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Hey All...So the Blue Ox has arrived in Ohio from South Carolina !
It was a long trip for kristol8178 to bring it up via trailer dolly (she's zzZZZing) lol. It fired right up thanks to her diligence but when i first start it, the steering acts as though it has no PS until i pump the brake (vacuum issue?) I proceeded to run it up the road....the steering wanders horribly taking 1/3 left to 1/3 right wheel movement just to keep it somewhat straight.
After looking through the stickys, I'm wondering if 1983F1503004x4's Rag Joint tutorial might just be the fix. There is a little PS fluid seepage at the line fitting at the gear but not enough to cause such severe wandering, no whinning and the reservoir is full to spec. I'm also wondering if there are any linkage adjustments that i can make to improve this. There is no tell tale front tire wear to indicate issues but who knows what the PO did. Any other thoughts from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
I would check the drag link. This connects from the pitman arm down to the passenger side tie rod adjuster. Mine was damaged and the ball joint was bad at the pitman arm and it caused a similar wandering left and right.
I would check the drag link. This connects from the pitman arm down to the passenger side tie rod adjuster. Mine was damaged and the ball joint was bad at the pitman arm and it caused a similar wandering left and right.
I'm kinda relieved that you suggested that. It looks like some of the steering components were replaced by the PO and i'm thinking that they half-@zzed it and never had it aligned or "trued-up" after the replacements were installed. I'm considering changing Blue Ox's name to "Ratruck"
Any thoughts on the power steering issue upon start up from anyone?
I do know that i need to replace every vacuum line and hose in the engine compartment, just because i'm OCD Maybe I'm answering my own question
I would just take it to get it aligned. They should check it for you, and if they find something loose they won't align it, and should tell you what's wrong with it. They give me a choice, pay them to do the work or pay them a small setup fee and let me take it home and do the work myself, and then I take it back and let them align it.
I would just take it to get it aligned. They should check it for you, and if they find something loose they won't align it, and should tell you what's wrong with it. They give me a choice, pay them to do the work or pay them a small setup fee and let me take it home and do the work myself, and then I take it back and let them align it.
Sounds like a plan....There is a local shop here that is very reputable with a long history from the 1940's in the Cleveland area...White Wheel Alignment.
Guess what I'm doing on Monday morning?? I'm stoked ! Elvis has left the building to go to the alingnment shop !
If there is no significant wear in rod ends or the rag joint, there is an adjuster on top of the steering box that will tighten internal slack.
This adjustment must be made with the wheels in the straight-ahead position.
There is a proper procedure & torque for adjusting this to avoid overtightening, but with that amount of wander you will be able to take a lot of it out before reaching that point. If afterwards the truck doesn't straighten up freely coming out of a corner, loosen the adjuster slightly.
Haynes manuals, & probably Chiltons too, have the proper adjusting procedure.
Have your daughter turn the steering lock to lock while you watch the bumper from 25' in front of the truck.
Frame cracks are not uncommon, and more common in 4x4 trucks with wide tires.
They are usually between bolt holes, hidden behind the steering box.
Gary has some good pictures of a crack on his dad's 2x4 truck on stock tires. (not that I would fix it the same way he did)
Not that this is the first cause of sloppy steering but it is something I would check before wasting $ on an alignment that would need to be redone.
Power steering has nothing to do with the brake booster unless it's a later diesel truck with hydroboost. And in that case the PS pump drives the booster, not the other way around.
Well it looks like the frame, pitman arm, drag link, tie rod ends and radius arm bushings are all good but the steering gear might just be worn out. I think the PO was stabbing at the steering problem by throwing parts at it. I am not really comfortable adjusting the gear given everything i have read on FTE about tearing up the gearbox with limited or no steering return. I'm pretty sure this truck has 256,000 + miles on it. (South Carolina doesn't register mileage on a new title transfer after 10 years). The intermediate shaft has some rotational scoring near the gear which concerns me. I guess I'm looking for FTE to kick me in the butt and say just bite the bullet ! lol And look at the killer dry rot on those tires! sheesh.
Take those lift spacers out. I bet they can't get it in alignment with those in place. If they just stuck those in there that's probably half the the problem you are having.
If you want to check the steering box, get someone to lightly wiggle the steering wheel back and forth and check for play in those spots you photographed.
I'm thinking that both of You are right....the spring spacers threw the geometry of the steering/suspension off, causing the PO to "shim" the upper ball joints in a failed attempt at trying to bring it back in line. I was in the middle of trying to PhotoShop that (4th) pic to ask: "is this normal?"....I didn't think so. So now, the spacers will be removed and I will replace the upper ball joints, or at least try to salvage them. This may be better suited for a new thread but, I want to put a 6' snow plow on the Ox after all of this is straightened out. Should I move towards F250 springs? (without the crap spacers of course).
Take those lift spacers out. I bet they can't get it in alignment with those in place. If they just stuck those in there that's probably half the the problem you are having.
If you want to check the steering box, get someone to lightly wiggle the steering wheel back and forth and check for play in those spots you photographed.
They "stuck" alot of stuff where it should not have been "stuck"..lol
Maybe I'm answering my own question 
And look at the killer dry rot on those tires! sheesh.
