Odd steering issue
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 164
Odd steering issue
Having an odd steering issue, not sure what to make of it. Having a problem when making turns, can be right or left and can be slight or sharp turns. But it will act like it ford not want to return to center but also when turning the steering will feel like it keeps wanting to keep "applying power" to keep turning sharper, almost like the steering wheel feels like it would keep turning in that direction instead of straightening out. I just greased all the ball joints and steering linkages, everything is tight with no play, and the steering damper is relatively new. There is no uneven tire wear either. I'm thinking steering gearbox?
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 1,411
From: Oologah, OK
the front wheels are Toed OUT, that makes it want to keep going in the direction you have turned.
my Excursion was like that when I bought it....
a new track bar, tie rod ends, curtailed that issue.
when I got it home, I had the entire front end rebuilt, but that was after it made it 1800 miles to my home, from NW Montana.
my Excursion was like that when I bought it....
a new track bar, tie rod ends, curtailed that issue.
when I got it home, I had the entire front end rebuilt, but that was after it made it 1800 miles to my home, from NW Montana.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 164
the front wheels are Toed OUT, that makes it want to keep going in the direction you have turned.
my Excursion was like that when I bought it....
a new track bar, tie rod ends, curtailed that issue.
when I got it home, I had the entire front end rebuilt, but that was after it made it 1800 miles to my home, from NW Montana.
my Excursion was like that when I bought it....
a new track bar, tie rod ends, curtailed that issue.
when I got it home, I had the entire front end rebuilt, but that was after it made it 1800 miles to my home, from NW Montana.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 164
No, ball joints were replaced in 2020 and I've had no issues until recently
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 889
Likes: 156
From: Gainesville
What kind of ball joints did you get?
I replaced mine with Moog, a while back, and had to replace them with Ford Motorcraft because they kept sticking. I wouldn’t have to jerk the steering wheel back to center after making a turn.
I replaced everything in the steering system except the Pitman arm. The biggest improvement in “it goes where I point it” was when I replaced my lower steering shaft with a Borgeson. The Ford shaft attaches the two shaft pieces together with a “rag” joint that wears out. The Borgeson uses solid steel, so no worn out, sloppy feeling. Most noticeable difference and easiest mod I’ve done.
I replaced mine with Moog, a while back, and had to replace them with Ford Motorcraft because they kept sticking. I wouldn’t have to jerk the steering wheel back to center after making a turn.
I replaced everything in the steering system except the Pitman arm. The biggest improvement in “it goes where I point it” was when I replaced my lower steering shaft with a Borgeson. The Ford shaft attaches the two shaft pieces together with a “rag” joint that wears out. The Borgeson uses solid steel, so no worn out, sloppy feeling. Most noticeable difference and easiest mod I’ve done.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 164
They are napa brand ball joints. I tried spicers but had multiple problems with the quality on them(covid timing). I will be tearing some things down on the front end for further diagnosis later this week.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 66
From: Coastal VA
Dweber85rc,
Three issues can cause the poor steering return to center after a turn as far as I know. They are:
1. Improper ball joint installation (proper procedure: free up the castor shim so it's loose in the knuckle, tighten the bottom to 35 lb.-ft, tighten the top to 69 lb.-ft, tighten the bottom to 150 lb.-ft)
2. Toe in should be about 0.2 to 0.4 degrees as I recall. Your alignment tech will know for sure.
3. Stuck U-joints. To check them, raise the front wheels, manually lock in the hubs and see if the wheels turn equally easily when pointed straight ahead and when turned fully to the right or the left. If the wheels are harder to turn when the steering isn't centered, you probably have bad U-joints.
There may be other causes, but these are the big three.....
Steve
Three issues can cause the poor steering return to center after a turn as far as I know. They are:
1. Improper ball joint installation (proper procedure: free up the castor shim so it's loose in the knuckle, tighten the bottom to 35 lb.-ft, tighten the top to 69 lb.-ft, tighten the bottom to 150 lb.-ft)
2. Toe in should be about 0.2 to 0.4 degrees as I recall. Your alignment tech will know for sure.
3. Stuck U-joints. To check them, raise the front wheels, manually lock in the hubs and see if the wheels turn equally easily when pointed straight ahead and when turned fully to the right or the left. If the wheels are harder to turn when the steering isn't centered, you probably have bad U-joints.
There may be other causes, but these are the big three.....
Steve
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
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From: Oologah, OK
I replaced everything on the front axle with new, while at it, rotors, pads, etc.
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