Steering Gear
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: Nürnberg, Germany
Steering Gear
Hello!
I still have problems with the steering of my 2015 F350 with 60.000 miles:
To my feeling the steering gear is worn out, I can turn the steering wheel 10 degrees to the left and 10 degrees to the right (or from 11 to 1 o clock) and nothing happens at the wheels.
Is that normal?
All the parts of the front axle are already new, no play in the tie rods, ball joints etc. are new.
Can anybody help?
Thank you!
Johannes
I still have problems with the steering of my 2015 F350 with 60.000 miles:
To my feeling the steering gear is worn out, I can turn the steering wheel 10 degrees to the left and 10 degrees to the right (or from 11 to 1 o clock) and nothing happens at the wheels.
Is that normal?
All the parts of the front axle are already new, no play in the tie rods, ball joints etc. are new.
Can anybody help?
Thank you!
Johannes
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 926
Try googling "Red head steering box" and all will be clear. While you're at it try googling blue top steering box and lastly, if you think both those are just to cheap, try googling PSC steering box.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,639
Likes: 964
From: Near Yosemite CA
Question for you.. Does your truck have a lift?
I have found in almost every SD that has been lifted, that the pitman arm is loose, not loose like coming off, but loose in about the 1/4+ turn on the nut holding it in place.. it doesn't seem like much, but I first experienced it on my 02 Excursion after about 75k after I installed the lift kit... bought the socket and gave it all I had with a cheater bar, moved maybe 1/4 to 1/3 turn... and made a HUGE improvement in how it handled and steered.
And having friends know I wrench on my own trucks, they ask me about theirs, and I would say I've tightened at least 5 or 6 of them when guys say "my trucks all over the road and feels loose", also have seen a couple that the drag link ends were worn in addition to the pitman nut being loose.
I have found in almost every SD that has been lifted, that the pitman arm is loose, not loose like coming off, but loose in about the 1/4+ turn on the nut holding it in place.. it doesn't seem like much, but I first experienced it on my 02 Excursion after about 75k after I installed the lift kit... bought the socket and gave it all I had with a cheater bar, moved maybe 1/4 to 1/3 turn... and made a HUGE improvement in how it handled and steered.
And having friends know I wrench on my own trucks, they ask me about theirs, and I would say I've tightened at least 5 or 6 of them when guys say "my trucks all over the road and feels loose", also have seen a couple that the drag link ends were worn in addition to the pitman nut being loose.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: Nürnberg, Germany
Hello,
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Hello,
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
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Joe Kucinski
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 926
Hello,
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
When this issue popped up on my Excursion (which has the same steering setup as an 04 Superduty), the issue was the steering coupler, often referred to as the rag joint. A borgeson steering shaft that replaces the rag joint with a u-joint fixed the issue, link to the borgeson website below, they also make a shaft for your 2015 model (and even at the full retail price of $208, bet it's WAY cheaper than a new or reman steering box) .
https://www.borgeson.com/Ford-Truck-...F350-F450.html
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 893
Likes: 255
From: San Diego, CA
Hello,
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
thanks to all. My mechanic checked again the whole frontaxle including pitman arm and drag link (thank you pickupmanx2). He also puts in a new Ford steering gear (no red head).
But the steering still has play (10 degrees to the left and to the right). Is that maybe normal?
How much play do your trucks have?
Greetings Johannes
If steering box is replaced, one can assume that it is setup correctly and not causing the play. Next would be to observe the linkages for any play. I prefer to do this while engine is off. Watching pitman arm stroke vs wheel movement.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: Nürnberg, Germany
Thank you Bajaphile!
What means "along the arc"? For example 0,5 inch with running engine play from left to right in total?
Or 0,5 inch from the middle to the right and to left, that means in total 1 inch?
I measure 1 inch in total with running engine.
Thanks again for your support
Johannes
What means "along the arc"? For example 0,5 inch with running engine play from left to right in total?
Or 0,5 inch from the middle to the right and to left, that means in total 1 inch?
I measure 1 inch in total with running engine.
Thanks again for your support
Johannes
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 328
Likes: 78
From: Southern California
Send a PM (private message) to Hartwig he is in Germany, works on super duties, and drives one himself.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/member.php?u=866172
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/member.php?u=866172
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 893
Likes: 255
From: San Diego, CA
0.5 inch in either direction while engine is running? Hmm, does seem a bit loose. I'd have someone move the wheel, while engine running and get under and look to see if there is any play within the linkages.
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