The wandering Ex
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 3
Exactly pirate, with all the reading I’ve done, the return to center should be perfect with 5* of caster.
The free spin kit was installed in August, I’ve put on 1700 miles since then. I’m not going to retorque them now because it will need to come apart later this month when it’s in for state inspection, I think I will just have them put in new ball joints then. I take it to a 4x4 shop that I trust, they did the spring swap and gears, so I’m comfortable with them and with their work. The owner also owns an Ex, he has a 6” lift on his and has 6.0, so he’s familiar with how our trucks handle.
The pitman arm and trac bar and mount are factory. I was thinking about getting an adjustable trac bar but I’ll wait and see what the new ball joints do for my steering.
The free spin kit was installed in August, I’ve put on 1700 miles since then. I’m not going to retorque them now because it will need to come apart later this month when it’s in for state inspection, I think I will just have them put in new ball joints then. I take it to a 4x4 shop that I trust, they did the spring swap and gears, so I’m comfortable with them and with their work. The owner also owns an Ex, he has a 6” lift on his and has 6.0, so he’s familiar with how our trucks handle.
The pitman arm and trac bar and mount are factory. I was thinking about getting an adjustable trac bar but I’ll wait and see what the new ball joints do for my steering.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Exactly pirate, with all the reading I’ve done, the return to center should be perfect with 5* of caster.
The free spin kit was installed in August, I’ve put on 1700 miles since then. I’m not going to retorque them now because it will need to come apart later this month when it’s in for state inspection, I think I will just have them put in new ball joints then. I take it to a 4x4 shop that I trust, they did the spring swap and gears, so I’m comfortable with them and with their work. The owner also owns an Ex, he has a 6” lift on his and has 6.0, so he’s familiar with how our trucks handle.
The pitman arm and trac bar and mount are factory. I was thinking about getting an adjustable trac bar but I’ll wait and see what the new ball joints do for my steering.
The free spin kit was installed in August, I’ve put on 1700 miles since then. I’m not going to retorque them now because it will need to come apart later this month when it’s in for state inspection, I think I will just have them put in new ball joints then. I take it to a 4x4 shop that I trust, they did the spring swap and gears, so I’m comfortable with them and with their work. The owner also owns an Ex, he has a 6” lift on his and has 6.0, so he’s familiar with how our trucks handle.
The pitman arm and trac bar and mount are factory. I was thinking about getting an adjustable trac bar but I’ll wait and see what the new ball joints do for my steering.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
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Likes: 3
So I just got back from the 4x4 shop. They did the Pa state inspection and everything passed easily. They went so far as taking off the tie rods and twisting the wheel and tire back and forth, ball joint are smooth, no tightness, no signs of wear, everything in the front end is in excellent condition. They put it on the alignment rack and it’s still at the same setting it was before. So really nothing has changed. The owner of the shop agreed that he felt the wandering when he drove it. He thought for sure he would find a bad part but found everything was good, in fact he said the front end is in excellent condition. So not really sure where to go from here, maybe I’ll play around with air pressures in the tires, but I’m not confident that’s the problem. I was thinking about my wheels, they are lug centric, and even though I have them torqued to 165 ft/lbs, maybe I have a bad wheel. But when I rotated them last summer, it didn’t change the way it drove. So for now my modding plans are on hold until I figure out what to do with this truck.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
1. With the engine off and wheels straight ahead how much play is in the steering wheel before you feel the resistance of the wheels beginning to turn ?
2. Did you have the front wheel bearings adjusted when they did the state inspection ?
3. What conditions are the tires in ?
4. Have you removed a front shock and compressed it to confirm they are good ?
5. An often over looked item is the shackle bushing mounted in the frame, while you are checking that check the leaf spring eye bushings.
Bottom line is, something is loose or worn out. Leave no stone unturned. It’s there somewhere.
2. Did you have the front wheel bearings adjusted when they did the state inspection ?
3. What conditions are the tires in ?
4. Have you removed a front shock and compressed it to confirm they are good ?
5. An often over looked item is the shackle bushing mounted in the frame, while you are checking that check the leaf spring eye bushings.
Bottom line is, something is loose or worn out. Leave no stone unturned. It’s there somewhere.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
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There is no play in the steering wheel
The new hubs were tightened up
The tires have about 6000 miles on them, I’m going to rotate them again when it stops raining and the ground dries out
The Bilstein 4600 series shocks were toast after 1 year of use. I bought new front KYB shocks last November, the rear shocks are Bilstein and seem to ok.
The springs are only a couple of years old, probably only 8000 miles. All the bushings were replaced when the springs were installed.
The new hubs were tightened up
The tires have about 6000 miles on them, I’m going to rotate them again when it stops raining and the ground dries out
The Bilstein 4600 series shocks were toast after 1 year of use. I bought new front KYB shocks last November, the rear shocks are Bilstein and seem to ok.
The springs are only a couple of years old, probably only 8000 miles. All the bushings were replaced when the springs were installed.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
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I looked at my maintenance notebook.
The springs, gears, red head steering box, shocks, wheels and tires were all done April/May of 2017. The truck had 117,200 miles on it at the time. It now has 127,800 miles on it. So 10,000 miles later and less than 2 years.
The springs, gears, red head steering box, shocks, wheels and tires were all done April/May of 2017. The truck had 117,200 miles on it at the time. It now has 127,800 miles on it. So 10,000 miles later and less than 2 years.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 190
Likes: 1
From digging around on this forum over the past couple of months and other experiences I'd replace the power steering pump.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 240
From: Texas
Steering box and power steering pump are two separate parts. We are trying to help you. I’m running 5” lift and 35” rubber and can let go of the wheel and it tracks straight as an arrow WITH a 181,000 mile steering box and new power steering pump.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 240
From: Texas
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 240
From: Texas
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
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Likes: 3
So I took the Ex out last night to get cheesesteaks, and on the way back home I had a heavy foot, I was anxious to eat, I heard the serpentine belt slip during the 2-3 shift. So that got me thinking, if the belt is slipping, then the PS pump is not getting enough fluid to the box. Couldn’t check it out last night because it was pouring rain. So first thing this morning I checked the belt and I could push it down or even pull it up 2 inches, obviously that’s wat too loose. The tensioner isn’t as tight as it should be. So I ordered a new belt, tensioner and idler pulley from Tasca this morning. Hopefully that helps, I’m sure I will feel some change.