I have a 74 ford f100 4x4 with a lift coil springs and 35" tires. first off I have never drove a truck with a lift secondly I am coming out of a 2001 model truck and went to this one. the steering is great going down the highway around 60 but when I go up a bridge or any bump in the road the truck acts like it wants to get away from you like a wild horse. any ideas?

 

Does it have a steering stablizer?

 

There is a condition known as "bump steer" which is fairly common in lifted trucks if the steering and suspension systems are not setup properly and to work in sync. What causes bump steer is when the suspension cycles (like when you hit a bump) and it causes a compression or tension on your drag link (the controling link from the pitman arm to the axle). Even though you hold the wheel straight the wheels are steering to the right as the suspension compresses and back to the left. To solve this problem you need to have your trac bar parallel to your drag link. The trac bar is bolted to the frame at one end and to the axle at the other. This is the bar that locates the axle under the truck so it can't go from side to side. If the angle of the trac bar is not equal to the angle of the drag link then you will experience bump steer. This is VERY common in lifted trucks because people are not always familiar with how to set them up OR don't have the know how or money for an adjusted trac bar bracket.

Other things to check for are worn bushings, including the trac bar bushings and the C bushings where the radius arms mount to the axle. If these are worn it can cause poor handling and looseness in your steering system.

Check this out and let us know what you find out.

 

In the meantime don't hit any bumps. And check with the guy above me said. I bet your stabilizer is shot.

 

I have the exact same truck with the same problem . I won't drive it till it is fixed . scares me . here is what I am learning . I cannot find replacement parts anywhere for the steering . I have the garrison assisted power steering set up where the output draglink from the control cylinder attatches to the center link ( also called a drag link , the bar from wheel to wheel.), even with a 3" dropped pitman arm , the angle is so bad it has wiped out my steering box . I just bought a bracket to lower the track bar and hope this will help , but with this setup the draglink will still be 2.5 to 3 " from parellel to the ( centerlink-draglink ) and the tie rod ends are still wore out . I'm just about ready to redesign and have bulletproof make me a new system . this sounds cheaper and easier to me than converting to the 1979 power steering system . any help from anyone reading this sure would be appreciated . I love this truck , it is already beat-up and rusted , just need it to drive true .
Jack

 

Thadeus , forgot to mention shock absorbers . use to be going over a bridge , the rain cuts in the highways would have my truck hopping like a jack rabbit . changed to pro comp's 9000 series for a 2-4" lift . it is so much better , not perf. but so much better .
Jack