Loose Steering - New Stabilizers?
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Trailering
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 21
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Loose Steering - New Stabilizers?
Truck is an 02 v10 4wd with a decent lift on it I picked up in February. Truck is awesome but the steering is super loose and tends to wander a bit. It doesn't pull or vibrate and I put brand new wheels and tires on straight away. The better tires definitely helped, but the guys who put them on for me mentioned the stabilizers are super cheap and probably aren't doing much anymore. They recommended BDS Fox 2.0 kit. I definitely don't mind spending the money if it is going to tighten up the steering, but before i do, i figured I would check here and see if anyone has any *useful* input. I'm sure folks relate to the loose steering, just curious how much difference i might expect by replacing the stabilizers, and is the kit they recommended worth the cost? Also while I am at it, is there anything else i should be looking at under there? I'm sure more information might be helpful but this is my first go at something like this so not sure what info to provide. TYIA
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 533
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By loose do you mean play? Like no wheel movement when steering is turned or loose like steering turns real easy but also turns tires tires. If later a new steering stabilizer will help, if former than theres adjustment in steering box.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
If the steering feels “loose” you are well beyond the vibrations a steering damper is going to cover up and need to inspect each moving component of the system.
start at the wheel bearings and move inward all the way to the steering wheel,
wheel bearings
ball joints
Tie rod ends
track bar
pit man arm
steering gear
shaft joint
shaft slip
each of these has a factor tolerance and technique to measure them, you might have one big sloppy worn part like the gear or often all of the parts just a bit over spec.
with new tires, minimal tire or rim lateral run out you really don’t need a steering damper even with big 37 or 40” tires and a reasonable amount of caster, the point being.. i’d focus on finding the worn out steering parts more than worry about the damper. Sure throw one on after you fix the other stuff but a worn out damper isn’t your problem. Get a fox one if you think they look cool but even the cheapo ones work just fine for what they do.
fwiw, I was a sponsored by Fox for years and still run and love their products but in this case, not going to help you.
start at the wheel bearings and move inward all the way to the steering wheel,
wheel bearings
ball joints
Tie rod ends
track bar
pit man arm
steering gear
shaft joint
shaft slip
each of these has a factor tolerance and technique to measure them, you might have one big sloppy worn part like the gear or often all of the parts just a bit over spec.
with new tires, minimal tire or rim lateral run out you really don’t need a steering damper even with big 37 or 40” tires and a reasonable amount of caster, the point being.. i’d focus on finding the worn out steering parts more than worry about the damper. Sure throw one on after you fix the other stuff but a worn out damper isn’t your problem. Get a fox one if you think they look cool but even the cheapo ones work just fine for what they do.
fwiw, I was a sponsored by Fox for years and still run and love their products but in this case, not going to help you.
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Trailering
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 21
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Ok I did a minor tightening on the steering adjustment and checked the rest of the list best I could via YouTube videos. I took it for a brief test drive and it seems better but also could be my imagination so I’m going to have the wife take it for a spin as she is much more sensitive to the issue.
FWIW the steering wheel has a little bit of play but not more than other trucks we have, although those aren’t as big (f150/Tahoe) and aren’t lifted, so some of this may very well be attributed to us not being used to the size, etc.
There is zero noise, vibration, rubbing, squeaking, wobble, etc. Ball joints look good, no movement when jacked up, etc.
FWIW the steering wheel has a little bit of play but not more than other trucks we have, although those aren’t as big (f150/Tahoe) and aren’t lifted, so some of this may very well be attributed to us not being used to the size, etc.
There is zero noise, vibration, rubbing, squeaking, wobble, etc. Ball joints look good, no movement when jacked up, etc.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
When parked engine off there is supposed to be about 1” play in the steering wheel before the tires turn. This is the torsion spring loading and unloading to open snd close the ports in the servo portion of the power steering gear.
more than 1” is bushing wear on the sector shaft and the box needs to be rebuilt.
you can adjust the worm mesh load but that just binds the gear, at a minimum it ruins the gear at worst it causes a ratchety feeling, no return to center or god forbid jammed steering and loosing the ability to turn.
more than 1” is bushing wear on the sector shaft and the box needs to be rebuilt.
you can adjust the worm mesh load but that just binds the gear, at a minimum it ruins the gear at worst it causes a ratchety feeling, no return to center or god forbid jammed steering and loosing the ability to turn.
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turboguy
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Aug 28, 2005 12:05 PM
