I put a Rought Country 3" suspension lift on my 2006 F250. I had everything on it, except the track bar spacers, and at that point, the steering wheel was perfectly straight, and the truck drove properly. I had ran out of daylight that day, so I put the tires on and left it like that for a couple of days until I had the time to put the track bar spacers in. It drove fine, and if you let go of the steering wheel, it tracked perfectly straight, just like normal. Today, I had the time to put the track bar spacers in (in order to recenter the front axle). After putting the spacers in, the steering wheel is not centered. The truck still tracks perfectly straight if you let go of the steering wheel, but the steering wheel is now turned to the right about 1/4 of a turn. When I'm driving straight down the road, the steering wheel looks like I'm making a right turn. Again, before putting the track bar spacers in, the steering wheel was lined up perfectly. The spacers only lower the track bar bracket 1/2".

1. Is this normal?
2. Why didn't the wheel change before the track bar was lowered?
3. How do I fix this? (considering I didn't change anything else)
4. Can an alignment fix this? I don't see how, since I didn't change the toe (in or out), and it tracks perfectly straight.
5. Why was the steering wheel straight before the track bar was lowered?

 

Nobody after 34 view, has an answer to any of this?
Can adjusting the drag link be something normal for a lift?
It seems that by adjusting the drag link, that the steering wheel would be able to be centered back up.

 

Back in the day (!) I used to take off the steering wheel and put it back on straight. Now with airbag BS, I'm not sure how much of a PITA that would be.

If it tracks straight, that would seem to be the most obvious solution, but perhaps not the easiest.

 

Back in the day, you had to do that because drag links were not nomrally adjustable. I see a good bit of adjustment on the drag link, that could have no other purpose that I can figure other than to adjust basic centering of the steering system - lock-to-lock. I'm not an alignment expert, so I'm not sure if I should mess with it, or just take it to an alignment shop.

Again, the truck is tracking straight, so it appears to be just the steering wheel being off. This makes perfect sence to me, since the tie rods where not messed with at all, and being it is a solid front axle, there really isn't any way anything (other than centering) is effected when it's lifted, (as far as alignment is concerned).

I guess my question is: would adjusting the drag link bar fix the alignment of the steering wheel, and if it does, would that change the tracking of the truck? It seems to me that the drag link would have no effect on tracking, since the toe (in/out) is adjusted on the the tie rods (which haven't been altered).

 

Do exactly as you are thinking. Just loosen the two bolts on the drag link clamp and turn the clamp until your wheel is straight, and then retighten to 45 ft/lbs. Helps to have someone sit in the truck cause they can tell you if the wheel is straight or if you need to turn the other way.

 

wow thanks TurboWhistler. after putting my massive track bar drop bracket on after my lift, my wheel is off 45* also. same, as if i am making a right turn. my theory on this is that the drop bar is pushing the axle to the right, making it centered, pushing the drag link to the left, making the wheels turn left somewhat during normal driving (when the wheel is centered) so, therfore to compensate you have to turn the wheel to the right to go straight. on my first drive i pulled out of my driveway, and went on driving normal with the wheel straight, and i drove into the left lane and a car was coming. it freaked me out, especially since my wheel wasn't centered. now im used to it, after a week of driving.

wow this is ood, like i am on my "streak", i thought about posting this same question last night (i planned on fixing it tonight) and whaddya know, it was posted today.

 

There are 2 bolts that clamp the drak link, and another one that is clampled forward a bit on the drag link that has a blade (or whatever they call it) that goes between the bolt closest to the pitman arm, and helps keep the adjustable part of the link from rotating. Very clever design.

It took 2 turns of the adjuster to get the wheel back to center. After a test drive, the truck continues to track perfectly and the wheel is aligned dead center. The axle is also properly centered under the truck. I can now say, I'm done. I think I'll still have the front end aligned, just to be safe, since it only costs about $50. No sence in being cheap.

 

I thought I would post an image of what exactly needs adjusting to correct for this problem in case anyone else ever has this issue.

I only had to rotate the link adjuster 2 times to center the steering wheel, and the truck continues to track perfectly.

In order to rotate the drak link adjuster, you have to remove the bolt with the bracket that slides between the middel addjuster bolt. It's keyed into the drag link, so that it doesn't rotate, and helps keep the adjusters from rotating, in addition to them having clamps on them. A very clever design by Ford.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j7/davidsheets/2006%20Ford%20F250%204x4/draglinkadjustment.jpg

 

just did mine. the link was very rusty on the threads. loosened up the clamps (i only had two) and then rocked the arm back and forth radially with a pry bar in the slit in the connector link. it finally broke free and got easier and easier as i turned it. adjust a little, go drive, adjust a little, go drive. after 5 or 6 test drives, i have it centered, it took 4.5 turns in the direction of making the link LONGER end to end.

 

You only have two clamps, and not the slip clamp? Yours is probably a pre-coil spring model. My uncle has a 2004 F250, and his doesn't have the slip clamp either. I think the slip clamp may be there to prevent the drag link clamps from coming in contact with the springs, since it forces the clamps to always face downward. I don't think it's a problem with leaf springs, since the clamps cannot come in contact with anything.

You had to turn it 4.5 turns? Wow, mine only took 2. You must have more lift. My lift is 3 inches via new coil springs.

 

yes it's a 2002. i have a 4.5" spring hanger kit on top of a spring- leveling kit which is about 6.5" total.

 

Will this same proceedure work for a 2003 4x4? My steering wheel is 1/4 turn to the left

 

Yes, adjusting the drag link sleeve will move your steering wheel without affecting the toe in. That is the main function of that sleeve--to center the steering wheel. If you look at davidsheets' picture, you will see another adjusting sleeve below the one he has marked. That's the one that you set the toe in with. Don't move that one.

 

Thanks rongold. That makes me comfortable giving this a shot.

 

Make sure to have the engine OFF with the Key in the ON position so that the steering wheel won't lock.

Park with the tires pointing straight and adjust the drag link until the steering wheel is straight.


Be sure to adjust the drag link and not the tie rod (the lower bar that connects the two steering knuckles together).