what does your steering feel like? Does anyone get a lot of backlash in their wheel when traveling on rough roads? i get a lot of backlash and vibration in my steering. i can actually feel the tires bumpsteer a little. i'm wondering if i have a defective rack and pinion or if it's just a characteristic of the truck. Tell me how your truck feels? Anyway to adjust it?

Also, i can't see any way of installing a steering stabilizer on rack and pinion, am i correct?

i'm trying to tweek my ride and steering performance to the way i want it. i'm starting with 4 bilstein shocks that will be here wednesday. What other suggestions do you all have?
I realize it's an off-road package and there is a stiffer frame, but I want it to ride and drive solidly, not jittery/loose feeling. suggestions, please.

I'm currently riding on stock fx4 rims, goodyear 275/70/18's with soon to be bilstein shocks. i thought i might install a daystar while in there, but haven't decided yet.



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2005 F150 FX4
Regular Cab/Flareside
Oxford White/Dark Shadow Grey
Black Interior
Flowmaster 50 Series
Nifty Catch-All Xtreme (Black)
Bilstein 5100's
Westin Oval Tube Steps (Black)

 

My 04 f150 does the same thing as yours,on a road tht is a little rough your hands will get numb from the steerin wheel. The techs (part changers) at Sioux Falls Ford
don't have a clue whats wrong with the P.O.S.

 

I also installed Bilsteins but in addition I also installed a Beltech Sway bar and Beltech 2" shackle kit. The sway bar made the biggest difference in handling. There is much less sway but still think there is still too much.

After having about 2 weeks with the bar and about 3 weeks on the new shocks, I wish the shocks had a bit more dampening and the sway bar was bigger. The sway bar currently avaliable is 1". I think the handling would be better with a larger rear sway bar. Overall though, the combo of the sway bar and shocks did a good job of increasing the stability both straightline and in the corners. The shackles helped as well but they require modification of the bottom or your bed to make them fit properly. This REALLy pissed me off.

I know energy suspension also makes a small kit of a few parts that should also improve the handling. It replaces the rear leafspring bushings, front sway bar bushings, and something else I forget.

Now that I have all this installed, You can really feel the lack of grip the tires have. A tire and/or wheel upgrade is definately in order. Maybe some new EBC or Hawk brake pads as well. Sounds like lots of stuff but it really is not. A bit of money for an overall 7 out of 10 handling improvement.