Steering loose?
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 812
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From: New Canaan, CT
Steering loose?
I have a 94 F250 4x4 and the previous owner had the steering box replaced a year ago. I notice while driving it feels as if the steering is very loose like it's hard to keep the truck in a straight line.
I went for an alinement and they didn't notice anything out of the norm. Are the older trucks like this? It feels as if it swerves slightly and when i correct it i over correct it. I'm getting used to it but it's a pain cause it's not a daily driver so i have to readjust every time I use it.
I went for an alinement and they didn't notice anything out of the norm. Are the older trucks like this? It feels as if it swerves slightly and when i correct it i over correct it. I'm getting used to it but it's a pain cause it's not a daily driver so i have to readjust every time I use it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
The alignment shops don't hire the highest quality people in the auto industry. I would take it to a mechanic that you trust, and if he doesn't find anything loose, try adjusting the steering box. There's a screw on top that can be tightened if it wanders too much. I just had it done to my truck the other day, and it's 10 times better on the freeway.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Yeah, it wandered all over. It took all my concentration to keep it between the lines. I took my life in my hands when I changed radio stations.
Everything in the front end was tight, so the box was really the only thing it could be.
Everything in the front end was tight, so the box was really the only thing it could be.
Junior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 63
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From: Central Wisconsin
get a manual for it and use it to tighten the nut on the top of the steering box. I put a 1986 steering box into my 1989 after it failed and once the nut was tightend to specs it was as good as new. It corners like a (tall) racecar.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: New Canaan, CT
I kinda figured it'd be a nut rather than a screw. What do you mean a manual for it? The truck or is their a specific one for the steering?
It's gotta be that nut because i was looking all around and all ball joints are fine and greased. I was looking at the pitman arm and idler arm and they are ok too.
It's gotta be that nut because i was looking all around and all ball joints are fine and greased. I was looking at the pitman arm and idler arm and they are ok too.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Franklin, GA
I haven't had much luck with reman steering boxes being tight "out of the box". I've had to take three back just to get one good one before.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Central New York
Hi,
This is not the first time I heard about tightening the "screw".
I have a 2004 F350 harley edition with 18" wheels. Only turned 7000mi. today. I told the service manager that the truck is squirelly and all over the road....After looking into it, he came to the conclusion that the 18" wheels and large tires were "partially" to blame.
My old F150 (2002) was squirelly too! With smaller tires. This is definitely a Ford thing.
Does someone have detailed instruction on how to do the adjustment? I would appreciate reading them and giving it a try.
Thanks,
Mark
This is not the first time I heard about tightening the "screw".
I have a 2004 F350 harley edition with 18" wheels. Only turned 7000mi. today. I told the service manager that the truck is squirelly and all over the road....After looking into it, he came to the conclusion that the 18" wheels and large tires were "partially" to blame.
My old F150 (2002) was squirelly too! With smaller tires. This is definitely a Ford thing.
Does someone have detailed instruction on how to do the adjustment? I would appreciate reading them and giving it a try.
Thanks,
Mark
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 170
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I would like to know as well, as mentioned above, it takes all my concentration to keep this truck from wondering! Its scary! My mustangs are real tight, I bearly have to watch the road 
I looked on my stearing box and the only thing that I can think of that you can adjust is a stud looking thing poking out of the box with a nut attatched at the bottom..
I looked on my stearing box and the only thing that I can think of that you can adjust is a stud looking thing poking out of the box with a nut attatched at the bottom..
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: New Canaan, CT
I found the screw! It's as stated right on top of the steering box. It is in fact a stud looking like screw with a nut on the bottom. The top of the stud has a slot for a flat head screw driver the the bottom nut keeping it tight was a 16mm nut. I loosened the nut and turned the screw clockwise about one complete turn then retightened the nut while holding the screw in place with the screw driver and it's a night and day differance! I think i will give it 1/2 a turn more today. I'm sure you can over do it so becareful. I will see about taking a pic later on today.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Central New York
Originally Posted by PrPlayboy
I found the screw! It's as stated right on top of the steering box. It is in fact a stud looking like screw with a nut on the bottom. The top of the stud has a slot for a flat head screw driver the the bottom nut keeping it tight was a 16mm nut. I loosened the nut and turned the screw clockwise about one complete turn then retightened the nut while holding the screw in place with the screw driver and it's a night and day differance! I think i will give it 1/2 a turn more today. I'm sure you can over do it so becareful. I will see about taking a pic later on today.
Although I have not done it,,,,,,Someone told me about a quarter of a turn. (I don't know how much is allowable,,,and I assume every case is different) I really don't know if this binds something up. You may be ok with the one turn,,,,but I say this just out of caution. I know you wouldn't want to cause unforseeable damage.
Mark
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
The only way you can damage the box is if you overtighten it...and that would be felt if the steering is not smooth and it binds.
I lifted my truck, and at the same time I put in a new steering box and superlift's superrunner steering system. My truck's steering was way better, but after about 10k miles I now have a little slack when going straight. If driving straight I can turn the wheel about 2-3inches back and forth and the truck will barely turn. They setup the steering on these trucks so that in a panic situation if you cut the wheel hard, it hopefully won't be too hard and flip the truck over. You can get it fairly tight but it'll never be totally gone. I'm going to tighten mine up some more and see if I can get most of the slop out.
Every Ford truck I've driven has done it to some degree.
I lifted my truck, and at the same time I put in a new steering box and superlift's superrunner steering system. My truck's steering was way better, but after about 10k miles I now have a little slack when going straight. If driving straight I can turn the wheel about 2-3inches back and forth and the truck will barely turn. They setup the steering on these trucks so that in a panic situation if you cut the wheel hard, it hopefully won't be too hard and flip the truck over. You can get it fairly tight but it'll never be totally gone. I'm going to tighten mine up some more and see if I can get most of the slop out.
Every Ford truck I've driven has done it to some degree.