Front suspension
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New User
Joined: Sep 2021
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Thank you! So there's a lot of play in steering about 3-4 inches. There's a kluncking noise that you can hear and also feel under your feet especially going over bumps.. Also the truck has 294k miles.
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New User
Joined: Sep 2021
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I live in Ohio. Truck has been around here since 2000. 294k. Front brakes and rotors good. Previous owners cared for the truck well but nothing was replaced in front. Play in steering is the most obvious issue.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,121
Likes: 4,723
From: Henderson, NV
- Tie rod and drag link ends.
- Wheel bearings.
- Ball joints.
- Track bar bushings.
- Steering gear.
- Leaf spring bushings.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 442
From: Eastern Washington
Yup. At 300k I would suspect it needs everything. $1000 if you do it yourself, $2500-$3000 if your paying for it to be done.
Add sway bar end links to FTN's list for the clunking.
If your keeping the truck I'd suggest a Redhead or BlueTop steering gearbox. They cost a bit more but are well worth it.
You can probably get most of the steering play out with 2 of the above items. Check Ball Joints before buying tires. Pay for an alignment after fixing everything.
Have fun!
Add sway bar end links to FTN's list for the clunking.
If your keeping the truck I'd suggest a Redhead or BlueTop steering gearbox. They cost a bit more but are well worth it.
You can probably get most of the steering play out with 2 of the above items. Check Ball Joints before buying tires. Pay for an alignment after fixing everything.
Have fun!
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New User
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 9
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Okay. There can be multiple causes of this. We usually check the following:
- Tie rod and drag link ends.
- Wheel bearings.
- Ball joints.
- Track bar bushings.
- Steering gear.
- Leaf spring bushings.
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Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 9
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Okay. There can be multiple causes of this. We usually check the following:
- Tie rod and drag link ends.
- Wheel bearings.
- Ball joints.
- Track bar bushings.
- Steering gear.
- Leaf spring bushings.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Yup. At 300k I would suspect it needs everything. $1000 if you do it yourself, $2500-$3000 if your paying for it to be done.
Add sway bar end links to FTN's list for the clunking.
If your keeping the truck I'd suggest a Redhead or BlueTop steering gearbox. They cost a bit more but are well worth it.
You can probably get most of the steering play out with 2 of the above items. Check Ball Joints before buying tires. Pay for an alignment after fixing everything.
Have fun!
Add sway bar end links to FTN's list for the clunking.
If your keeping the truck I'd suggest a Redhead or BlueTop steering gearbox. They cost a bit more but are well worth it.
You can probably get most of the steering play out with 2 of the above items. Check Ball Joints before buying tires. Pay for an alignment after fixing everything.
Have fun!
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,121
Likes: 4,723
From: Henderson, NV
You're welcome and good luck! There are a bunch of articles in the Tech Folder at the top of this forum that shows you how to work on the truck. Have a read through those.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 425
For some perspective, on my 350k 99 F350, here's what I had to replace in the front end:
-Sway bar end-links (one of mine was clunking)
-Steering box (went with redhead) and steering pump
-Tie rod
-Drag link
-Passenger side axle stub
-Did u-joints since I had to replace a stub. Might not have been needed
-Both front wheel bearings (one had bad needle bearing, other had bad wheel bearing)
-Brake calipers and pads (also new rotors to convert from E99 to L99)
-Axle stub/knuckle seals
-Installed the updated inner axle seals either side of the differential since I was in there
-Changed front diff fluid
-Alignment after it was all said and done.
...and that's just the front end!
You might not need all of that, but if your front end hasn't been worked on, given the year and mileage, don't be surprised if you need most of it. Make sure you go with quality parts and proper assembly technique so you never have to do this again.
-Sway bar end-links (one of mine was clunking)
-Steering box (went with redhead) and steering pump
-Tie rod
-Drag link
-Passenger side axle stub
-Did u-joints since I had to replace a stub. Might not have been needed
-Both front wheel bearings (one had bad needle bearing, other had bad wheel bearing)
-Brake calipers and pads (also new rotors to convert from E99 to L99)
-Axle stub/knuckle seals
-Installed the updated inner axle seals either side of the differential since I was in there
-Changed front diff fluid
-Alignment after it was all said and done.
...and that's just the front end!
You might not need all of that, but if your front end hasn't been worked on, given the year and mileage, don't be surprised if you need most of it. Make sure you go with quality parts and proper assembly technique so you never have to do this again.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,353
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
If you do end up needing a steering gear box, check out BlueTop.
BlueTop link: https://bluetopsteeringgears-com.3dcartstores.com/
Recent thread detailing the BlueTop gear: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-gear-box.html
BlueTop link: https://bluetopsteeringgears-com.3dcartstores.com/
Recent thread detailing the BlueTop gear: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-gear-box.html