steering issues
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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steering issues
any body have trouble with there trucks steering haveing a lot of play in it?? my 2004 was hard to keep on the road so the dealer checked the alignment and found the toe adjustment out so they fixed it, truck still pulled to the right so they got it back and fixed the steering wheel adjustment and this fixed the problem. now i had the hubs replaced and it started to pull again and when turning something makes a poping sound in the front end so i have to take the truck back. anybody know why the truck is always out of alignment??
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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After being in the shop for 2.5 days I finally got my truck back. They replaced the draglink and pitman arm and had to order the parts which is why it took so long. I asked the service advisor why it wore out so fast, he said he wasent sure but ford not putting a grease fitting on dosent help.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 37
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From: Bloomfield New Mexico
I have Noise Also
I have had to replace the steering gear box on my "05" F-250 4x4 SD due to leakage. Soon afterwards I started to notice a noise from somewhere underneath when turning both to the left and to the right. My truck is going back to the dealer today to have it looked at. I will let you know what (if anything) is found.
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
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I had a noise when turning left and there was a tsb out for it. They replace power steering lines per tsb. A week later my box split and spewed fluid everywhere. They replaced the box and had a ton of play and got the death wobble. They tightened mesh gears for play. It still had lots of play and death wobble. They replaced the box again because they said they have had alot of problems with boxes. 5 on one truck before they got a good one, 3 on another, 2 on mine, and multiple single replacements. Ever since they replaced the box steering is good and death wobble is gone.As far as popping noises sounds like ball joints or bushings being torn up because the lack of grease fittings.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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I found with my 04 that the extreme play was coming from a number of places. I replaced the front steeing link arms, and the front sway bar bushings had a lot of slop in them, the vertical links were practically worn out and I still need to go back and replace the upper frame mounts where the vertical links attach to. This is where most of the popping and loose rattle noise was coming from as best as I can tell. No real help from the dealer about this.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Long Island
My truck has alot of play too, and its getting worse and worse. I took a look under the truck while a friend moved the steering wheel back and forth and noticed there was excessive play in the drag link. Everything else was nice a tight. Now I was wondering if their is an aftermarket company that makes a better product. Being that my truck is lifted with 35's, I doubt the dealer will cover me so I know its going to come out of my pocket.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 208
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From: Stockton USA
MrMike...if there's play in the Draglink, it's either the ball joint end is worn, or there's play at the other end at the steering gear.
My truck had a 4" lift when I bought it used, and I replaced all the front end stuff to try and fix the 'wander'...ball joints, tie rod/ends, draglink, and steering box (recon type). When I put the truck on an alignment rack, the tech told me they have to bench test 'new' steering gears all the time, as the quality of Recons and new is poor, these days...
I had to re-torque the nut that holds the pitman arm onto the steering box several times. I would drive it to work and crawl under and tighten the nut...drive home and tighten the nut! Did this several times till I got it tightened up properly...so check it out...you will get some play if it's not tight - especially with an angled pitman arm that's been replaced as part of a lift kit.
BTW...mine still wanders a bit, it's the crappy steering gear, but I'm living with it for now, as it's far better than when I started.
My truck had a 4" lift when I bought it used, and I replaced all the front end stuff to try and fix the 'wander'...ball joints, tie rod/ends, draglink, and steering box (recon type). When I put the truck on an alignment rack, the tech told me they have to bench test 'new' steering gears all the time, as the quality of Recons and new is poor, these days...
I had to re-torque the nut that holds the pitman arm onto the steering box several times. I would drive it to work and crawl under and tighten the nut...drive home and tighten the nut! Did this several times till I got it tightened up properly...so check it out...you will get some play if it's not tight - especially with an angled pitman arm that's been replaced as part of a lift kit.
BTW...mine still wanders a bit, it's the crappy steering gear, but I'm living with it for now, as it's far better than when I started.
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