Steering Like an Ocean Liner
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New User
Joined: Jul 2004
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Steering Like an Ocean Liner
The continuing saga, the mechanic replaced the steering box in my 1978 F150 4x4.
Cruise Ships have tighter steering response than this truck.
Living in the Georgia Mtns. makes navigating the roads a real challenge when the truck eventually responds after half a turn or so on the steering wheel. I am recalling prayers I haven't recited since the Nuns were beating them into me.
Anyway on initial inspection they claimed it was not the bushings but the steering box was the culprit, so that was replaced at no small expense along with the Power steering pump.
It did improve the steering somewhat,, but it still flounders around pretty awful, I also put a new Superride/Superlift steering stabilizer on it and same brand shocks all around.
Still a scary prospect on switchbacks and hairpins. I do not want a hunter's dog to find my bones a year or so from now in the bottom of some deep hickory hollow.'
Granted I need a new mechanic, but it would be nice to know what got overlooked.
as always, Thanks!!!
Gerard
Cruise Ships have tighter steering response than this truck.
Living in the Georgia Mtns. makes navigating the roads a real challenge when the truck eventually responds after half a turn or so on the steering wheel. I am recalling prayers I haven't recited since the Nuns were beating them into me.
Anyway on initial inspection they claimed it was not the bushings but the steering box was the culprit, so that was replaced at no small expense along with the Power steering pump.
It did improve the steering somewhat,, but it still flounders around pretty awful, I also put a new Superride/Superlift steering stabilizer on it and same brand shocks all around.
Still a scary prospect on switchbacks and hairpins. I do not want a hunter's dog to find my bones a year or so from now in the bottom of some deep hickory hollow.'
Granted I need a new mechanic, but it would be nice to know what got overlooked.
as always, Thanks!!!
Gerard
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
haha i know what ur going thru my 88' bronco is scary even on a straight road sometimes with all the drifting and slack in the wheel it definately gets my heart pounding and adrenalin up in some situations, but i havent even got to this problem yet
i just ask the girls if they want to go on a cruise, then we "float and drift" all over the place
i just ask the girls if they want to go on a cruise, then we "float and drift" all over the place
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 6
From: SD
Have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you inspect each steering joint. Start with the column to steering box joints also pay close attention to the track bar (angles from frame to front axle). Look for any play or looseness - which indicates it needs replaced. Half turn is VERY dangerous - my 73 2wd has less than 1/8 turn of play and that gets tricky sometimes...
Marty
Marty
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 9
From: USA
I would also look at balljoints and tie rod ends, as well as the trac bar bushings mentioned above. Axle C-bushings and radius arm end bushings can cause other wandering problems too, so I would take a look at those as well.
