Sloppy steering.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Sloppy steering.
Looking for a good replacement setup for loose sloppy steering. Tie rods.. ball joints. Decent quality. I don’t want to crash because some $50 a day cheap labor guy didn’t want to do his job that day.
e99 4wd 6 inch lift 37s.
Yes I know this will add to some slop.
Thanks for any suggestions.
e99 4wd 6 inch lift 37s.
Yes I know this will add to some slop.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Last edited by Stewart_H; May 24, 2018 at 01:37 AM. Reason: Edited to remove racial smear
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 1,065
From: Douglassville, PA
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,886
Likes: 180
From: Morgan Hill, CA
Peter aka Duck Fan did a great job with my steering. I bought all new ball joints, tie rods & ends, and drag link from XRF Ford Truck Front End Kits | Front End Kits available from American Undercar
Also installed a brand spankin' new steering box and why not since we're at it a brand spankin' new steering wheel, the truck drives like the day I bought it 19 years ago.
Also installed a brand spankin' new steering box and why not since we're at it a brand spankin' new steering wheel, the truck drives like the day I bought it 19 years ago.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 2
From: Hat Creek Ca
Tormz,
Replaced my steering box with a Red Head several years ago (after a Ford reman did not do the trick) and have never looked back. However some have had issues with them lately but I have not seen any details on this.
Replaced my steering box with a Red Head several years ago (after a Ford reman did not do the trick) and have never looked back. However some have had issues with them lately but I have not seen any details on this.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 188
From: Norco,CA
Was hoping not to go Red Head, just seems like a lot of money. Been there don e that. We'll see.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,947
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I had a steering gear blowout about 1.5 years ago. I had no choice but to replace the OEM with an AutoZone version. That AutoZone gear leaked very slowly and I replaced it under the lifetime warranty 6 months after installing it.
This time I had the opportunity to purchase a RedHead, but due to the gear cost, shipping cost to GA and the core return not being provided because I would be sending in a remanned gear, I decided to go with the free replacement from AutoZone.
I imagine it is not as responsive as the RedHead and may not last as long, but it certainly gets the job done and feels just fine when turning for a fraction of the cost. Perhaps I will regret the choice to get the warranty replacement, but for now I am happy with my choice.
If I do need to replace the gear again, I plan to go with a remanned MotorCraft. RedHead has had some quality control issues lately and I can get the full core charge back with a MotorCraft gear.
Just my .02
This time I had the opportunity to purchase a RedHead, but due to the gear cost, shipping cost to GA and the core return not being provided because I would be sending in a remanned gear, I decided to go with the free replacement from AutoZone.
I imagine it is not as responsive as the RedHead and may not last as long, but it certainly gets the job done and feels just fine when turning for a fraction of the cost. Perhaps I will regret the choice to get the warranty replacement, but for now I am happy with my choice.
If I do need to replace the gear again, I plan to go with a remanned MotorCraft. RedHead has had some quality control issues lately and I can get the full core charge back with a MotorCraft gear.
Just my .02
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
This forum frequently hosts a group buy, where Red Head significantly reduces the price - depending on the number of people in the group buy. I think it's been a long time since the last one took place, so you might be able to instigate one that grows quickly.
I bought a Red Head during a group buy almost three years ago, and here is the result...
The drive to the shop to have the steering box replaced:
Later that day, after the Red Head box install.
I bought a Red Head during a group buy almost three years ago, and here is the result...
The drive to the shop to have the steering box replaced:
Later that day, after the Red Head box install.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 34
From: Los Angeles, Ca.
I've installed several rebuilt boxes from Autozone, Oreilly's, etc. and haven't gotten a sloppy one.
Make sure your bushings are all good. Track bar bushings can really make for some sloppy stuff. If it has the rubber donut in the steering shaft check that, often overlooked and can cause a really sloppy steering. Also make sure the pitman arm nut is tight and the box mounting bolts are tight, I've found a few that were loose causing significant slop.
Make sure your bushings are all good. Track bar bushings can really make for some sloppy stuff. If it has the rubber donut in the steering shaft check that, often overlooked and can cause a really sloppy steering. Also make sure the pitman arm nut is tight and the box mounting bolts are tight, I've found a few that were loose causing significant slop.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
XRF ball joints and tie rod kit on order. Steering box is about a year old. Auto zone special. Less than 2k on that box. What’s the best setup for drag link bushings. Can I take it to the local outfit and get new ones pressed in? Or is there a good setup on the innerweb
Thanks for the input all
Thanks for the input all
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Yes it is and yea that’s a bit of a run. I can put all the new stuff in. Just can’t press bushings.