Wandering Front End
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Wandering Front End
Greetings:
My son has a '68 f-100 2WD that seems to "wander" all over the road. There is a bit a play in the steering, but mostly we must steer to correct the wandering.
Could worn suspension bushings cause this problem? Think replacing bushings would help, if not eliminate, the problem? Is replacement hard to do? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
My son has a '68 f-100 2WD that seems to "wander" all over the road. There is a bit a play in the steering, but mostly we must steer to correct the wandering.
Could worn suspension bushings cause this problem? Think replacing bushings would help, if not eliminate, the problem? Is replacement hard to do? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Wandering Front End
Arlan, That is common for that era truck, sounds like it is worn pretty good. I might suggest that before you spend a lot of money on that front end that you look into finding a mid 70s truck, and harvesting the I-beams for power disc brakes and the power steering too.
John
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
John
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,960
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From: All over Texas
Wandering Front End
First and foremost, these old trucks don't handle like the newer versions. That's something we've just got to live with considering the way technology has changed over three decades. Now back to your questions, yes, worn bushings will cause your truck to wander. I'd start with the control arm bushings. They are only about $12 to replace and well worth the investment. Also check all the tie rods/center link for tightness. You can do this by raising the whole front end, grab each rod and try to twist. If there is excessive play then it's time to replace. Shocks could also cause the symptoms you describe. Press down hard on the front end of the truck and see if it bounces repeatedly or just a time or two. If the shocks are worn get some large bore replacement gas charged shocks and slap them on. Once you've determined all the aforementioned components are in good working order then take the truck to an alignment shop and have them check all the specs. No point getting the thing aligned with worn-out parts. Oh yeah, don't forget about the steering coupling (rag). This little doohickey can tear and cause the steering to have excessive play which in turn will permit the truck to wander at higher speeds.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 574
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From: New England
Wandering Front End
the drag link is a problem part on non power assisted steering
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77'FORD F150 XLT 400
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77'FORD F150 XLT 400
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2000
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Wandering Front End
I would check all the front end parts to make sure they are all tight, if they are then you should have an adjusting screw on your steering gear, have someone get in the truck and turn the steering wheel back and forth while you tighted this screw, when the wheels move with the steering wheel tighten everything down and take it for a ride see if its any better
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 940
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From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Wandering Front End
Worn king pins will have an adverse effect on handling. Check them by jacking the wheel up and check for play by grabbing the 6:00 & 12:00 o-clock positions of the tire. New king pins with honed-to-fit bronze liners will have almost no slop. New nylon liners sometimes end up with a little slop, but they are much easier and less expensive to replace. I am not sure what the recommended tolerence is, but I would consider replacing if there is more than 1/8" movement at the edge of the tire. If you get the same amount of movement by grabbing the tire at 9:00 & 3:00, then adjust you bearings first, then check your king pins again.
I have to disagree with the previous statement that they don't handle the same as the newer trucks. With a good set of radial tires, and all the previously listed items to check are in good shape, your era truck will handle every bit as good as any truck I have driven from the 90's. I fall asleep in my '69 quite often and awake to find I am still in the same lane.
I have to disagree with the previous statement that they don't handle the same as the newer trucks. With a good set of radial tires, and all the previously listed items to check are in good shape, your era truck will handle every bit as good as any truck I have driven from the 90's. I fall asleep in my '69 quite often and awake to find I am still in the same lane.
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Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 796
Likes: 3
From: Anderson Northern Ca
Wandering Front End
Effie, John is right when he reccomends swapping to a disc setup.Had the same problem on my 72 F250 2 wheel drive, I replaced all the tie rod ends,king pins,shocks,radius arm bushings and it still wandered badly with a case of the shakes at about 45 miles per hour.As it turned out the only bushings I didnt replace were the forgotten bushings at the end of the I-Beams where they tie to the frame.For me these are the hardest steering component to check as it takes a lot of force to get them to move and are most often a forgotten item for that reason. They are also a misery of a job to replace,Mine were so far gone there was very little rubber bushing left at all, this allowed the front end to move a total of 1/2" at each bushing so when things got moving with the big tires I run the whole front end started shaking so violently I had to quit driving it until I replaced the bushings. After the new bushings went on I had it aligned and it drives like a new truck.PS,when you pull the I beams you will have to gring the old rubber bushing out,save the steel insert shell, you will need it to install with the new poly bushing. Good luck !
"bowties in the rearview mirror"
"bowties in the rearview mirror"
Senior User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 154
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From: Relocated to San Diego CA
Wandering Front End
I don't agree with constantly telling everyone that they should swap out the drums for discs. If they are in good working order, they are fine, i.e. if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Chris
Chris
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Wandering Front End
Chris, You certainly have the right to keep drums on your truck if that is what you want, less power to you.
If you are going to over haul the front end of your 65-72 truck, and you don't take advantage of the extra stopping power that the discs give you, I personally would think that you're crazy. :-)
John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group
66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
If you are going to over haul the front end of your 65-72 truck, and you don't take advantage of the extra stopping power that the discs give you, I personally would think that you're crazy. :-)
John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group
66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.