f-150 steering issues
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New User
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: on the outskirtsofnowhere
f-150 steering issues
my 95 150 is not steering properly. It seems like its delayed from when you turn the wheel to when the truck actually turns. At stand still the wheels turn properly. Almost everything in the front end is new and greased, frame isn't cracked, steering box firmly secured. New parts include ball joints, wheel bearings, hub nuts, axle joints, 1 new radius arm, and shocks. All is tight. It was fine after all was installed but just started all of a sudden. Any body have any suggestions other than a complete teardown?
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From: on the outskirtsofnowhere
i've tried that. everything appears to move as it should. No play in the tie rod ends, pitman arm, steering box turns as the steering wheel is turned with no delay, all this while the truck is at stand still, but when it's moving there is this delay between turning the steering wheel and the truck acually turning.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
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From: Lafayette, IN
It's not a sportscar, you know...
Are you overloaded in back? I once had 2400lbs of large rocks in the back of my F150, with the load centered a couple inches behind the rear axle. Steering it was interesting, but I just took it slow, had no problems. Otherwise, I'd be curious to know just how much of a delay it really is. Like I said, it's not a sportscar. I've driven a wide range of vehicle sizes, and steering definitely goes downhill as size goes up in general. It's just the nature of the physics of momentum involved--it's hard to get a large mass in motion to change direction than a small one.
Jason
Are you overloaded in back? I once had 2400lbs of large rocks in the back of my F150, with the load centered a couple inches behind the rear axle. Steering it was interesting, but I just took it slow, had no problems. Otherwise, I'd be curious to know just how much of a delay it really is. Like I said, it's not a sportscar. I've driven a wide range of vehicle sizes, and steering definitely goes downhill as size goes up in general. It's just the nature of the physics of momentum involved--it's hard to get a large mass in motion to change direction than a small one.
Jason
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Michigan
Have you checked the u-joints? I had a strange steering problem and replaced a lot of parts; steering gear box, rotors, brakes, bearings, hub lock outs, tie rods, and there's probably more. It ended up being the u-joints. I thought that the joints would only matter in 4wd, but they are where the spindle pivots from the axle. Hope I could help.
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From: on the outskirtsofnowhere
nope truck is empty. It started all of a sudden like something broke only no noise. The delay is enough to make you momentarily panic at speed before it turns. It may be an axle joint but wouldn't it make noise if it were locking?
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No, I had mine do the same thing. I'd turn the wheel without any response. I had to turn it even more to get any response, and usually this was too much. While replacing all tie rods and ends, I was unable to turn the driver side steering knuckle due to a seized U-joint when hooking up the new tie rod ends. I ended up putting that hub in and turning the joint in order to get the steering knuckle turned. Temporary fix was to get it all re-assembled, put the truck in 4wd, spray the U-joints up with penetrating oil and drive it slowly forward and back turning the wheel from left to right to break free the u-joints.
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Joe Kucinski
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,324
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From: Michigan
How about the rag joint on the steering shaft. I believe there is a rubber union or coupler on those shafts. They do wear out and maybe under a load like driving it is a little sloppy. Can't hurt to check.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: north carolina
use4low
Does your truck seem to "wander" a bit when driving, or, put another way, does it feel like you need to turn the wheel a lot to compensate for drift or road surface changes?
Since you said you had just updated steering and suspension parts (tie rod ends, ball joints, etc), one thing you might check is your steering lash.
Check out this thread from the steering, suspension forum:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...highlight=lash
Does your truck seem to "wander" a bit when driving, or, put another way, does it feel like you need to turn the wheel a lot to compensate for drift or road surface changes?
Since you said you had just updated steering and suspension parts (tie rod ends, ball joints, etc), one thing you might check is your steering lash.
Check out this thread from the steering, suspension forum:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...highlight=lash
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From: on the outskirtsofnowhere
cracked frame
Just to update everyone, I decided to do an SAS and when everything was taken apart I found a large crack behind the steering box, on the boxed part of the frame. It started where the crossmember meets the frame and ran behind the steering box up the frame,almost to the top of the frame. It was for the most part completely hidden except for about 1/4". Now for the hard part, how do I repair it so it won't happen again?