wandering steering.....
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 868
Likes: 84
From: Florida
wandering steering.....
So lately I've noticed small drifts in direction (lane float) while traveling highway. I am sure it's been covered here but here is the question..."Should you be able to grab the larger Tie Rod Spindle and move it (rotate it) front to back"? Is it not supposed to be stiff and resist the hand turning? I haven't changed any front end steering components in such a long time, maybe now's the time. When changing out these steering parts do you have to remove anything else under the 2002 F 250 CC 4WD?
PJ
PJ
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,251
Likes: 438
From: IL
You should be able to rotate the tie rod as it basically sits in a ball, but you should not have play up and down or side to side. Best way to check it is to get the frontend off the ground and check them that way or have someone sit in the truck and slowly move the wheel back and forth while you watch to see if there is play.
New User
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
So lately I've noticed small drifts in direction (lane float) while traveling highway. I am sure it's been covered here but here is the question..."Should you be able to grab the larger Tie Rod Spindle and move it (rotate it) front to back"? Is it not supposed to be stiff and resist the hand turning? I haven't changed any front end steering components in such a long time, maybe now's the time. When changing out these steering parts do you have to remove anything else under the 2002 F 250 CC 4WD?
PJ
PJ
New User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
I just went down this road myself with my 99 f350 cc. The steering slop was fairly bad and annoying to drive. I did a dana 60 swap from an f550 and replaced every steering link, balljoints, wheel bearings, etc... the axle came with a used motorcraft reman gear that I installed as well. After an alignment the slop was exactly the same. My caster was good at just over 4 degrees. I decided to bite the bullet and get a blue top steering gear. This solved 100% of my issue. I've worked as a fleet tech for 17 years with many many fords and I've never had a leaf sprung super duty that steers like my truck. If your tie rods and ball joints are in good shape the red head/blue top steering gears may be a good solution. It may also be worth having a good alignment shop check your caster.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 868
Likes: 84
From: Florida
"If your tie rods and ball joints are in good shape the red head/blue top steering gears may be a good solution. It may also be worth having a good alignment shop check your caster". Okay, so what's the Redhead/Blue Top relative to the steering gears..? Any pix?? A link perhaps...
PJ
PJ
New User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
They are both places that reman steering gears, other rebuilders dont address anything that would correct slop/play. Blue top and red head both actually rebuild and improve them to eliminate play. Here are their websites:
Bluetop:
https://bluetopsteeringgears-com.3dcartstores.com/
Red Head:
https://redheadsteeringgears.com/
Bluetop:
https://bluetopsteeringgears-com.3dcartstores.com/
Red Head:
https://redheadsteeringgears.com/
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Ventura, Ca
So lately I've noticed small drifts in direction (lane float) while traveling highway. I am sure it's been covered here but here is the question..."Should you be able to grab the larger Tie Rod Spindle and move it (rotate it) front to back"? Is it not supposed to be stiff and resist the hand turning? I haven't changed any front end steering components in such a long time, maybe now's the time. When changing out these steering parts do you have to remove anything else under the 2002 F 250 CC 4WD?
PJ
PJ
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 396
Likes: 10
From: Fort Mill SC
Sounds a lot like my old 01 7.3, it would use all three lanes on the highway if I let it, quite the workout driving it, I tried to tighten / adjust the steering box, ran out of available adjustment, swapped tjhe box out with a used one from the bone yard, a lot of improvement but not 100%, reason 837 why I got rid of it.
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