Steering "wander"
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Trailering
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 15
Steering "wander"
I picked up my 2022 F-350 SCSB a few weeks back. The steering requires constant corrections when driving 60 and above. It's not pulling, but more like wander from any road imperfections. It is even worse when pulling a 6000 lb travel trailer. The correction is moving the wheel side to side about 4° to 6°. This is more than my 52 year old GM a-body requires. I didn’t expect sports car steering, or even as good as my F-150, but not this bad.
Is this normal or should I take it in for alignment checks? Are there any alignment changes that are preferred on these (more toe in for example)?
Is this normal or should I take it in for alignment checks? Are there any alignment changes that are preferred on these (more toe in for example)?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,640
Likes: 2,435
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,543
Likes: 2,668
From: Near Salt Lake City
You get one alignment from Ford under warranty
Wait until the springs settle a bit maybe 10k miles
You have until 12k and 1 year to get your alignment checked
For sure complain about wander and throw in a shimmy complaint and they may add a steering stabilizer shock for free
Wait until the springs settle a bit maybe 10k miles
You have until 12k and 1 year to get your alignment checked
For sure complain about wander and throw in a shimmy complaint and they may add a steering stabilizer shock for free
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 376
Sometimes front tire high pressure and/or tire tread pattern can cause wander. Might move front tire pressure to lower end of spec and give the tires time to wear in a bit. Won't hurt to jack up the front and check ball joints and tie rods by gripping tire and trying to wiggle.
I've even had a set of aggressive mud tires on the back that caused wander. They never got better so I got rid of them.
I've even had a set of aggressive mud tires on the back that caused wander. They never got better so I got rid of them.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 497
Likes: 266
From: Northwest FL
I've got a 2022 F-250 SCSB 4x4 6.7L that has been wandering just as you described since I picked it up in late January. And I also pull a 6,000 lb travel trailer. There are several threads that talk about various forms of this issue with recommended solutions running the gamut from do nothing to replace all sorts of parts. There were a couple of suggestions to run it for a few thousand miles to let the steering dampener loosen up. Couple that with one user who replaced the steering dampener with a Fox dampener and loosened the settings on the Fox with good results. I've only got about 2K on my truck but it seems like the wander isn't as bad as it was early on. It is definitely still there so maybe I'm just getting used to it. I'm skeptical of taking it to the dealer for them to start changing the alignment since, like you, it doesn't pull. I run the recommended 60 PSI front and 75 PSI rear. If I really get overly irritated about it, I would probably temporarily disconnect the steering dampener and take it for a drive to see if the wander improves or stays the same. That would at least confirm or disprove the steering dampener theory on my truck. Good luck and please keep us posted as to what, if anything, you figure out.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 232
Likes: 148
Fox ATS Stabilizer fixed it for me. Take a few minutes and remove your stabilizer and take it for a drive to see if that resolves it. If it does, then replace it yourself with something better or take it to the dealer and try to persuade them to fix it. I have a pretty bad local dealer and the next closest is not close at all. I had to figure this out and resolve it on my own.
After having the ATS for a while and fiddling with settings, I now believe I could have gotten by with a non-adjustable stabilizer. It drives fine on high and low settings. The higher settings seem to just add more resistance at the wheel. I believe a non adjustable would probably have worked just as well and for much less. So if you are able to narrow it down to the stabilizer, you don't have to spend 400+. Go with one of the < 200 options.
I also found this: https://www.mevotech.com/tsb/addresssing-memory-steer/
I'd already replaced caster bushings so I didn't pay much attention at the time if mine were "over torqued". This only covers thru 2019, but I would imaging the same issue could still exist. It's possible I loosened things on mine by replacing parts and re-torquing. Just something else to consider and keep in mind.
After having the ATS for a while and fiddling with settings, I now believe I could have gotten by with a non-adjustable stabilizer. It drives fine on high and low settings. The higher settings seem to just add more resistance at the wheel. I believe a non adjustable would probably have worked just as well and for much less. So if you are able to narrow it down to the stabilizer, you don't have to spend 400+. Go with one of the < 200 options.
I also found this: https://www.mevotech.com/tsb/addresssing-memory-steer/
I'd already replaced caster bushings so I didn't pay much attention at the time if mine were "over torqued". This only covers thru 2019, but I would imaging the same issue could still exist. It's possible I loosened things on mine by replacing parts and re-torquing. Just something else to consider and keep in mind.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
My 2022 4WD F250 feels like it has a hard time with on-center stability ... just going straight. More caster would help, though I've apparently grown accustomed to the feel and made no changes. I don't know, but part of me wonders if less caster was an attempt by Ford to reduce the chances of getting DW.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 973
Likes: 453
From: Adirondacks
If the truck is brand new and steering is loose and the truck track wanders, some say caster is too low. I suspect with heavy service springs or snowplow springs, which increase ride height, Ford does not increase caster, so caster will be a little less than regular springs brand new. I saw a caster chart several weeks ago on FTE and it showed less caster as spec for the heavy service or snowplow springs. My truck wandered when brand new. I aired tires down and drove a few hundred miles and still had wander. I did not want to void any part of warranty going out of caster spec. I installed a dual steering stabilizer and it tightened the steering up perfectly, and now for over two and a half years, no loose steering, and no wander. Try to get Ford to fix it if you can. Good luck.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 232
Likes: 148
Stabilizer 100% fixed it for me. My stock stab was so stiff that it was fighting my steering and keeping it from centering and fighting me when i tried making minor correction resulting in wandering from line to line.
Adding caster did nothing for me. Adding more toe didn’t help either.
Through process of elimination i was able to resolve it with the stab.
I wouldn’t suggest it’ll fix every instance but i wouldn’t go so far as to say it never will either. Lots of things can be wrong.
Adding caster did nothing for me. Adding more toe didn’t help either.
Through process of elimination i was able to resolve it with the stab.
I wouldn’t suggest it’ll fix every instance but i wouldn’t go so far as to say it never will either. Lots of things can be wrong.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 712
Agree, stabilizers only band aid the real issue
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 38
From: LA = Louisiana
I just rebuilt the my front end (new track bar, new draglink, and new tie rod ends).
Test drive and drive to alignment ....... I was very disappointed. My truck wandered all over the road. It drove OK but........ really bad wandering. Thought I had really messed up.
At alignment they found negative toe (toed out)........ this causes a lot of wandering.
They adjusted to a very slight positive toe (toed in).......... drove fabulous like a different truck.
(positive toe = toed in = front of tires slightly closer together than back of tires)
If your truck is wandering......... go get an alignment and make sure you have positive toe.
Test drive and drive to alignment ....... I was very disappointed. My truck wandered all over the road. It drove OK but........ really bad wandering. Thought I had really messed up.
At alignment they found negative toe (toed out)........ this causes a lot of wandering.
They adjusted to a very slight positive toe (toed in).......... drove fabulous like a different truck.
(positive toe = toed in = front of tires slightly closer together than back of tires)
If your truck is wandering......... go get an alignment and make sure you have positive toe.