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Just replaced both front hub assembly’s, all 4 ball joints, and drag link end. Tie rod ends are good. Had truck aligned. The issue I’m having is, no return to center. When I’m going down the road, and correct left, truck continues left. Correct right, you guessed it, continues right. Has no pull either way. When stopping it tracks strait, no bump steer or anything like that.
when I replaced ball joints my torque procedure was; tighten bottom joint to 30 ft lbs. torque top to 69 ft lbs, then clear the cotter key hole. Torque bottom ball joint to 150 ft lbs. The knuckles did seem a bit stiff… truck turns easily, just won’t drive strait unless the conditions are perfect. Flat road and get the wheel in just the right spot.
Best way I can describe it… it’s like trying to drive down a balance beam… idk if that helps… or hurts 😅
oh boy. Well. I had to replace ball joints to steering gear to fix that in mine. Every little bit helped but didn't really eliminate it until everything was "new".
What brand of ball joints did you install? Did the alignment shop change out the eccentric sleeve (coreect name escapes menright now) to get it aligned?
EDIT: udsuth78 and I were posting at the same time.
Edit 2: @7.3powerstrokeBob I see in your other thread that you replaced your pitman arm also. Dod you crank down on your steering gear while you were at it?
What brand steering joints were used? Are they greaseable, do they have grease?
i used Precision parts. O’Reilys premium house brand. Time was a major factor on this one. Didn’t have the time to wait for spicers. They are greaseable. Yes I greased them.
Originally Posted by FordTruckNoob
What brand of ball joints did you install? Did the alignment shop change out the eccentric sleeve (coreect name escapes menright now) to get it aligned?
alignment shop didn’t do crap other than adjust the toe from what I can understand from the print out. I can’t read those things very well. Other than all the before and after numbers are damn close, so they didn’t do much. But then again, idk that it really needed much…
EDIT: udsuth78 and I were posting at the same time.
Edit 2: @7.3powerstrokeBob I see in your other thread that you replaced your pitman arm also. Dod you crank down on your steering gear while you were at it?
I did not replace the pitman arm. I replaced the drag link end that attaches to the pitman arm. Gear box has not been tampered with in any way, shape, or form.
What brand of ball joints did you install? Did the alignment shop change out the eccentric sleeve (coreect name escapes menright now) to get it aligned?
EDIT: udsuth78 and I were posting at the same time.
Edit 2: @7.3powerstrokeBob I see in your other thread that you replaced your pitman arm also. Dod you crank down on your steering gear while you were at it?
im not sure why that added to your quote in my reply… alignment shop didn’t do crap other than adjust the toe from what I can understand from the print out. I can’t read those things very well. Other than all the before and after numbers are damn close, so they didn’t do much. But then again, idk that it really needed much…
Any snags with the ball joints during install? Did you work the knuckles after torquing before hooking up the steering links?
no sir. No snags. I did cycle the knuckles lock to lock a few times. They were pretty stiff, as in hard to turn, but I just chalked that up to no weight on them… now that I have the front end off the ground, I can turn the wheels by grabbing the tires, fairly easily, with all the linkage still hooked up…
With the front end off the ground, and turning the steering wheel lock to lock, they feel great. Nice and smooth, no hang ups or binding… I’m just stumped on this one…
Not sure if this would cause your issues, wouldn’t think so but…
is it possible the steering wheel got turned a revolution while everything was disconnected?
Not sure if this would cause your issues, wouldn’t think so but…
is it possible the steering wheel got turned a revolution while everything was disconnected?
I don’t think so. The pitman arm is pointed strait forward, as are the wheels… but I can’t say with certainty that is correct… I would think it’s relatively safe assumption though. I know I didn’t mess with the steering wheel until everything was back together, and adjusting the new drag link end. But even then, I turned the end until it lined back up with the pitman arm. Then rotated the sleeve to bring the steering wheel back into alignment.
The only other thing I'm aware of the can cause return to center issues would be to little caster. I've read a few threads here and there claiming Ford's caster spec on these trucks didn't give enough positive caster and that is one of the major contributors to the steering issues we deal with. He's an article that explains it better than I ever could.
