Steering woes
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 809
Likes: 291
From: KY
Steering woes
It seems this has been beat to death and the Excursion guys have their own section for the dreaded steering wander. I am curious if anybody has a conclusive fix. Ive read everything from steering box gone bad, frozen axle U joints, seized lower Ball joints, and not enough positive caster. That's about all I can recall from my reads. My all stock 99 F250 4x4 CC steers smooth, returns to center after a turn, everything feels ok, little if any Steering box play, but Im constantly correcting it to maintain straight travel. Im real curious as the 99 F250 4x4 X cab I just sold with its 6" lift steered real nice unlike the stock 99 I now have.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 304
Likes: 192
From: Northern California
Some adjustments that eliminated the issue for my truck(stock suspension, ball joints, shocks, wheel bearings, steering linkage, etc. in good condition / no stabilizer).
I had a bit of wander when I got the truck last year. Put new tires on it (wanted a little bigger size) and it still had wander, but not as much.
Adjusted steering box 1/4 turn and test drove. Less steering play and wander. Put another 1/4 turn, minimal play and wander.
Last, but not least, incrementally lowered tire pressure in search of a little better ride. Was at 70psi all the way around and dropped to 60. Definite improvement. Drove like that for a few months and dropped them to 50. Better ride and no wander now.
I had a bit of wander when I got the truck last year. Put new tires on it (wanted a little bigger size) and it still had wander, but not as much.
Adjusted steering box 1/4 turn and test drove. Less steering play and wander. Put another 1/4 turn, minimal play and wander.
Last, but not least, incrementally lowered tire pressure in search of a little better ride. Was at 70psi all the way around and dropped to 60. Definite improvement. Drove like that for a few months and dropped them to 50. Better ride and no wander now.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 475
On a '99 I'd first be looking at the track bar and leaf spring/shackle bushings. They might even look/feel OK but still have enough combined wear to allow the axle to shift around side to side.
Then check out all the steering from the knuckles all the way back to the rag joint for any looseness or play.
Also check out the rear suspension, a worn leaf spring/shackle bushing could allow the rear axle to shift slightly which would change the tracking and require steering to compensate.
There's a specific procedure for adjusting the steering box and just adjusting the top screw can cause more internal damage. It should only be a last resort adjustment once you're ready to replace the box.
Then check out all the steering from the knuckles all the way back to the rag joint for any looseness or play.
Also check out the rear suspension, a worn leaf spring/shackle bushing could allow the rear axle to shift slightly which would change the tracking and require steering to compensate.
There's a specific procedure for adjusting the steering box and just adjusting the top screw can cause more internal damage. It should only be a last resort adjustment once you're ready to replace the box.
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