Just got my F350, 2003. The steering wheel is at 10 and 4 when going straight down the road with play between 10/4 and 9/3. I've checked everything, from the pitman down the drag link, tie rod ends and ball joints. Everything is tight. But when I reach through the wheel well to the steering column i can turn it with my hand making a click at the stops either way.

Am I staring down a new steering box??

 

I would at least check the gear box for play.

 

What should I do, drop the drag link and pull/push the pitman arm?

 

Start with just looking at the box while someone turns the wheel, looking for obvious play.

 

There's play - I can turn the steering column back and forth from the wheel well. I have no idea if this is normal for a ford.

 

anyone, any thoughts? I have no idea if this is a steering box issue, I would expect the steering wheel to be tight. I'm a jeeper and we don't typically see steering gears as an issue - I'm seeing a lot of questions about this on the ol' 'inner-web like it's common for gearboxes to go at around 100k miles.


before I go to drop the scratch on a new one, just wanted to poll the audience since this forum has so much good info on it.


thanks!

 

Just went through steering issues. What fixed slop on mine was a steering stabilizer. It will look like a shock up on the front end going horizontal left to right.


Easy check is to take one end off and push it in, if it doesn't retract its bad and replaced. Theyre like 40 bucks at autozone.

 

it's definitely not the steering stabilizer, my wheel play is above the gear box, everything from the pitman down is solid.

 

With the truck off, have someone turn the wheel just enough to start to move the tires. While you look at the steering shaft where the pitman arm is. Look for vertical movement (in-out/up-down). If present you can take up some lash by adjusting the preload on the top of the box. Go in small increments.
I ended up replacing mine with a RedHead box.

Hope this helps.

Keith