Hi all-- I seem to have a steering/brake issue with my 93 F150, 4x4, 300 (straight six).

I'll do my best to describe it and with a little luck, someone out there will recognize it and offer some advice.

So--when I turn hard right, it turns easy (almost a little too easy) and it doesn't come back to center very well--meaning, it doesn't "snap back". When I turn hard left, I seem to meet some resistance and then, when I try to bring the wheel back to center, it is hard until it literally feels like it's going over a hump and then snaps back.

Then, this morning something happened which really got me curious: I was sitting at a red light with the truck in neutral (manual tranny) and my foot on the brake as I was on a slight incline, ahead of me being the uphill. I let off the brake and the steering wheel moved slightly to the right and when I stepped on the brake again, the steering wheel snapped tight in center position.

I do hear a "clunk" when I get the ole' girl rolling in the morning after it's been sitting all night coming from the front, right wheel and sometimes a slight grinding noise. Could this be only a sticky caliper? Or, more serious front end/steering box issues? Or perhaps, some of each.

Thanks in advance,
Peter Allenson

 

There is some sort of issue with valving in the steering box, but it also sounds like you have bad bushings or something. Have a look at your radius arm bushings (arms run back to front edge of the cab and mount to the frame) and see if they're in pieces.

 

Sounds like the wear parts in your front suspension/steering have had a good life, especially if they're as old as the truck.

Second guess is that your wheel bearings need attention.

Do it yourself, or farm it out, but "Git-er-done" pronto! The longer you neglect, the higher the price.

Take care, Mike

 

Thanks man--that's exactly what the problem is!