I have been trying to figure out my steering issues on this truck for a while now. I briefly gave up but got mad and decided to mess with the adjustment screw on the steering box, anyways, for some background on the truck, she has 4 new moog ball joints. When I installed the passenger side it seemed to me that they were awfully hard to turn by hand when disconnected from the tie rods. Anyways I did the ball joints and yep the steering still sucked. So I went out and got myself a new steering box which had already been recommended by a mechanic I had inspect the truck.

So I installed the new steering box. Bled the air according to ford instructions, used type F in the box and made sure the box and wheel were centered. Then the truck went for an out of province inspection. No play anywhere in the front end. Front U joints are original but in good shape I checked them when I did the ball joints. I tried uploading my alignment specs with a photo but adobe reader and photo shop aren't co-operating.

Front Left: Front Right

Camber:0.4 0.3
Caster:3.8 3.4
Toe:-0.92 -0.89
Steer ahead: -0.01

After Alignment

Front Left: Front Right
Camber:0.4 0.2
Caster:3.8 4.3
Toe: 0.08 0.09

Total toe 0.17
Steer Ahead: -0.01

So when taking off the jamb nut for the preload screw it was so tight I had to get an impact on it and must have spun the nut up on the screw so that when I re tightened it I was way further down than I should have been. Anyways I took it around the block completely brutal memory steer and no return to center whatsoever but there wasn't anymore steering slop. So at this point I figured out what I did wrong with the impact. My next move was to jack up the front axle so both tires are off the ground and free to turn. Both wheels off the ground I could barely turn the wheel with the engine off. When I put the screw back to where it was originally the wheel spun with very little effort.

I had been thinking that overtightening my ball joints could be the cause but I disassembled them and beat them off with a pickle fork. Retorqued them to proper torque specs in order. It was still somewhat tight but I'm thinking that if the steering wheel turns real easy with the wheels off the ground it shouldn't be a problem. I checked all my steering components and they are rock solid.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what could be causing my issues? The wheel comes within an eighth of a turn away from center on both sides then stops.

 

Did you replace the camber/caster bushing or set it before hitting things with torque?

 

They have never been touched or moved during this whole process. The truck always drove straight but had memory steer and lots of slop. They are stuck solid in their original position

 

Of course, new ball joints are a little "tuf" at first and I think we can rule them out.

But I'm also wondering if that sector shaft in the s-box got damaged when you hit that top screw with the impact? (Normally folks go a half turn at a time)

 

I never hit the screw with an impact it was the jamb nut and the nut traveled up the screw throwing me off. It drives exactly the same as before and it never returned to center no matter what I did. It's actually got me quite stumped. Cranking the adjustment screw just got me tight steering no slack in wheel but no return to center. Can't figure this out maybe it's my crappy cardone box or not? My tires are pretty much new too

 

Caster is usually what brings the wheels back to center. That is adjusted via the radius arm bushings. Either yours are worn or you need to install some that increase the caster a little.

 

I was under the truck today and didnt see any cracks on the bushings and they looked good. I thought caster was at a good value. I am considering one of those steering stabilizer things.

 

Sure sounds like caster to me.
I don't know what else has a strong effect over return-to-center steering.

 

But the truck has good caster numbers?

 

I was reading about the steering gear box earlier, and one of the things that I read on how to adjust the sector gear is to tighten the lash adjuster until there is a slight resistance on center as you turn the input shaft by hand, then back it out about 26-30 degrees. Maybe you just need to back out the adjuster a little bit at a time until it behaves correctly. The stopping with 1/8 turn sure sounds like the on center rub I was reading about, and you wouldn't necessarily feel that through the steering wheel.

 

Maybe? Once you turn the wheel from center past that 1/8th mark it gets firmer, so it's already pretty loose in center position. I'm pretty sure I have it adjusted looser than it was before but there is no change. The wheel almost has to turn a bit before anything happens now. I can try again another day I suppose

 

Got me then. I'm no expert except for how good my internet research is.

 

Found this. Apparently you can get memory steer from rubber bonded tie rod ends if you change toe more than 1/16".

easiest way to perform my own front end alignment? - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans

 

If she's a 4x4 then check for binding in the front axle u-joints. Nice name by the way. Lol.

 

That was one of the first things I did