I have a 1979 Ford F-150 Custom, and I have a question about my steering, there is play before turning either direction and It doesn't want to go straight. It will going slightly left and when you steer slightly right to straighten out it will go right there's no keeping it straight. Is this the power steering gear box? Or maybe something a bit cheaper...

 

'Could be the steering box.. could also be worn steering links - a worn or loose pitman arm, tie rods, sloppy bushings, etc. The "cheapest" fix could be tightening

How many miles on the components?

Here's a test... have someone turn the steering wheel while you observe each and every steering connection... everything should move in unison. Be advised that loose tolerances can accumulate. Therefore, the component at the "end" will lag furthest behind.

 

Start by saying nice avatar, lol.

Thanks for the quick response.

The truck has 52k on it. I'm the second owner I don't know if its ever rolled over or not, It's been acting like this a while now.

I'll get it in the garage and lift it up and have someone steer it around while I take a look.

Thanks for the info.

I also had one other question, which I could probably Google, but what is the function of the steering stabilizer? This wouldn't have anything to do with my problem would it?

 

Your better off checking the play with the wheels on the ground. And the stabilizer is just a shock absorber to keep the front end dampered. It can cause problems if it siezes. you can do without it, so if you suspect it is bad just remove it.

 

Oh, good to know x2 and thanks!

 

I bottomed out front end on a 79 4x4 I had going through a creek once. Bent steering stabilizer but I dindt know it til I tried to make a turn. Imagine my surprise when I only had about 1/8 turn of steering wheel either direction. Luckily I was just cruisin thru the woods and not raisin hell.

 

:Frozen" king pins can also add to the problem.

 

You don't say if 2wd or 4x4 so I'm guessing 4x4 here ....

Leave wheels on ground, block wheels, set brake good, have someone work steering back and forth as you observe from a prone position under the front of the truck. I'm betting on the ball joint at the pittman arm / drag link connection as most likely worn, followed by the other one where the drag link meets tie rod.

Next, I would start engine myself and grab steering shaft beside the engine with right hand and rock it while looking down past steering box at pittman arm watching for slack. You can rock the wheel and watch the left frt tire.

On a '78 or '79 F150 4x4, the tie rod ends (long on right, short on left, adjustment sleeve near left end) will last a long time as they only see movement on steering motions, not bumps and dips.

The drag link on these same trucks has a ball jointed end at each end, where it attaches to pittman arm and where it meets the right side tie rod end. These ball joints see movement on any movement of the front end, dips, bumps, crests, turns, you name it .... they move when the front moves so the drag link will likely need replacement sooner than tie rod ends.

Pittman arm should last forever.

While '76-'79 models use the same steering box, the linkage on a '76-'77 differs from a '78-'79. My '77 F150 4x4 had it's linkage updated between steering box and knuckles back in 1986 as at 35,000 miles then, the "Inverted-Y" OEM setup was worn at all joints. At 105,000 miles now, those tie rod ends I put on in 1986 are still tight, I am on my second updated drag lin k .... I only use Moog.

For a number of years and miles she's needed a steering box, that gradually got worse. I installed a Red Head Steering box Dec 2012, should have done so years ago.

Something else .... the original rubber C bushings are getting old if they are OEM, a complete 14 piece polyurethane bushing kit for the front end with about 7 degree C bushings will add some caster that will make the truck more inclined to go straight. They were intended for up to 4" lift, but work well with stock height. The 14 pieces service radius arms at rear, C bushings, and track bar bushings and will greatly improve road manners .... and they'll last forever.



Pardon my fancy drawing .....

 

Did I miss it or did nobody suggest the most common cause for this? Bad track arm bushings. Start the truck and look at the front wheels. Slowly turn the steering wheel. If the front of the truck moves sideways before the wheels start to turn, you have bad track arm bushings. This is the bar that connects to the frame on the driver's side, and the axle on the passenger side. It's what keeps the axle centered under the truck. I haven't owned a 4x4 dent yet that I haven't replaced these on.

 

I replaced mine with polyurethane in 1986, OEM had just 35,000 then, so I never wore them out on mine .... polyurethane ones are still good and tight .... but yeah, I could see that being the case.