Steering gear box question
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 14
From: Kempner, Texas
Steering gear box question
The right front tire on my 2002 dually is wearing on the outside. I took it down to get an alignment and they quoted me 3,500 for parts and labor. They said I need all ball joints every arm and the steering gear box. They said the steering gear box has up and down play on the out put shaft. When I got it home I took a pry bar and pried up on the pitman arm where it connects to the shaft and it has close to 1/4 inch play when prying up on it. They said there should not be any play. I can’t find anything that says how it should be either way. It’s not leaking and seems to steer good. Y’all’s thoughts on this?
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 900
Likes: 289
From: E TN
The right front tire on my 2002 dually is wearing on the outside. I took it down to get an alignment and they quoted me 3,500 for parts and labor. They said I need all ball joints every arm and the steering gear box. They said the steering gear box has up and down play on the out put shaft. When I got it home I took a pry bar and pried up on the pitman arm where it connects to the shaft and it has close to 1/4 inch play when prying up on it. They said there should not be any play. I can’t find anything that says how it should be either way. It’s not leaking and seems to steer good. Y’all’s thoughts on this?
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 1,330
From: Elk Grove, CA
If there are no other issues with the truck buy a used tire and keep on trucking.
But I'll guess the steering is sloppy and it wanders all over the road. Ball joints wear kinda fast on these.
But I'll guess the steering is sloppy and it wanders all over the road. Ball joints wear kinda fast on these.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
The shop is correct. There shouldn't be any noticeable play in the shaft. The steering gears on these trucks were and are crap. If you check you'll find that Ford changed the gears every few years on the Super Duty's. Why? Because they were crap. Way undersized for task in stock flavor, add bigger rubber and screw the already lousy steering arm geometry up even more with a lift and it's a wonder they're not puking their guts out it driveways across the country.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 14
From: Kempner, Texas
Alright I was hoping some end play would be allowed. The truck pulls to the right but other than that steering feels good. The truck has 153k. I do feel play in the ball joints when lifting the tires. Looks like I’ll be having fun changing everything. Thanks for your input.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,345
Likes: 5,941
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Spicer suspension parts and BlueTop steering gear have my vote. I went through two POS gears from parts stores before going BlueTop and have zero regrets.
Link to more information: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post19805263
Link to more information: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post19805263
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Kempner, Texas
Who sells spicer ball joints? Not AZ or oriellys. I see kits online from eBay and Amazon but I don’t trust them.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
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From: Oologah, OK
reading all of this talk, makes me wonder if my truck has had the steering box replaced?
I had to put a new Pitman arm on it one week after I bought it, but the box itself is doing a good job at 180k miles.
Plus a lot of new parts, the Drag link was slipping almost two inches which let the left/right wheels wander a lot.
it used to be a Fire Truck, so it should have had a lot of U-turns in its' life.
I had to put a new Pitman arm on it one week after I bought it, but the box itself is doing a good job at 180k miles.
Plus a lot of new parts, the Drag link was slipping almost two inches which let the left/right wheels wander a lot.
it used to be a Fire Truck, so it should have had a lot of U-turns in its' life.
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