Steering wheel return to center?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
Steering wheel return to center?
Mike, there is nothing wrong with the truck, whats wrong is your expectation that the wheel will self center. Neither of my trucks self ceters the wheel after a turn (both 71s, one 2wd one 4wd) And they both 'wander' just a bit. Alignment is okay. The problem is insufficient caster. Most of the alignment specs call for 2 1/2 or 3 degrees of + caster. To get the self centering effect you are looking for takes something like 6* usually, sometimes more than that. Keep in mind that more + caster makes it harder to turn the steering wheel, but with power steering you'll never notice. If you have a local shop that knows how to set the caster on an old ford and is willing, consider your self lucky. A large number of alignment shops out there don't have the tools, or don't know how to use them. So they are telling customers 'can't be done'. Anyway, if your alignment is set to spec, I would bet serious money you have no more than 4-5 degrees. Ask your shop if they will set you up with 9-10*. DF
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Thomas A
Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Tires, & Wheels
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Feb 25, 2007 01:36 AM
