I have a 1995 F-150, 4x2, 351 5.8L.

I have been having to hold the steering wheel to the left to keep the truck straight. Thought is was out of alignment, but the shop said that my power steering is over compensating to the right. This is either correct, or the power steering has the wrong idea of what "center" is on the truck, so it keeps trying to return to center.

How would I go about fixing this problem? Replacement, adjustment, etc.


thanks
stew

 

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If the truck is "pulling" to the right and the alignment (caster) is good,try swapping the front tires side to side.

 

It sounds to me like the alignment shop guys don't think you know anything about your truck. This is bad, really bad. This means that they have probably charged you for doing an alignment and did nothing. The power steering system won't overcorrect the steering. The box can go bad and make it drift. If the power steering system was doing what they are trying to tell you it is then it would turn to the right all by itself at a stop with your hand off the wheel.

 

Forget steering wheel position for a moment. If you're driving straight, and let go of the wheel, does it keep driving straight? If not you have alignment issues.

A lot of (clueless) shops will align the front end to the steering wheel, which is WRONG. One aligns the front end correctly, caster/camber/toe, Then pop the berg joint at the steering gearbox and rotate the steering wheel to straight.

If you don't do that, you have shorter tie rods on one side as compared to the other, and end up with all sorts of odd tire wear, pulling, and struggle turning in one direction only.

Years ago I bought a "lifetime alignment" at Sears for my truck, and after 10 trips in six months, I gave up with them, and made both tie rods the same length, and took it somewhere else and had it re-aligned properly.

 

frederic, I don't know about your truck, but there are no joints on my gear box that can be rotated. The input shaft has a flat spot so its in a fixed position. The pitman arm has larger teeth on it so it only goes on in 1 of 4 positions 90 degrees apart.

I recently replaced my gear box and have had no fun trying to center everything up. I recently tried again and over did it. At first, I pulled to the left and I had to hold the wheel to the right. Now its just the opposite. Pulls to the right and I have to hold the wheel left. I can't see any other way on my truck other than centering it to the steering wheel.

BTW, 94 F150.

 

Ok, here's the story...
About 4 months ago I went to Sears to have new tires and an alignment. They did both. Got home and it was still pulling to the right. Went back, they put it back on the rack and sure enough it had moved back out of alignment. So they replaced the front casters and put it back into alignment. Got it home and still pulled to the right, so back on the rack. I was watching when they did it this time. While it was up on the swivel plates he straightened the tires and as soon as he let go the tires turned about 1/8th to the right and stopped. All the while, the computer shows the camber/toe etc, in the green.

Now I don't know much about alignments (actually almost nothing), but I did find it strange for the tires to turn on their own while stationary.

thanks for the help
stew

 

Another little thought of solutiion/problem is the tires. if one or more tires are starting to separate then there will be very little road noise, but the pull to one side or another will be quite noticable. take it to a tire shot, and have them check the tires for round and re ballance them. they will find out if it is, and a reballance is a lot cheaper than any alignment work.

 

Well, I had the problem before I got the new tires. I thought the new tires and alignment would fix the problem. So, the problem was before and after the alignment.

thanks
stew

 

The wheels moved by themselves. This indicates a problem internally in the steering box. Time for a new one.