steering drift
New User
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
steering drift
Have a 1994 f-150 4-wd drive with 85000 miles
It drifts especially after hitting a pothole.Steering linkage appears tight when I
checked with friend turning wheel back and forth
with engine running. What seems real unusual is
that with the truck stoped and you turn the wheel
back and forth,the frontend will rise about 2inches on one side and then about 2 inches on the
other depending on which direction you turn.Any
help will be appreciated.
It drifts especially after hitting a pothole.Steering linkage appears tight when I
checked with friend turning wheel back and forth
with engine running. What seems real unusual is
that with the truck stoped and you turn the wheel
back and forth,the frontend will rise about 2inches on one side and then about 2 inches on the
other depending on which direction you turn.Any
help will be appreciated.
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,172
Likes: 4
steering drift
Gary ,
A few things you can check that you didnt mention .... Ball Joints , Wheel Bearings , they may need to be adjusted ? Equal tire pressures may a big difference . The rise and fall of the front end as you turn the wheel from lock to lock is a normal characteristic of the twin I beam front end . Does your truck have 4 shocks up front ? Check their bushings as well .
Paul
A few things you can check that you didnt mention .... Ball Joints , Wheel Bearings , they may need to be adjusted ? Equal tire pressures may a big difference . The rise and fall of the front end as you turn the wheel from lock to lock is a normal characteristic of the twin I beam front end . Does your truck have 4 shocks up front ? Check their bushings as well .
Paul
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Craig
steering drift
Might also check the pitman arm. I have a 4" Trailmaster lift on my 82 and after about 1 year, I noticed the steering was acting funny. I was checking the balljoints and noticed that when I pushed the passenger tire (which was off the ground and the drivers tire was still on the ground) that the pitman arm was moving up and down about an inch. It was causing the steering geometry to be way out. I ended up machining a washer to fit between the pitman and the lock washer. This has helped the steering back to normal (if you want to call it that)
You may also want to check the radius arm bushings. These tend to wear, which allows the radius arm to move back and forth. This movement will cause the steering to change as well. If the bushing on the pass side is worn out, the radius arm will move back, which will cause the tire to track to the right. Same with the drivers side.
You may also want to check the radius arm bushings. These tend to wear, which allows the radius arm to move back and forth. This movement will cause the steering to change as well. If the bushing on the pass side is worn out, the radius arm will move back, which will cause the tire to track to the right. Same with the drivers side.
