play in steering wheel
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 648
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From: St Charles Missouri
play in steering wheel
I know this has probably been discussed many times but what do you all think causes my steering wheel to have a couple inches of play before it catches? I've driven 4 of these trucks and finally bought one but it has it too. It's not bad but I'd like it tighter. My truck only has 44k miles so I don't think it's the steering column but could ball joints/u-joints cause this? Truck drives good but sometimes tends to drift a little b/c the first couple inches or so is just loose, even when it's parked. What could I do to get that fixed at some point?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 79
From: Mooresville, NC
I know this has probably been discussed many times but what do you all think causes my steering wheel to have a couple inches of play before it catches? I've driven 4 of these trucks and finally bought one but it has it too. It's not bad but I'd like it tighter. My truck only has 44k miles so I don't think it's the steering column but could ball joints/u-joints cause this? Truck drives good but sometimes tends to drift a little b/c the first couple inches or so is just loose, even when it's parked. What could I do to get that fixed at some point?
A couple of inches is a bit much (my 25 year old truck goes down the road at most speeds with no hands req'd on the steering wheel for decent stretches) -- probably time to get it up on a lift and inspect, pull on suspension, steering components
More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 665
Likes: 139
From: Lakeside, Arizona
What truck/ Axle/ steering components are we playing with here?
The things to check for can vary a bit pending on the answers to the question. I am guessing F-250 and Dana 50 by your sig? Suspect the ball joints and tie rod ends first..
Edit: Never mind, I see your sitting on 31's. So F150? Check Ball joints, steering box adjustment, play on heim joints/ TRE's .
The things to check for can vary a bit pending on the answers to the question. I am guessing F-250 and Dana 50 by your sig? Suspect the ball joints and tie rod ends first..
Edit: Never mind, I see your sitting on 31's. So F150? Check Ball joints, steering box adjustment, play on heim joints/ TRE's .
The Southernmost Mod
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,902
Likes: 20
From: Caracas, Venezuela
The things that will cause excessive slop: Improperly adjusted steering box, worn steering box gear, steering box improperly attached to the chassis (tighten the 3 bolt visible from the driver's side wheel well, they should all have washers). As you can see usually the slop is related to the box, bushings and terminals can also be the cause, but I would look at the steering box before anything else.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 8
get a helper and have him/her move the steering wheel back-and-forth while you are under the front end looking for slop. if one part moves and the part that is attached to it doesn't, you have wear there. also do this while looking down at the steering box from above. if you are not familiar with this procedure, find someone who is, or take it to a shop. the large chains will usually do this for free if you ask for an estimate. nobody can pin-point your problem over the internet unless you provide some REALLY good video of the aforementioned procedure.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2014
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I have a 1990 F250 with 69k original miles. It went down the road straight but had a little play in the steering wheel. I adjusted the steering gear/box on monday and now its nice and tight.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: St Charles Missouri
Thanks everyone. I will check the gear box. Truck drives good and straight and I guess it could be some suspension stuff wearing out but truck only has 45k miles. It almost seems like the back and forth is happening when sitting and nothing is moving at all. Just loose. I do need to get out there and check ALL fluids just to make sure everything is good
New User
Joined: Jun 2014
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I am definitely novice here, but my old 88 had the same. Besides going through 4 sets of tie pod ends in about 10 years, the steering rod that comes down through the firewall meets into the rod that goes into the box. It is like a slip joint, for lack of a better term. My buddy told me it as to ensure the rod doesn't jam through the cab in case of an accident. Either way, the joint where those two columns meet had spread out a bit, allowing a lot of play from the wheel, before moving the gearbox connection. Just a thought. Drivers side, follow the rod from the firewall down about 2 feet and you should find the joint, if your truck has it. My buddy was a welder, so we heated up the joint and squeezed it tighter. DID NOT WELD THE TWO TOGETHER.
New User
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Joshua
i have a 97 f150 with 250,000. my wife and kids won't drive because it has a lot of travel in the steering wheel before the wheels actually move. i guess i'm just used to it and don't see a problem. I have been behind a desk for 25 years but no stranger to turning wrenches. just looking for some ideas where to start.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,408
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From: Parkesburg PA
I will add this. Make sure all repairs were done properly. My tow truck had about 6-7" of play in the wheel and it seemed to be coming from the box. Someone had replaced the rag joint and it looks like the D shaft as well. I put a known good box in and still had 3" of play. When I took it apart I thought it was weird that I had to thread the bolt all the way out of the rag joint. I put it back the same way, but when I went back and looked it was in backwards. There were no threads on the other side so it never was tight. I flipped the bolt and it went together "normal" and everything tightened up. I've got less than an inch of play now.
Be careful with the adjustment on top of the box. They're steering boxes, not rack and pinions and will never be as tight as a R&P. The way the gears mesh in there it's possible to create a bind at various points in the steering. There should be a little play.
Before:
After:
The after clip is from a longer video where I was describing how much play the wheel had.
Be careful with the adjustment on top of the box. They're steering boxes, not rack and pinions and will never be as tight as a R&P. The way the gears mesh in there it's possible to create a bind at various points in the steering. There should be a little play.
Before:
After:
The after clip is from a longer video where I was describing how much play the wheel had.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: St Charles Missouri
I had the shop that did my alignment tighten the steering box. It took the play out of the wheel but something is still not 100% right. Truck kind of veers a little certain times. At first it felt almost too tight but I trust the guy who did it. After a few hundred miles it doesn't feel too tight (like binding). I think the tie rod ends are a little loose or something but I haven't had time to check it and since it's not that bad I'm not too worried about it right now since it's 25 degrees outside lol. FWIW tightening the box did help mine quite a bit
New User
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Joshua
so i checked the rag joint and it's fine. the truck is in the garage, i move the steering wheel and the wheels move. i start the truck and do the same everything is perfect. while i'm driving and can turn the steering wheel 8-10 inches before the wheels move. i'm with Choate, it's cold outside.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 87
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From: Cincinnat, Ohio
I had a very similar problem in my 99 f250 7.3. I had a measured 12 inches of play. I replaced both steering arms and center piece as well, didn't change a thing, I got an alignment and didn't change a thing. I dealt with it for a while and needed water pump and timing case cover replaced so I had a shop look at the steering while they fixed the pump.
The shop diagnosed the column and power steering pump bad, note I didn't have power steering to the left. Turns out only my column needed replaced and drives like a brand new truck. Definitely replace the column as a start.
The shop diagnosed the column and power steering pump bad, note I didn't have power steering to the left. Turns out only my column needed replaced and drives like a brand new truck. Definitely replace the column as a start.