When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Is there a kit of some sort, perhaps a plate adapter, that will lower the steering gear box close enough to allow use of a stock steering arm?
My '03 F-250 2WD came with a FabTech kit installed, to level it and raise it a bit. The drop arm puts so much pressure on things I'm burning out center shafts (drag links?). Replaced the original steering box due to wear and major slop, and now the replacement is loose, too.
You do have a drop pitman arm that drops more than the stock one?
Do you just have a 2" leveling kit or something more? Usually a leveling kit doesn't require changing the pitman arm. If you're having issues, perhaps you need one with a bigger drop than normal.
That or you need to find a better source for steering gearboxes. Redhead is a favorite around here.
It looks like a 4x4 now, so I'm guessing 6" in front and 2 or so rear" I don't know. Can't get info from the FabTech site. My parts are blue, and all they sell is black. No way to Id. I have a FT-131 sticker in the rear well, which is a component of a kit for a 4X4, but I'm a two wheeler.
The drop arm is maybe 3" lower, from memory....
RedHead is an option, but I'm gun shy. Takes effort to get that thing out and in. I'd love to lower the box and go with a regular arm, AND a RedHead.
6" lift and 3" drop on the pitman could be part of the problem. Do you have a photo? How do your tie rods look? Are they at a steep angle and bound up?
The angle from driver's side to the middle rises up a bit. The gear box is way up there and that arm looks shallow. But if I go with a deeper arm, the forces on the box get bigger. That's why I was asking if there is a kit to drop the box itself. Or how about those oversteer kits? Move the tie rods up at the knuckle?
Very strange thing happened this morning. I took the truck in to get the ball joints replaced, and the tech said alll it needed was an alignment. Third visit to this chain, and this time I didn't get the Estimate of Death. So, we did that, and put the better tires up front. Still loose in the box, but it doesn't wander all over.
Radial pull.....
Still need the box, and still interested in the geometry up front, but I'm glad I didn't drop big bucks on ball joints and a drag link.
TTB fords are a magical system, but if the magician is not careful he creates a death trap.
Your angles don't look to crazy but its hard to tell from pictures.
Either way for the size lift you have you shouldn't have steering component failure if done correctly. Lowering the steering box wouldn't be on my list of things to do.
