Handling ? for SD experts
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2002
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Handling ? for SD experts
Hi.
Just picked up my new SD last night. Its a V10 , supercab Lariat with Firestone tires.( Aren't those the tires that make you roll over and blow up?):-X23 Tire pressure is @ spec.
On the freeway drive back home from the dealer the thing felt like it was wandering all over the place. If i Let go of the steering wheel it would pull a bit to the right then pull back to the left. It was subtle but I felt as if I was correcting and steering the truck a whole lot more than my 93 150 supercab.
The question for you fine gentlemen is: " Is this normal or do I need to have the dealer look at the dang thing?"
Just picked up my new SD last night. Its a V10 , supercab Lariat with Firestone tires.( Aren't those the tires that make you roll over and blow up?):-X23 Tire pressure is @ spec.
On the freeway drive back home from the dealer the thing felt like it was wandering all over the place. If i Let go of the steering wheel it would pull a bit to the right then pull back to the left. It was subtle but I felt as if I was correcting and steering the truck a whole lot more than my 93 150 supercab.
The question for you fine gentlemen is: " Is this normal or do I need to have the dealer look at the dang thing?"
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
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From: Calgary Canada
Handling ? for SD experts
Congratulations.
I'm not sure I'd consider myself an SD expert, but here's my $.02
I would answer that from my experience, it's normal, for the first 400-500 miles anyway. I found mine did the exact same thing on the highway drive home from the dealer and my first couple weeks of driving. I wondered what I had just bought.
It's due to the tightness of all the steering components. They tend to hold the slightest adjustment of the wheel, rather than return to center. This gives you the pulling feeling and results in you making constant adjustments to the wheel, which I found only make things worse. Once the ball joints etc... break in, I think you'll be fine. I know I was.
If not, give us holler, we'll figure it out.
Waxy
I'm not sure I'd consider myself an SD expert, but here's my $.02
I would answer that from my experience, it's normal, for the first 400-500 miles anyway. I found mine did the exact same thing on the highway drive home from the dealer and my first couple weeks of driving. I wondered what I had just bought.
It's due to the tightness of all the steering components. They tend to hold the slightest adjustment of the wheel, rather than return to center. This gives you the pulling feeling and results in you making constant adjustments to the wheel, which I found only make things worse. Once the ball joints etc... break in, I think you'll be fine. I know I was.
If not, give us holler, we'll figure it out.
Waxy
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2002
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Handling ? for SD experts
Hey Waxy, thanks for the input.
That's exactly what I was thinking. I guess I'll wander around a bit. If it's not gone after a bout 600 /800 miles I'll "wander" back to the dealer.
That's exactly what I was thinking. I guess I'll wander around a bit. If it's not gone after a bout 600 /800 miles I'll "wander" back to the dealer.
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
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From: 5280 Feet
Handling ? for SD experts
In addition to what Waxy mentioned. Another thing that has to be taken into account is the size of the contact patch that is on the road. With this much weight being placed on those little patches the truck will tend to follow any abnormalities in the road's surface to a more extreme degree; ruts from heavy traffic, grading for proper water runoff, etc. So take a look at the surface of the road when these symptoms occur. Might try and look into a beefier stablizer for a "fix".
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Handling ? for SD experts
Beefier? This is the SUPER DUTY with the camper package for cyinoutloud.
I get the contact patch thing but that's not what I was feeling.
Are you suggesting the stocker is a tad wimpy?
I still think it might be those dang Firestones trying to flip me over and blow me up.
I get the contact patch thing but that's not what I was feeling.
Are you suggesting the stocker is a tad wimpy?
I still think it might be those dang Firestones trying to flip me over and blow me up.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,067
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From: Central Illinois
Handling ? for SD experts
I don't know what caused it, but when I first got my truck if I gently swerved one way (all within my lane), I could feel a delayed reaction of the back end "catching up". Within a couple of thousand miles, that feeling went away. I say drive it and see how it feels with some miles on it.
Matt
2002, F250 SD, SC, 8' Bed, V10, 3.73 LS, Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metalic, ICI Stainless Step Bars, Truxedo Tonneau, Prodigy Brake Control
Matt
2002, F250 SD, SC, 8' Bed, V10, 3.73 LS, Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metalic, ICI Stainless Step Bars, Truxedo Tonneau, Prodigy Brake Control
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Mountaintop USA
Handling ? for SD experts
A rear stabilizer also seems to be a good addition as well, although your trk may already have one. This may be std on the 03's, i'm not sure.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 529
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From: Fairbanks USA
Handling ? for SD experts
When I put the Wild Country tires on my truck @ 20,000 miles I noticed the wandering problem that you are referring to. It took about a thousand miles for it to go away.
2000 F350SD,SRW,RC,5spd man,V10, Front Leveling Kit,4.30 gears, 285/75/16 Wild Country
2000 F350SD,SRW,RC,5spd man,V10, Front Leveling Kit,4.30 gears, 285/75/16 Wild Country
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Brett Foote
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Cumming, GA USA
Handling ? for SD experts
Hey Steve,
Welcome to FTE and congrats on the new truck!!!
As far as the wandering with the new truck, you mentioned that the tires are "@ spec". I am assuming that you are referring to the tire pressure being at the spec listed on the door sticker (and you didn't mention whether your new truck is a 250 or 350). I would suggest that you lower your tire pressure a little if you are not loaded to the maximum capacity of your truck. My 99 F-250 suggests the maximum tire pressure is 45 PSI in the fronts and 65 PSI in the rears (I think the 350's are rated at 80 PSI all around, please correct me if I am wrong). This is for the maximum load for the truck. I usually run 40 PSI all around unless I am towing my 30' travel trailer or carrying a load in the bed. This seems to work well for me. Your mileage may vary...
Best regards,
Jeff Bridges
Welcome to FTE and congrats on the new truck!!!
As far as the wandering with the new truck, you mentioned that the tires are "@ spec". I am assuming that you are referring to the tire pressure being at the spec listed on the door sticker (and you didn't mention whether your new truck is a 250 or 350). I would suggest that you lower your tire pressure a little if you are not loaded to the maximum capacity of your truck. My 99 F-250 suggests the maximum tire pressure is 45 PSI in the fronts and 65 PSI in the rears (I think the 350's are rated at 80 PSI all around, please correct me if I am wrong). This is for the maximum load for the truck. I usually run 40 PSI all around unless I am towing my 30' travel trailer or carrying a load in the bed. This seems to work well for me. Your mileage may vary...
Best regards,
Jeff Bridges
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 656
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From: South of you
Handling ? for SD experts
S Casey, welcome!!!!! My '02 250 did the same thing up until around
900 miles. Now I still have minimal "bump steer" .....normal with a straight front axle... I would suggest driving it up until at least the first service before worring too much about a visit to the dealer. To my surprise, once I turned 1000 miles with mine, some of the little aggravating things went away....one being "wandering". Trust everybody posted on this subject....it will go away....
ps. Do you have a factory steering stabilizer? If not try an after market piece, this should help steady the front end a bit.
900 miles. Now I still have minimal "bump steer" .....normal with a straight front axle... I would suggest driving it up until at least the first service before worring too much about a visit to the dealer. To my surprise, once I turned 1000 miles with mine, some of the little aggravating things went away....one being "wandering". Trust everybody posted on this subject....it will go away....
ps. Do you have a factory steering stabilizer? If not try an after market piece, this should help steady the front end a bit.
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Handling ? for SD experts
Thanks for the welcome and experienced advice.
It's a 250. I am running the tire pressure @ 50# front and 70# rear. I thought that a bit extreme and will try a lowering it. It's already better today. I may have subconsciously acclimated to it or it's actually getting better.
It's a 250. I am running the tire pressure @ 50# front and 70# rear. I thought that a bit extreme and will try a lowering it. It's already better today. I may have subconsciously acclimated to it or it's actually getting better.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 491
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From: Fort Fun
Handling ? for SD experts
>>It's already better today. I may have
>subconsciously acclimated to it or it's actually getting
>better.
Steve,
I think that is the biggest part of it. Getting used to driving these trucks. I have talked with tons of guys about this wandering thing. Everyone from 2x4 reg. cab with 8' bed up to CC Dually owners. They all complain about the truck wandering. Mine still does and it has 65k on it. You just get used to it.
I do know that when I first got mine (F250 4x4 Super cab with the Steeltex tires) it felt REALLY squirmey. I jacked the pressure up to the 80#. Still was squirmey. After looking at the tires, I noticed the tread blocks are really tall. I think this has the biggest effect on the squirmey feeling. After those got wore down a bit, that seemed to go away. Of course I could have just gotten used to it like you may have. My truck is surely not squirmey now but my tires are just about to the wear bars. You still have to "drive" the truck though. You can't just go down the road not paying attention. It will wander left and right on the highway. I don't think that has to do with the crown. My old man's 99 SUB Urban has a pretty good on center feel (and that is about it!).
Give her some time.
good luck.
Big
2000 F250 SD SC 5.4L Gasser
4.10s 4x4 L/S rearend
Western 7'6" plow
White with parchment cloth
>subconsciously acclimated to it or it's actually getting
>better.
Steve,
I think that is the biggest part of it. Getting used to driving these trucks. I have talked with tons of guys about this wandering thing. Everyone from 2x4 reg. cab with 8' bed up to CC Dually owners. They all complain about the truck wandering. Mine still does and it has 65k on it. You just get used to it.
I do know that when I first got mine (F250 4x4 Super cab with the Steeltex tires) it felt REALLY squirmey. I jacked the pressure up to the 80#. Still was squirmey. After looking at the tires, I noticed the tread blocks are really tall. I think this has the biggest effect on the squirmey feeling. After those got wore down a bit, that seemed to go away. Of course I could have just gotten used to it like you may have. My truck is surely not squirmey now but my tires are just about to the wear bars. You still have to "drive" the truck though. You can't just go down the road not paying attention. It will wander left and right on the highway. I don't think that has to do with the crown. My old man's 99 SUB Urban has a pretty good on center feel (and that is about it!).
Give her some time.
good luck.
Big
2000 F250 SD SC 5.4L Gasser
4.10s 4x4 L/S rearend
Western 7'6" plow
White with parchment cloth
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 656
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From: South of you
Handling ? for SD experts
If you're running empty, I would set my air pressure at 50-55 lbs. This will also soften up the ride. Watch the wear closely and adjust and rotate accordingly. The firestone steeltex....I have them also, seem to be a little rubbery. I do not like mine, but feel compelled to wear them out before I change them over. If you run at max load....in the bed that is, I would run them at max, though.
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Handling ? for SD experts
CJ I took em down to 52 rear and 45 front. That is better.
I noticed that the tire sidewall flexes inordinately when I push the truck sideways at the bumper. The truck looks like it is doing what I feel when driving. I'll probably just get used to them while I wear them out like you.
I noticed that the tire sidewall flexes inordinately when I push the truck sideways at the bumper. The truck looks like it is doing what I feel when driving. I'll probably just get used to them while I wear them out like you.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 354
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From: Upstate NY
Handling ? for SD experts
My 02 supercab acted the same. now at 1500 miles stays where you point it, also i decreased tire pressure.fr..45lb.......rear 65lbs cold for empty load.......rides like a mercedes sort of!! Dan / FT