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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Loose Steering

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Old Sep 13, 2003 | 06:54 AM
  #1  
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TigerfaninNC
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Question Loose Steering

Steering is extremely loose, there is probably 3" of play in the wheel. I still have to replace the drivers side upper and lower ball joints, then EVERYTHING under the front end will have been replaced. Will this help tighten up my steering?

I have tried to tighten up the nut on top of the gear box, but it seems frozen, I have sprayed it and sprayed it with screw-loose, but it still will not budge. I am afraid if I "get on it" too much I may damage something. Is it possible the gear box is bad, or headed that way?

All help is welcome!

Oh yeah, one other question. I am going to try pulling the frame out myself with a couple of chains and a fork truck, will it be enough to simply remove the bumper and push bar, or should I remove the grille and light bezels to keep from damaging them during the pull? I only need to pull it out 1/4 to 1/2".

Thanks!
 
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Old Sep 13, 2003 | 04:22 PM
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Question Loose Steering

a little tough trying to guess the make, year??
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 02:40 AM
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From: Fridley,MN - N.Mpls
Loose Steering

Replacing the ball joints won't take up the slack in the steering...you'd have to put a shim the gearbox or go the easy route and just replace it...I would also check the tie rods first before I did anything...I just replaced the upper & lower ball joints, axle shaft u-joints and pivot arm bushings today in mine because of Caster/Camber problems. Good luck


"98% of ALL Chevy's arestill on the road.....the other 2% made it home !! "
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 07:12 AM
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Loose Steering

It's an '86 F-150 Lariat 4x4.

Drag link, Tie rod, Cambers, it's all new. Even the passenger side ball joints are new, only lacking the drivers side. How do you put a shim in the gear box?

Thanks!
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 09:48 AM
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Gabby
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From: Fridley,MN - N.Mpls
Loose Steering

I'm not exactly sure how to shim the gearbox, but I know guys that have done it...better off and easier to replace it
 
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Old Sep 15, 2003 | 09:07 PM
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Loose Steering

I'm a newbee at Ford, and trucks...previous experiences Porsche 944 and B52H engines. Anyhow, my 90 F250 4wd had a huge amount of slop in steering, and it was the universal steering shaft between firewall and gear box. I'm sure you checked this. Anyhow, my shims that let it colapse during crash were gone, so I pulled the shaft, and fixed the slop with a rectangle of sheetmetal used as a shim. Duh...damn shadetree mech.
 
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Old Sep 16, 2003 | 02:41 PM
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Loose Steering

You need a new gearbox.
 
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Old Sep 16, 2003 | 03:58 PM
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Loose Steering

You need a new gerabox? This forum is great. All the good information, and friendly people, it's just overwhelming, I"ll tell you what.
 
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Old Sep 16, 2003 | 05:22 PM
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Loose Steering

Gabby, your sig is funny as hell.

tigerfan: if the prognosis is to replace, might as well hit that nut with an impact wrench and see if you can break it loose and adjust.
 
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Old Sep 16, 2003 | 10:49 PM
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From: Fridley,MN - N.Mpls
Talking Loose Steering

Thanks man..I speak the truth !
 
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Old Sep 24, 2003 | 10:22 PM
  #11  
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Loose Steering

i had the same problem and i would guess both your pitman arm and steering sector box need to be replaced. you said that the nut on the steering sector box wouldnt move. My guess is that the splines on the pitman arm and steering sector box are worn and the nut is bottomed out. you could probable get away with just the pitman arm but if you want it to last very long i would suggest replacing the steering sector box too.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2003 | 04:16 AM
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I replaced the gear box Saturday, like I said before, the whole front end is new except for the lower ball joint on the drivers side. The old gearbox came out of a junker. She turns on a dime now!
 
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