Steering Box
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Steering Box
I have a 95 F150 2wd. What in the steering box would cause loose steering.I adjusted To ford specs which required me to pull the airbag ,drain the pump,disconnect the pitman arm and cycle the steering to get all the fluid out.I adjusted the over center to 14" lbs but the truck will wander. I completely rebuilt the front end (except springs ) also got a wheel alignment. My question is, what in the steering box can cause this.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Wheel has about two inches play back and forth before resistance.As I mentioned in my tread the box is set to factory specs.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 453
Likes: 2
From: Bitterroots of Montana
Yeah, I saw that you set the box up. There is a slip joint in the steering column between the box and the steering wheel where the upper part of the steering column slips into the lower section. Over time, the clearance increases, and you can get play. Pretty easy to spot by having someone move the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the column at the slip joint, or you can grab the column above and below the joint and rotate your hands in opposite directions.
Mine was pretty worn, and I replaced with a Borgson shaft, which nearly eliminated the play in the wheel I had.
Mine was pretty worn, and I replaced with a Borgson shaft, which nearly eliminated the play in the wheel I had.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 686
Likes: 11
From: Plainfield, IN
Ewalt98 nailed it. On my 1988 F150, this was the source of my loose steering. There is supposed to be a plastic bushing held in place by a steel clip at the intermediate shaft joint. Mine was missing, causing the truck to wander. It took me weeks of chasing this problem down, as I was looking elsewhere (tie rods, drag link, steering box, etc.)
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Ewalt98 nailed it. On my 1988 F150, this was the source of my loose steering. There is supposed to be a plastic bushing held in place by a steel clip at the intermediate shaft joint. Mine was missing, causing the truck to wander. It took me weeks of chasing this problem down, as I was looking elsewhere (tie rods, drag link, steering box, etc.)
Would you have a picture of it.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Yeah, I saw that you set the box up. There is a slip joint in the steering column between the box and the steering wheel where the upper part of the steering column slips into the lower section. Over time, the clearance increases, and you can get play. Pretty easy to spot by having someone move the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the column at the slip joint, or you can grab the column above and below the joint and rotate your hands in opposite directions.
Mine was pretty worn, and I replaced with a Borgson shaft, which nearly eliminated the play in the wheel I had.
Mine was pretty worn, and I replaced with a Borgson shaft, which nearly eliminated the play in the wheel I had.
Both pieces are nice and snug.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
It is quite likely there is wear between the sector shaft and the worm gear with that many miles of city driving.
I realize you adjusted it following the repair manual but it may simply have too much wear to ever be "tight" again.
I realize you adjusted it following the repair manual but it may simply have too much wear to ever be "tight" again.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,381
Likes: 845
From: Mi'kma'ki
I've had 3 9th gen trucks in total now.In my experience,the boxes get sloppy at around 100-130k miles.
Redhead makes boxes that address many of the factory spec issues.
https://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/
I mean who doesn't want a redhead for Christmas? The redhead above is made in USA! The one below...might be too.
Happy holidays guys.
Redhead makes boxes that address many of the factory spec issues.
https://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/
I mean who doesn't want a redhead for Christmas? The redhead above is made in USA! The one below...might be too.
Happy holidays guys.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
I've had 3 9th gen trucks in total now.In my experience,the boxes get sloppy at around 100-130k miles.
Redhead makes boxes that address many of the factory spec issues.
https://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/
I mean who doesn't want a redhead for Christmas? The redhead above is made in USA! The one below...might be too.
Happy holidays guys.
Redhead makes boxes that address many of the factory spec issues.
https://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/
I mean who doesn't want a redhead for Christmas? The redhead above is made in USA! The one below...might be too.
Happy holidays guys.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 453
Likes: 2
From: Bitterroots of Montana
In addition to replacing the steering shaft with the Borgson type, I also made a slight adjustment to the box to tighten it up. The shaft was very worn, and the box was a little loose, and before doing those two things, I had very loose steering and really bad wander. Now it is tighter than my 03 F150. However, I first changed the inner and outer tie rods thinking they had to be the problem.
All is good now, but I wouldn't mind getting a redhead.....
All is good now, but I wouldn't mind getting a redhead.....
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 135
Likes: 7
From: 51.6N 114.7W
+caster
Having too little positive caster can manifest itself as "wandering" and "loose steering" at highway speeds.
POPULAR MECHANICS MAY 1973:
QUOTE:
If too little caster exists, the car will wander and weave, thus necessitating constant corrections in steering.
END QUOTE:
POPULAR MECHANICS MAY 1973:
QUOTE:
If too little caster exists, the car will wander and weave, thus necessitating constant corrections in steering.
END QUOTE:
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Whitey Ford
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Mar 19, 2016 10:20 AM