steering box trouble
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Guys needing to do a steering box adjustment is not unusual even in low mileage vehicles. My F-350 PSD was having wandering problems at 50K miles. I set the backlash to the spec in the Ford service manual and have had no problems since. I have also set backlash using the "1/8 inch turn at a time method" and have had poor return doing it that way in a couple of vehicles and on others it has worked OK. My fear is that even if you don't have poor return and everything seems to be working OK you still run the risk of overloading the bearings in the gear and they will eventually fail. This is based on info I received from a steering box rebuild service that alerted me to the problems of improper gear backlash adjustment. Just my .02.
John
John
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
I have a f250 super duty 03 with the 4.8. The front end feels fine at normal speed and smooth road. But if I hit a bump with one or both front wheels at like 50 to 70 mph. the front end goes to shaking violently. it doesn't stop unit I slow down. The shop check the front end and said everything is tight and looks good. They moved the rear tires to the front and balanced them and it was slightly better for a little while. Now it is doing ut again and very bad and even at slower speeds. Any advice.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
My guess is that the shocks are gone. When the shocks fail, any little thing can start a vibration, like hitting a bump or a tire out of round. Good shocks would suppress these small irregularities.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
ok i didnt read through it all.
but be very careful adjusting the box. if u get it too hard, it will cause the steering to be stiff, and want to stay where u turn it.
meaning, if u make a right, YOU have to turn the wheel back to center, it will want to stay turned right.
thats not really supposed to be adjusted, thats for setting the gears when new.
no different than setting a R&P set.
but be very careful adjusting the box. if u get it too hard, it will cause the steering to be stiff, and want to stay where u turn it.
meaning, if u make a right, YOU have to turn the wheel back to center, it will want to stay turned right.
thats not really supposed to be adjusted, thats for setting the gears when new.
no different than setting a R&P set.
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