Cool, Easy & Effective
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Cool, Easy & Effective
I’ve been trying to make my ‘99 E150 better to drive since I got it a few years ago. Always had a weird feel in the steering, particularly on the highway at or just off center. Lane changes and slight corrections were exaggerated. A year or so ago, I sprayed the steering shaft/firewall grommet down pretty thoroughly with white lithium grease. Apparently little or no lube creeped into where it was needed. I’d been thinking of revisiting this but always something else going on. And to think it took all of a few minutes with a hooked seal removal tool and some silicone paste. May be one of the best and cheapest improvements ever.
It’s been pretty windy the last few days and my commute has been much less white knuckled. Looking forward to installing the Hellwig front sway bar I blew part of my stimulus money on.
It’s been pretty windy the last few days and my commute has been much less white knuckled. Looking forward to installing the Hellwig front sway bar I blew part of my stimulus money on.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,259
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From: IL
If you're sure all of your frontend parts are in decent shape and not worn out causing loose steering, the problem could be where the round part of your steering shaft meets the square tube part, there may be spring steel shims holding the two pieces and sometimes they get wore out, I've seen other ones where they put hard plastic or nylon shims in between the two pieces...It's just a thought. I had to fix an old Dodge w250 plow truck that had a lot of slop this way, and made it drive almost like brand new.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
If you're sure all of your frontend parts are in decent shape and not worn out causing loose steering, the problem could be where the round part of your steering shaft meets the square tube part, there may be spring steel shims holding the two pieces and sometimes they get wore out, I've seen other ones where they put hard plastic or nylon shims in between the two pieces...It's just a thought. I had to fix an old Dodge w250 plow truck that had a lot of slop this way, and made it drive almost like brand new.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 438
From: IL
The steering shaft still has to be able to slide up and down for movement. Where does that come from? If it were a solid piece, even with Ujoints. Every time a large bump or hole were hit the shaft would be driven either towards the steering wheel or into the gear box and cause damage. So wheres the slip joint factor at?
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I just looked at my photo. I was looking for that folding...and broken handheld light for a few days ago. Good thing it didn’t get hung up under the accelerator.
I replaced the intermediate shaft a few years ago. Seems it could benefit with more grease packed into it. I don’t remember if you can pull it apart. Guess you’d just get as much as you can in it. Chevy trucks had a clunking problem and I believe there was a TSB advising grease.
I replaced the intermediate shaft a few years ago. Seems it could benefit with more grease packed into it. I don’t remember if you can pull it apart. Guess you’d just get as much as you can in it. Chevy trucks had a clunking problem and I believe there was a TSB advising grease.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
The steering shaft still has to be able to slide up and down for movement. Where does that come from? If it were a solid piece, even with Ujoints. Every time a large bump or hole were hit the shaft would be driven either towards the steering wheel or into the gear box and cause damage. So wheres the slip joint factor at?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: IL
Ford van's don't need "slippage" because the steering wheel through the column all the way to the steering box are mounted solidly to the frame. Forced movement of the wheels due bumps etc is basically absorbed by the steering box, its not transmitted through the steering linkage as you fear. Ford designed their systems especially into the 90's a bit different than GM or Chrysler.
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