still wandering
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Otto, NC
still wandering
I've asked this before...My 97 F250 has had a FEA after new ball joints and tie rod ends etc that were worn. It has a good set of rubber too. We drove 1000 miles over the weekend and I have to say I was exhausted not only from the trip but from steering. Over good roads, newly paved roads and crappy roads it was a left and right steer to keep it going straight all the way. I was told the steering box was ok but I still have doubts. The truck has 200K on it. When do these boxes show signs of needing a replacement? I think I was being shown for 1000 miles!!!
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 6
From: Manzanita, OR
Get under the truck with someone cranking the steering wheel back and forth in that "dead spot" where things need to move dramatically to bump the wheels to the left or to the right. If a 4x4 check the front u-joints. It's possible but fairly unlikely the steering box itself is the culprit. Have the co-pilot crank the wheel without actually having the wheels turn. If there is any other joint that is loose you'll see something moving. If not, then it may indeed be possible the box is the problem.
You should be able to see the arm of the steering box responding correctly to steering wheel turns if the problem lies somewhere else. We had an old ford van that had all this wheel slop. Come to find out it was the steering knuckle joint where the steering arm attached to all the other bits.
Also, rub your hands over the front wheels. If there is any kind of weird rhythmic deformation of the tread than check the alignment or the tires themselves. You may also have a tire bulge or a bent rim.
You should be able to see the arm of the steering box responding correctly to steering wheel turns if the problem lies somewhere else. We had an old ford van that had all this wheel slop. Come to find out it was the steering knuckle joint where the steering arm attached to all the other bits.
Also, rub your hands over the front wheels. If there is any kind of weird rhythmic deformation of the tread than check the alignment or the tires themselves. You may also have a tire bulge or a bent rim.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,791
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Is there a lot of play in the steering wheel before the truck turns? Having already replaced the ball joints and tie rods, my next place to look would be the intermediate shaft joints. Another problem is the gear box. The on center play can be (carefully) adjusted with the screw on the top of the gear box.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Otto, NC
Around town the truck is fine. I have been under the truck checking for something moving or not moving in sync with the steering wheel. I just notice at highway speeds 55-75 there is more effort needed to keep the truck going straight. If you have a newer truck or have had to opportunity to drive one they are one finger steer. It doesn't take much to keep the truck in a straight line. When I bought the truck the guy had put new tires on it. It's been suggested that the problem is the tires. Looking at the side wall they are a no name tire. I guess if I was going to put tires on something I was going to sell I would put a cheep tire on. Wallmart, Cosco etc; has those types of tries. It's a big expense to try a new set of tires on speculation and have no friends with old trucks a nice tires to swap on for a test drive. Tax time might be the time to try new set of tires.
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