Greetings everybody from a forum newbie.

I have had a 2000 E150 customized van (my first van of any type) for a couple of years now. I bought it used with about 85,000 miles, and it now has about 135,000.

Since day 1 the steering column has "clunked" when you turn at slow speeds, especially on bumpy surfaces. You can also feel it in the steering wheel.

After initially replacing what I thought might be a worn drag link (didn't help) I have prodded, poked, jerked, and stared, but haven't solved the problem.

The only thing which I can figure might be the problem is some slack where the u-joints fit on the steering shaft where the shaft goes under the dash.

Is this noise common for these vans? Is it correctable?

Thanks for any help!
HH

 

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Might want to check the U Joints anyway to be on the safe side. In a car, that "clunk" would be one symptom and I dont think a van would be much different. Might what to take a look at the front wheelbearings too. Learned this from experience with my 79 Cordoba and my Ford van.

When I got my own 81 E100 early last year, the U joints were checked as it was a former delivery van with alot of miles. These were still fine but the van was still driving "bumpy" at low speeds and eventually getting a "sound". Turned out both inside front wheelbearings were literally "shot" (hardly anything there) and no telling how long they were this way. Replaced them and now it drives fine.

In my Cordoba, the front u joint was replaced when I got it but the back one was untouched. Although I did not drive it that often, I was getting a "clunk" at low speeds occasionly and thought this was wheelbearings (had one side replaced earlier but not the other). Had those checked and they were fine.

Went driving home and all of a sudden felt a "clunk" and a horrible sound from the back. I was out in the middle of nowhere but was nearly home and drove it at low speed. What happened the rear U joint nearly slipped out of it's cradle. One side was nearly out and was slipping back and forth. Just plain lucky it did not drop out altogether while driving down the road.....especially with a big rig behind me.

 

Check the "rag" joint. It's that odd joint in the column that has a corded fabric piece between two round steel pieces. The fabric part looks something like the cross section off a tire. It acts as a shock obsorbing joint in the column. Sometimes the fabric part will wear and alow the steel parts to clunk on one another.

Gene

 

I get the same thing when i turn the wheel all the way left at very low speed.Like when iam turning out of my driveway.1988 E250

 

I would say the "clank" while turning and going thru bumb is normal. Remember, the steering in Ford full-size vans are worm gear type. In this design, the worm gear-to-roller gap is suppose to be at minimum when the steering wheel is strait. The further from strait it is, the more the gap is and freeplay in steering wheel.
Check it out - turn wheel one turn to left or right from strait position, and measure the freeplay (not driving makes it easier). It might be as big as 4-5 inches at the steering wheel. Compare it to freeplay when the wheels are straight - it should be under 1 inch.
With this big freeplay while turning, the wheels may bounce to the other side while going thru bumps thus making clunking noise.
den25

 

Thanks for the responses to my post.

I've been "out of pocket" for a couple of weeks and just got back on the forum.

I'll check the rag joint, and also the steering u-joints for free play.

Thanks again!
Herb