A buddy of mine brought over his '93 F-150, it is similar to mine but has a AOD instead, and is a supercab shortbed.

He's having a problem with steering. It is really tight, and will not re-coil back but will stay there and has to be manually recoiled back straight. He bought it this way, but I know after driving mine, it isn't correct.

Also, when you go over a bump or rail-road tracks, the steering wheel will turn in that direction of the bump and has to be manually turned straight and held there or it will track another way.

Alignment didn't help, and either did adjusting the adjusting nut on the gear box, as it will only turn completely 360 degrees once. Turning it to the right all the way made the steering even more tight, turning it 360 degrees to the left made it looser, but not loose as mine is. We tightened the lock nut there and left it.

The power steering fluid is in good shape and the pump is really quiet.

We looked at the tie-rod ends, ball joints, and pitman arm, but everything looked good. The pitman arm grease zerk wouldn't take any grease, so evidently it was full?

We suspect the gear box is bad and will need to be replaced, any guesses?

Does the recoil (after turning) come from the steering box or from another source?

 

The return-to-center function is partly a result of alignment (positive camber & positive caster) and partly controlled by the gear box. It sounds like that one's trash, so get a reman with a good warranty.

 

Thanks for your opinion Steve,

Is there a series of steps that cause return-to-center? Is it alignment first then gearbox? It'll return a bit on it's own, then you have to manually crank it.

I do mean "a bit"!

 

You have to be careful when adjusting the gearbox. It is easy to get it too tight and not know it. Usually the shop manual will have the procedure for doing this. I think that caster has the main influence on return to center. I also read that the tires also play into the equation. My 70 F-250 does not return on it's own; I am just used to it.

 

I would disconnect the tie rods from the knuckles and verify that the knuckles turn freely. Ball joints that are not tightened using the proper procedure will prevent the wheels from returning to center. If they turn freely then I agree it is the box. You said the pitman arm zerk fitting would not take any grease, it may be plugged with rust or is damaged, replace it. Could this joint be binding?
Mark

 

There's no play from the tie rod ends, so I don't feel that they would be the culprit.

The steering does seem really tight, but the gearbox is as loose as it can get, it won't turn any more looser, that's why we suspect the gearbox being the problem.

 

Pastmaster is the truck a 4x4?

 

I am not suspecting the tie rod ends.
Disconnect them from the steering knuckles and try turning the steering knuckles by hand. They should turn freely. If not the ball joints may binding. Possibly due to someone using an improper tightening procedure if they were recently replaced, or during an alignment that required changing the upper camber adjustment bushing. This tightening procedure is critical if you want good returnability and long ball joint life. The outer axle shaft u-joint, if frozen, can cause this type of binding as well in a 4x4.
Mark

 

No, it's a 2wd.

I'll find out in the morning if the tie-rod ends can move.

TIA

 

I was looking through my Ford-Technical CD, and it said that a possible cause is the mesh load is too tight.

The problem is that the sector adjuster nut will not turn to the left (loosen) any more. Is it safe to give it a good twist to see if it's stuck a bit?

 

The nut is only a jamb nut to hold the setting. You have to back it off, then turn the bolt inside, then retighten the nut to hold the setting.

 

Yeah, I knew the difference between the locknut and setting screw.

The setting screw, won't turn anymore looser, so it's a definant gearbox change now.

We found a Cardone A1 remanufacturered unit with lifetime warranty for $135.00. So we'll probably go with that one.

I'll let you know how it goes...