Steering Gearbox
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 354
Likes: 9
Steering Gearbox
Also posted in the superduty section.. need to get diagnosed ASAP!
I’m sure this question has been asked and answered, but I don’t have the time to research past threads.
‘00 F250 PSD 4x4 w/ 330k on the clock.. new ball joints, tight tie rod ends, new hubs, alignment dead on, new stock sized tires, stock steering box, all suspension is as tight as I can determine with a large pry bar.
Lots of wondering on road when driving, like chasing a snake. Very little play in steering wheel. (Been adjusted). There’s probably 1/8-1/4 vertical play in output shaft of steering box.(is this normal?).
Any ideas what’s going on here? Suggestions?
I’m sure this question has been asked and answered, but I don’t have the time to research past threads.
‘00 F250 PSD 4x4 w/ 330k on the clock.. new ball joints, tight tie rod ends, new hubs, alignment dead on, new stock sized tires, stock steering box, all suspension is as tight as I can determine with a large pry bar.
Lots of wondering on road when driving, like chasing a snake. Very little play in steering wheel. (Been adjusted). There’s probably 1/8-1/4 vertical play in output shaft of steering box.(is this normal?).
Any ideas what’s going on here? Suggestions?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,344
Likes: 5,941
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Also posted in the superduty section.. need to get diagnosed ASAP!
I’m sure this question has been asked and answered, but I don’t have the time to research past threads.
‘00 F250 PSD 4x4 w/ 330k on the clock.. new ball joints, tight tie rod ends, new hubs, alignment dead on, new stock sized tires, stock steering box, all suspension is as tight as I can determine with a large pry bar.
Lots of wondering on road when driving, like chasing a snake. Very little play in steering wheel. (Been adjusted). There’s probably 1/8-1/4 vertical play in output shaft of steering box.(is this normal?).
Any ideas what’s going on here? Suggestions?
I’m sure this question has been asked and answered, but I don’t have the time to research past threads.
‘00 F250 PSD 4x4 w/ 330k on the clock.. new ball joints, tight tie rod ends, new hubs, alignment dead on, new stock sized tires, stock steering box, all suspension is as tight as I can determine with a large pry bar.
Lots of wondering on road when driving, like chasing a snake. Very little play in steering wheel. (Been adjusted). There’s probably 1/8-1/4 vertical play in output shaft of steering box.(is this normal?).
Any ideas what’s going on here? Suggestions?
Although, I will try and assist you toward a speedy resolution...
What brand is the steering box? I have had two brand (read as remanned) new parts stores steering gears that were absolute garbage.
Are the tires mud tires or street tires or an AT?
What brand ball joints and what is considered "new"?
The "wondering", is this wander like the truck is pulling in one direction? Have you checked the temperature of the rotors/wheels after a troubled drive?
Condition of the brakes in the front especially?
My steering box has about 1/4" movement in the output shaft, but it is a POS that I look forward to removing soon.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Vertical movement of steering gear is not OK.
Who did the alignment? These trucks need 1/8-1/4” of toe-in.
I’ve had trucks that were a challenge to get to drive straight. Adding 5* caster bushings fixes them.
Who did the alignment? These trucks need 1/8-1/4” of toe-in.
I’ve had trucks that were a challenge to get to drive straight. Adding 5* caster bushings fixes them.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 354
Likes: 9
Coincidentally it is much faster to find a related thread with possible solutions via the search function instead of waiting for someone to come along and read your thread.
Although, I will try and assist you toward a speedy resolution...
What brand is the steering box? I have had two brand (read as remanned) new parts stores steering gears that were absolute garbage.
Are the tires mud tires or street tires or an AT?
What brand ball joints and what is considered "new"?
The "wondering", is this wander like the truck is pulling in one direction? Have you checked the temperature of the rotors/wheels after a troubled drive?
Condition of the brakes in the front especially?
My steering box has about 1/4" movement in the output shaft, but it is a POS that I look forward to removing soon.
Although, I will try and assist you toward a speedy resolution...
What brand is the steering box? I have had two brand (read as remanned) new parts stores steering gears that were absolute garbage.
Are the tires mud tires or street tires or an AT?
What brand ball joints and what is considered "new"?
The "wondering", is this wander like the truck is pulling in one direction? Have you checked the temperature of the rotors/wheels after a troubled drive?
Condition of the brakes in the front especially?
My steering box has about 1/4" movement in the output shaft, but it is a POS that I look forward to removing soon.
*Steering Box is stock..
*Std / stock size tires that are Cooper AT3
* Ball Joints are Moog and are less than a month old
*Alignment was checked on laser alignment system by Firestone
*Brakes and rotors less than 6 mo old, haven’t ckd their heat, but haven’t noticed anything unusual with them
*Today I saw a little bit of vertical movement in the rod end attached to pitman arm, so it was replaced.
The “wondering” is like it following grooves in the road. Just walks all over. Not bad, but ya have to drive it and not be asleep. Pissing me off
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 1,326
From: Elk Grove, CA
Sitting in the truck not running, how big is the dead area where you can turn the steering wheel before hitting resistance?
Could try dialling in more toe. Did you do the ball joint install? The top ball joint goes thru a cam, see pic on page 22 of PDF below. Any chance that was moved? If that was turned out of position the camber will be off.
Still wandering after tie rod at pitman arm replaced? That was a source of wander on my truck.
Also check if the hubs are bad, pretty common. With front end off the ground grab tires at 12 and 6 and shake it hard. Might need some lumber or other tool if it's heavy. Also check at 9 and 3. Loose in both positions is likely bad hubs.
Could try dialling in more toe. Did you do the ball joint install? The top ball joint goes thru a cam, see pic on page 22 of PDF below. Any chance that was moved? If that was turned out of position the camber will be off.
Still wandering after tie rod at pitman arm replaced? That was a source of wander on my truck.
Also check if the hubs are bad, pretty common. With front end off the ground grab tires at 12 and 6 and shake it hard. Might need some lumber or other tool if it's heavy. Also check at 9 and 3. Loose in both positions is likely bad hubs.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Caster cam bushing only goes in one way AFAIK.
I’ve had trucks with this problem (wandering/following the grooves) and when all steering parts were tight and toe in was in spec - 5* caster bushings fixed them.
How many miles on tires? What psi are on them?
I’ve had trucks with this problem (wandering/following the grooves) and when all steering parts were tight and toe in was in spec - 5* caster bushings fixed them.
How many miles on tires? What psi are on them?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,647
Likes: 891
From: north of Minneapolis, MN
When I installed the Moog ball joints in mine....they were a bit sticky for the first 1000 miles.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 653
From: South AR
*Steering Box is stock..
*Std / stock size tires that are Cooper AT3
* Ball Joints are Moog and are less than a month old
*Alignment was checked on laser alignment system by Firestone
*Brakes and rotors less than 6 mo old, haven’t ckd their heat, but haven’t noticed anything unusual with them
*Today I saw a little bit of vertical movement in the rod end attached to pitman arm, so it was replaced.
The “wondering” is like it following grooves in the road. Just walks all over. Not bad, but ya have to drive it and not be asleep. Pissing me off
*Std / stock size tires that are Cooper AT3
* Ball Joints are Moog and are less than a month old
*Alignment was checked on laser alignment system by Firestone
*Brakes and rotors less than 6 mo old, haven’t ckd their heat, but haven’t noticed anything unusual with them
*Today I saw a little bit of vertical movement in the rod end attached to pitman arm, so it was replaced.
The “wondering” is like it following grooves in the road. Just walks all over. Not bad, but ya have to drive it and not be asleep. Pissing me off
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 354
Likes: 9
I do all my own repairs, except alignment, don’t have an alignment machine.
Tire PSI is 70 (80 max)
Hubs are good, no play or grinding.
Drove it a few miles after rod end replacement,, seems to help. Will know more later today or tomorrow.
Caster / Camber bushing only installs one way and it’s in correctly. The 5* bushing might be the fix... I’ll have to go find a couple. Not sure if I want to “toe in” 1/4” yet.(but I might)
Play in steering wheel adjusted out. That was my first stop!
When I installed the Moog ball joints, I also noticed they were sticky. That’s pretty much gone now.
Tire PSI is 70 (80 max)
Hubs are good, no play or grinding.
Drove it a few miles after rod end replacement,, seems to help. Will know more later today or tomorrow.
Caster / Camber bushing only installs one way and it’s in correctly. The 5* bushing might be the fix... I’ll have to go find a couple. Not sure if I want to “toe in” 1/4” yet.(but I might)
Play in steering wheel adjusted out. That was my first stop!
When I installed the Moog ball joints, I also noticed they were sticky. That’s pretty much gone now.
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 75
Likes: 2
Front tires do not call for 70 psi, on my truck anyways. I believe it is 55 psi, and I believe this might be your problem and why the front end of your truck is all over the place. No amount of tire alignment will compensate for an over inflated tire.
I have tried greater than 55 for hypermiling, and it wanders. Correct pressure, much better.
For my truck, 56-57 cold is the sweet spot for wander and tire wear across the tread (stock size and type tires).
You might want to consider checking the sticker on your door and backing down some front end tire pressure and give it a try before getting another alignment.
I have tried greater than 55 for hypermiling, and it wanders. Correct pressure, much better.
For my truck, 56-57 cold is the sweet spot for wander and tire wear across the tread (stock size and type tires).
You might want to consider checking the sticker on your door and backing down some front end tire pressure and give it a try before getting another alignment.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Port Angels, WA
Right on SSJ...Every Ford 250 or 350 whether dually, 4WD or 2WD I have ever owned got exactly what you are calling for...A 5* caster bushing and it tightens up the steering provided all else is in good shape. BTW, not all alignment shops know about that trick because they are afraid to take alignment out of Ford Specs...Sometimes it even took a little more but it also makes it a little harder to turn the steering wheel at slow speeds.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Port Angels, WA
Check out this video
it will tell you everything you want to know about alignments on these trucks.
Sous probably knows this guy.
Sous probably knows this guy.
Last edited by pete500; May 7, 2020 at 03:18 PM. Reason: More Info