STEERING HEADACHE
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 63
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I'm planning on getting these pivot bushings put in today keep having to put it off because my shop is literally the busiest it has ever been. Will post pictures when finished and an update to the wandering issue.
Senior User
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
The best way to check pivot beam bushings is to get in the truck (make sure it's pulled forward so wheels are straight) and just move the steering left and right. That will give you a much better ideal of the bushings shape. Hard to tell from those side pictures you posted but many of them are elongated where the bolt goes in.
Also it's hard to find a good shop to align these. I go to a semi truck alignment place since they seem to do best with these TTB front ends. He was the one who taught me that trick of checking the pivot arm bushings.
Also I didn't beat out the old metal sleeve the bushing goes in since mine was never damaged on my Bronc. I just cleaned up the metal sleeve and pushed in the new energy suspension pivot beam bushings (still can be a huge PITA).
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 63
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Hopefully you bought the energy suspension ones (black or red same thing).
The best way to check pivot beam bushings is to get in the truck (make sure it's pulled forward so wheels are straight) and just move the steering left and right. That will give you a much better ideal of the bushings shape. Hard to tell from those side pictures you posted but many of them are elongated where the bolt goes in.
Also it's hard to find a good shop to align these. I go to a semi truck alignment place since they seem to do best with these TTB front ends. He was the one who taught me that trick of checking the radius arm bushings.
Also I didn't beat out the old metal sleeve the bushing goes in since mine was never damaged on my Bronc. I just cleaned up the metal sleeve and pushed in the new energy suspension pivot beam bushings (still can be a huge PITA).
The best way to check pivot beam bushings is to get in the truck (make sure it's pulled forward so wheels are straight) and just move the steering left and right. That will give you a much better ideal of the bushings shape. Hard to tell from those side pictures you posted but many of them are elongated where the bolt goes in.
Also it's hard to find a good shop to align these. I go to a semi truck alignment place since they seem to do best with these TTB front ends. He was the one who taught me that trick of checking the radius arm bushings.
Also I didn't beat out the old metal sleeve the bushing goes in since mine was never damaged on my Bronc. I just cleaned up the metal sleeve and pushed in the new energy suspension pivot beam bushings (still can be a huge PITA).
These are the bushings I got from energy...getting a hurricane so won't be able to install these.. next week mabey<br/>
Senior User
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
It won't matter if everything else is perfect on your front end if those bushings are worn and the beams are moving around on the pivot bolt.
Even then my truck still has a little play but its because of the steering box (someone else mentioned red head's on here, hear they are the best but I have yet to purchase one and put in my truck. I just deal with the little bit of play from steering box as long as the rest is solid.
Plus I don't drive either of my ford OBSs as my daily anyways so its not a big deal to me personally.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 501
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From: Lincoln, NE
X2
I replaced these pivot bushings when I was putting in new ball joints on my F150. Not only did the steering tighten up but the suspension worked better also. The best bang for the buck was the swaybar bushings! The suspension was working great after that.
The Redhead steering box fixes a manufacturing defect. Pricey but worth it if you're keeping it.
I replaced these pivot bushings when I was putting in new ball joints on my F150. Not only did the steering tighten up but the suspension worked better also. The best bang for the buck was the swaybar bushings! The suspension was working great after that.
The Redhead steering box fixes a manufacturing defect. Pricey but worth it if you're keeping it.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
X2
I replaced these pivot bushings when I was putting in new ball joints on my F150. Not only did the steering tighten up but the suspension worked better also. The best bang for the buck was the swaybar bushings! The suspension was working great after that.
The Redhead steering box fixes a manufacturing defect. Pricey but worth it if you're keeping it.
I replaced these pivot bushings when I was putting in new ball joints on my F150. Not only did the steering tighten up but the suspension worked better also. The best bang for the buck was the swaybar bushings! The suspension was working great after that.
The Redhead steering box fixes a manufacturing defect. Pricey but worth it if you're keeping it.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
X2
I replaced these pivot bushings when I was putting in new ball joints on my F150. Not only did the steering tighten up but the suspension worked better also. The best bang for the buck was the swaybar bushings! The suspension was working great after that.
The Redhead steering box fixes a manufacturing defect. Pricey but worth it if you're keeping it.
I replaced these pivot bushings when I was putting in new ball joints on my F150. Not only did the steering tighten up but the suspension worked better also. The best bang for the buck was the swaybar bushings! The suspension was working great after that.
The Redhead steering box fixes a manufacturing defect. Pricey but worth it if you're keeping it.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 476
Likes: 93
Your tires don't appear to be wearing unevenly, a sure sign of front end trouble. Could it be that the tail is driving the dog in this case? IOW, maybe the problem isn't your front end but something in the rear?
What about....Do you trust someone else to drive the truck down a smooth flat highway while you ride shotgun in a second car and watch how your truck behaves?
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Nevermind, I failed to notice the second page to this thread.
What about....Do you trust someone else to drive the truck down a smooth flat highway while you ride shotgun in a second car and watch how your truck behaves?
==============
Nevermind, I failed to notice the second page to this thread.
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