Dishwasher detergent works great for cleaning filthy radiators. I can't remember the mix ratio though. Flush at least 3 times with water afterward to get the detergent out.

 

You can install a coolant filter to help remove the particles. A new degas bottle is not too bad in price.

 

Even with all the new suspension and steering parts, the truck still wanders. The board seems to favor a Hellwig rear sway bar to help with this, so ...



Installation of this thing should have been pretty easy. But, it wound up being way more difficult than I expected (some my own fault). The bushings are not pre-installed in the end links, and there are two different sizes. Everything is quite tight, so you have to lube it all with nasty sticky suspension lube. I managed to install two of the bushings in the wrong place. Each end link should have had one large bushing on the bar side and a smaller bushing on the truck side. I somehow managed to install two larges on one and two smalls on the other. The only thing more difficult than assembling the bushings is disassembling the bushings. If the bushings had come pre-assembled, I think it would've saved me an hour and a half.
The other issue was the parking brake cable guide. It screws into a hole very close to the end link on the driver side. Too close it turns out. The guide uses two holes for the install. One for the bolt and the other to pin it in place. After a lot of farting around, I bolted it through the other hole and hope it stays in place. I hadn't heard mention of this problem before, so not sure if it is typical of the install or not.
With all the problems, it took almost 3 hrs. to install. Two of those hours were bushings and parking brake cable guide. With my rust-free truck, everything else went like clockwork. Bolts came off, new ones went on. I'm not sure if it's typical, or if my springs are just very saggy, but I shortened the end links as much as possible and still couldn't get the bar flat. They appear to be about an inch too long.

 

Nice upgrade. How does it feel now?

 

I had the exact same issue with the parking brake cable bracket. I also hadn't heard it mentioned before. I basically did what you did and used a zip tie or 2 to keep everything from rubbing.

I had to shorten the end links most all the way down like you but my bar is flat. I can take a picture later if this rain ever lets up. But yea, maybe your springs are saggy? Idk

 

Drove to work today and it is an improvement. It's still not where I want it to be. Definitely helps with the lean in turns. Previously, when I had to do the back and forth steering correction when going straight down the road I was probably turning the wheel 20 degrees, now down to less than 10.

I plan to check out the front end again and make sure that none of my ball joints are sticky. It feels like the steering isn't always auto-centering. If not that, I'm down to steering box and rear springs. I'll get there sooner or later. But, slowly chipping away at it.

Somehow, the pinky finger on my left hand came away with the only clean knuckle after this job. Stupid bushings.

 

Pete, the Hellwig is only a start (in most cases) for your towing purposes you will definitely want to do springs.

While it is an improvement and noticeable the OEM rear springs are severely under rated and inadequate.

 

I'm convinced you're right. I need to research what to do with 2WD. Far more difficult to find that info than 4WD. Most people seem to be looking to lift their 2WDs, which I am not the least bit interested in. I'd much rather stay stock height. I just want to make it work.

 

The coils and independent I-beam suspension probably don't need any modification (others may chime in) what you are towing has a tongue weight of 600-700 lbs (guessing here) find some F-350 rears or something from ATS and you will be fine.

 

I noticed in your picture it has a coil over suspension in front. Is that a 2wd thing? As far as I know that wasn't a option in anything over a f250 until 2005. I know my 03 has leafs in front. I know alot of guys retrofit the 05 coil over to the older trucks. Which is a expensive little upgrade.

 

Yes his is 2wd, mentioned a few posts before yours.

Pete - I'm with Mark, see about swapping out the rear springs. ATS can get you setup with something to firm up the rear without lifting the rig up any. As Mark said, the stock rear springs are woefully inadequate and engineered more for comfort for Suzie SoccerMom sipping her latte instead of actual use.

 

I wish it was the newer suspension. But, it's a 2WD twin-I-beam. When I went from my older F-150s to my '98 I told myself I never wanted another twin-I-beam. Doh.

 

besides the helwig sway bar & the shocks, what other suspension mods have you done?

The red head steering box upgrade that many have done is a huge improvement and cured my loose steering woes. You could tighten up the stock steering box in the short term (make sure you only do 1/4 turn at a time), it will make an improvement - just won't get rid of it completely.

 

One of my Dad's trucks was a 1964 FORD Camper Special with the twin I-beam. It's gotta be good they've been making them since the war.

 

Those ATS springs seem reasonably priced. I'll have to do some research to figure out which one I want though. Lots of choices. They don't seem to have excursion specific springs, so I'm assuming I'll have to mod whatever I get to avoid crushing AC lines?

I plan to get new bump stops also. They are kind of torn up. They look like a car seat that sat outside for a while.