Need help diagnosing steering issues
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Need help diagnosing steering issues
I have a 1987 F150 4.9l. Tie rods and ball joints were recently replaced and front wheel bearings repacked and adjusted. When I replaced the ball joints I didn't know that they come without grease and did a 5 mile test drive dry. After that I realized my mistake and greased them. After all that was done I got an alignment.
The steering wheel always had quite a bit play since I got the truck in December. After all the above work has been done the play got better but I also noticed that the wheel will not return to center after a turn (driven maybe 50-60 miles with the new ball joints). It may have been doing it since I got it but if so I didn't pay attention or it didn't bother me. When I grab the steering shaft and move it by hand there is a good bit of play that I can also see in the wheel. It seems that the joint to the steering gear box is lose.
The last few days I have been reading about steering gear boxes and intermediate shafts but I am confused about what causes what issue and how to diagnose and pinpoint. How do I test all this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
The steering wheel always had quite a bit play since I got the truck in December. After all the above work has been done the play got better but I also noticed that the wheel will not return to center after a turn (driven maybe 50-60 miles with the new ball joints). It may have been doing it since I got it but if so I didn't pay attention or it didn't bother me. When I grab the steering shaft and move it by hand there is a good bit of play that I can also see in the wheel. It seems that the joint to the steering gear box is lose.
The last few days I have been reading about steering gear boxes and intermediate shafts but I am confused about what causes what issue and how to diagnose and pinpoint. How do I test all this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,569
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
get a helper. with engine off but key turned off lock, go through the driver side wheel well and hold the lower part of the steering shaft. have helper gently rock steering wheel left to right. look where the lower shaft goes into the upper steering shaft and see if there is any movement.
there is a slip shaft there. it is the crush point for front end impact to prevent the steering shaft from becoming a spear of death in a front end impact.
in the slip joint, there is a teflon collar that is held in place by a small spring steel clip. if the clip breaks, the collar will fall out and cause about 1/4 play in the steering wheel.
if this happens, you will see the movement in the shaft.
unfortunately, this i not considered a repair item by ford, and you can not buy part to repair it.
you will have to take it apart and repair it yourself, or replace the steering column.
there is a slip shaft there. it is the crush point for front end impact to prevent the steering shaft from becoming a spear of death in a front end impact.
in the slip joint, there is a teflon collar that is held in place by a small spring steel clip. if the clip breaks, the collar will fall out and cause about 1/4 play in the steering wheel.
if this happens, you will see the movement in the shaft.
unfortunately, this i not considered a repair item by ford, and you can not buy part to repair it.
you will have to take it apart and repair it yourself, or replace the steering column.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,569
Likes: 5,605
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
99% of the time when i take the column apart the spring clip and bushing are floating around in the upper shaft.
if i need parts i get a junk yard column and make one out of the two.
you can also do this by yourself, but it is a bit of a pain to get both arms in there to move the upper and lower shafts to look for play.
if i need parts i get a junk yard column and make one out of the two.
you can also do this by yourself, but it is a bit of a pain to get both arms in there to move the upper and lower shafts to look for play.
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Got a helper tonight and did the test. The shaft is solid. Am I correct to assume that the steering gear box is the issue? Anything else I should check?
I looked for the screws to adjust the box just to see if that would make any change. However it is located under the AC compressor (I think) and very hard to reach. anybody any idea how to adjust it? I know it's not the ideal and recommended way but I'd like to see if an adjustment changes anything before I get a new gear box.
I looked for the screws to adjust the box just to see if that would make any change. However it is located under the AC compressor (I think) and very hard to reach. anybody any idea how to adjust it? I know it's not the ideal and recommended way but I'd like to see if an adjustment changes anything before I get a new gear box.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,569
Likes: 5,605
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
this is a good description of box adjustment:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9725742
that post is for the 99-03 superduty, but it is pretty much the same way i do it for all boxes.
some use a screwdriver instead of an allen wrench to adjust the gear lash.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9725742
that post is for the 99-03 superduty, but it is pretty much the same way i do it for all boxes.
some use a screwdriver instead of an allen wrench to adjust the gear lash.
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