Steering probs!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 26, 2002 | 01:30 PM

wally2117

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 48

Likes: 0

Steering probs!

I've experienced some riding problems on highways, I have to slightly steer left and right all the time. By looking at some topics of
this forum, I've made some checks on my steering parts.

I found that my steering is not centered when I run straight ahead.
3 and a half turn full right and 2 and a half full left or so. Someone in a previous topic write about a dead or smooth spot in the center
of the steering box that could help me with my problem.

I've tried to remove the F... Pitman arm to center the gear box, but it's full jammed...What a day! But I saw the splines of the arm are
not the same all the way round. It seems that it's made to do exactly quarter turn at a time. I'm not sure it's exactly quarter turn that
I need to correct my problem. Is there another way to correct the gearbox center point.

I would like to know if some of you experienced this prob and what to do that I don't know.

Thanks

Wally

86 E-350 with full of front cross-members that left no room for a pitman arm puller...and a brake line that left no choice to heat the
pitman arm...!!!!!!!?????????

Aug 26, 2002 | 07:18 PM

Jimbare

all alone in the world

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 2,038

Likes: 1

From: oklahoma

Steering probs!

your steering box should not be centered. it will turn sharper right than left for a reason. you may have an alignment problem. have the alignment checked. what year is your truck? if it has kingpins and they are not greased properly it will road walk. if the alignment is out it will road walk. if you have a low tire it will road walk. bad shocks will also make it road walk. mixing bias and radial tires front and rear will make it road walk.

Aug 26, 2002 | 10:39 PM

wally2117

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 48

Likes: 0

Steering probs!

It's an 86 e-350 RV (incomplete vehicule), have changed 2 king pins, front shock absorbers and 6 new radials tire (dual rear) then made an alignment. The tie rod adjustment is almost centered. It runs straight ahead but have to steer all the time to keep it forward.

Wally

Aug 27, 2002 | 11:39 AM

dpoelstra

Senior User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 484

Likes: 1

From: Garden Grove USA

Steering probs!

sounds normal to me :-)

Seriously, it could be a worn gearbox, or a worn coupler shaft, or front end parts, or worn tires or alignment ...or...or...or...

Suggestion...Put a bottle of Lucaoil power steering sealer/conditioner in the pump. I normally don't believe in additives, but I was desperate after overhauling my entire system, and the stuff works awesome! Give it a try.

Aug 27, 2002 | 01:19 PM

Franklin2

Moderator

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 56,949

Likes: 2,718

From: Virginia

Steering probs!

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Aug-02 AT 02:20 PM (EST)]He probably read one of my earlier posts about the box being centered. What is your theory about the box not being normally centered? From what I have read in factory manuals, it should always be centered(inside the box itself). The only problem is during his test, he was relying on the suspension stops to determine center. You should disconnect the linkage(if the pitman arm is stuck, then try another joint) from the box before figuring out what the center is on the box itself. I have never worked on a van, but if it has two tie rod ends with adjusting sleeves on both, this is where the steering can be centered back up. They would both be turned the same amount so as not to affect the toe setting.

Aug 27, 2002 | 01:53 PM

wally2117

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 48

Likes: 0

Steering probs!

Interesting Frank, you're right. My light was certainly close!

I could change my center only by changing the lenght of the right and left stoppers.

I'm not very proud of my post...

Well, suppose my steering is centered what could cause this road walk?

My front truck setup is twin I-beam and only the left tie rod has a collar for adjustment. The right side is a long bar that holds on the pitman arm with a ball joint.

Thanks

Wally

Aug 27, 2002 | 10:31 PM

Jimbare

all alone in the world

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 2,038

Likes: 1

From: oklahoma

Steering probs!

the reason the steering boxes are not centered is a right turn is sharper than a left turn in the U. S.. if everything in the front suspension is tight or new, the only thing left is the steering box itself. they do have a tendancy to wear in the straight ahead position. when the front end shop centers one, all they are doing is centering the steering wheel in the straight ahead position. the reason that only the left tierod is adjustable is all you change is the toe in, the distance between the wheels. the ford design of the steering linkage is simple and straight forward with only the one adjustment. one check is to let someone rock the steering wheel while you watch the pitman shaft at the box. a worn box will usually have some side to side movement in the shaft.

Trending Topics

BREAKING: Ford Drops 6.8L V8 and Standard 6.7L Power Stroke from 2027...

137

10.3k
FX4 Real-World Use

29

767
New F-250 owner, coming from GMC/thoughts

26

1.1k
How should I fill in this gap?

23

358
My 1976 F-250

3.7k

255.8k

Sep 3, 2002 | 12:43 AM

Whosncntrl

New User

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

Steering probs!

This may sound wierd, don't hate me yet, i am a true FORD fan, but one thing that gm has over Ford is the power steering pump. I onw an 85 F-150 4x4 that i have modified more than i should have. I had the same steering problem that you describe, I replaced everything but the box, and added a steering stabilizer. After all of this did no good, I talked to a buddy of mine at the local junkyard, told him my problem and what i had done to resolve it. He dissapeared back into the shelves and came back with a GM power steering pump, handed it to me and said "this will fix your problem". After making brackets to install it, i used part of the factory ford bracket, welded to part of the gm bracket, i had a hose made to go from metric(GM) to standard(Ford) and went for a test drive. What a difference. I called my buddy at the junkyard to thank him, and ask what the difference between the 2 pumps are. He said the GM pump has a checkvalve, where the Ford does not. The grooves worn into the road were pushing my wider than stock tires back and forth and the Ford pump offered it no resistance.