Front end wander
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 9
From: Wellington, Co
Front end wander
So my latest issue. This thing has started to really feel loose in the front end. Initially seemed to pull to the left at times, like a tire low or a belt shifted. R and B 'd tires, no change. Have looked and pried, nothing obvious in the joints. It is getting slowly worse, and trying to make appt to take into Ford for alignment, hopefully something will show itself. Curious what experience folks have had with the steering gear? Adj ? I have read some stuff about the axle joints binding, but would that cause problems in a straight line with hubs dis engaged? This has been going on for a couple of months now, ready to fix!
Thanks.
Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: Citrus & Levy County, FL
Subscribing.
I have a little sloppiness to the left and its really noticeable on a road that is crowned in the center.
My truck gets borrowed a lot and its almost like the left front tire ran into something and got tweaked.
I have check all my front end components and nothing jumps out. Alignment is next and then look into the steering box.
I searched and found these, if you haven't already.
Hope your question gets some traction.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-steering.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-steering.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...r-sloppiness-2.
I have a little sloppiness to the left and its really noticeable on a road that is crowned in the center.
My truck gets borrowed a lot and its almost like the left front tire ran into something and got tweaked.
I have check all my front end components and nothing jumps out. Alignment is next and then look into the steering box.
I searched and found these, if you haven't already.
Hope your question gets some traction.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-steering.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-steering.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...r-sloppiness-2.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 94
They will usually inspect the front end for free at the dealer when performing an alignment. Perfect time to increase the rate lol I always ask them to do an inspection it’s good to get a second set of eyes on the truck. Of course try to do the work your self if possible.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 179
From: Phenix City, AL
Here is the thread that @mecdac is referring to: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post16086297
Its from the Excursion forum but should still apply.
Its from the Excursion forum but should still apply.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 1,329
From: Elk Grove, CA
I'd suggest getting a helper to relentlessly saw back and forth on the steering wheel while you relax under the truck observing the front end components. Look at all the end links, and if the steering input lags action at the pitman arm. The steering box can be tightened, from the top. A 4.5mm allen and 19mm box end IIRC, advance the allen wrench carefully, like 1/4 turn at a time. Search up some treads for details.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 658
From: South AR
Some great advise. How old are your ball joints. Mine tested fine by 3 shops AND 2 dealers. They were dry though I found after being at my whits end and changing them anyway. There is a friction test you can do to determine. Have to rig up something like two steel plates with grease in between if dont have access to a alignment rack turn tables.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 9
From: Wellington, Co
Thanks all for the replies. Since the Ford dealer is booked into next week have some time to play. Ball joints, a very possible culprit. No clunking, dried powder from lack of lubrication, but are most likely original. Trying not do go crazy replacing stuff, but they are worth replacing to be sure. Which will be a good time to replace u joints. Hope I don't discover much else. Tie rod ends and all look good, can't get any play out of them. Can't convince myself there is excess play in the box but ??
Oh what fun.
Oh what fun.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,884
Likes: 180
From: Morgan Hill, CA
David has a good suggestion. Depending on the miles and usage, a lot of these trucks are candidates for restoration at this point. Mine has 300k miles of mostly pavement and I had Duck Fan replace everything, and I mean everything in the steering system. Unsurprisingly, it steers like new. Zero wander. Zero play.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 9
From: Wellington, Co
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than ? Decided to replace the steering stabilizer, looked like it was starting to leak again, and maybe 90% of my issue is fixed. I am still figuring out if what I still feel is me being paranoid. So speaking of ball joints, I keep seeing mention that the originals did not have grease zerks? Mine do, so maybe a chance they were replaced prior to my getting the truck. I am the third owner, bought with 191K on it, but the guy I bought from didn't mention replacing them. I don't know. I pushed grease out of the joints when I lubed them, enough to see no rust or apparent issues.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 299
Likes: 114
From: Nevada
I didn't have a pull but was chasing a rattle/clunk over bumps. Decided to do the joints just so I knew they were good. All 4 looked and felt tight testing them. When I took all the excess weight off, ie brakes, rotors, axles, and unhooked tie rod, the knuckle just flopped back and forth with no resistance. They weren't the cause of the rattle, but they were definitely on their way out. I was sure glad I changed them. Now I know when they were last done.
The rattle ended up being rusty bolts in the lower shock mounts. Both sides were old enough they were a few sizes too small and beat the heck out of the bushing in the shock. Now I know when the shocks were replaced. I'll have me a brand new 20 year old truck by the time I get done replacing everything!
The rattle ended up being rusty bolts in the lower shock mounts. Both sides were old enough they were a few sizes too small and beat the heck out of the bushing in the shock. Now I know when the shocks were replaced. I'll have me a brand new 20 year old truck by the time I get done replacing everything!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: north of Minneapolis, MN
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than ? Decided to replace the steering stabilizer, looked like it was starting to leak again, and maybe 90% of my issue is fixed. I am still figuring out if what I still feel is me being paranoid. So speaking of ball joints, I keep seeing mention that the originals did not have grease zerks? Mine do, so maybe a chance they were replaced prior to my getting the truck. I am the third owner, bought with 191K on it, but the guy I bought from didn't mention replacing them. I don't know. I pushed grease out of the joints when I lubed them, enough to see no rust or apparent issues.