsow, NC
They don't normally wear out that quick. I have around 160,000 miles on my truck and i'm pretty sure the factory gear box is what's on it. It may need to be adjusted a little. You can buy them re-manufactured, but as far as from what i could find there are no re-build kits.
To adjust it, on top there is a Jam nut on either a Torx screw, or an allen screw. Hold the screw in place, loosen the jam nut, and tighten the adjusting screw while holding the jam nut. You will feel it get tight. Then check your steering and make sure the steering wheel isn't too stiff. Then tighten the Jam nut.
Check the gear box like i described earlier. I wouldn't go adjusting it if their is there is little to no play in the gear box.
To adjust it, on top there is a Jam nut on either a Torx screw, or an allen screw. Hold the screw in place, loosen the jam nut, and tighten the adjusting screw while holding the jam nut. You will feel it get tight. Then check your steering and make sure the steering wheel isn't too stiff. Then tighten the Jam nut.
Check the gear box like i described earlier. I wouldn't go adjusting it if their is there is little to no play in the gear box.
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