F250 Front end problems
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Joined: Jun 2006
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F250 Front end problems
Commuting in my 2003 GMC pickup is killing me on gas, so I decided to get a small car to save fuel. However I have 24 acres and need a truck occassionally to get seed, fertilizer, and to pull my 16' trailer with Kubota tractor.
I bought a 1994 Ford F250 4x4 with 7.3 powerstroke and manual transmission for $4500 to be my 3rd vehicle. It has 133K miles and is pretty clean, runs good and actually drives fine. Except that the steering wheel is off center.
I drove it on my regular commute (55 miles each way) and took it to a front end shop that does larger vehicles (than cars). The verdict was not good. Needs ball joints, I beam bushings and a bunch of other stuff, over $1000. I asked if they could just straighten the steering wheel (for $45), as I was not willing to spend that much on a truck I planned to use maybe 3 or 4 times a month. They said they would try, but no guarantees.
The guy also told me that every u-joint is missing a nut, like someone had been robbing them off the truck. The guy I bought it from was a second owner and I don't know why would have robbed them, maybe they just loosened and fell off. Of course if one gives, I'm in trouble.
1. I plan to take the truck and use it and forget about front end shops. Anybody think thats too dangerous? The truck seems to drive OK, not like new but OK. It actually tracks pretty well on the interstate at 70 mph.
2. Any reason the u-joint nuts would be missing?
I bought a 1994 Ford F250 4x4 with 7.3 powerstroke and manual transmission for $4500 to be my 3rd vehicle. It has 133K miles and is pretty clean, runs good and actually drives fine. Except that the steering wheel is off center.
I drove it on my regular commute (55 miles each way) and took it to a front end shop that does larger vehicles (than cars). The verdict was not good. Needs ball joints, I beam bushings and a bunch of other stuff, over $1000. I asked if they could just straighten the steering wheel (for $45), as I was not willing to spend that much on a truck I planned to use maybe 3 or 4 times a month. They said they would try, but no guarantees.
The guy also told me that every u-joint is missing a nut, like someone had been robbing them off the truck. The guy I bought it from was a second owner and I don't know why would have robbed them, maybe they just loosened and fell off. Of course if one gives, I'm in trouble.
1. I plan to take the truck and use it and forget about front end shops. Anybody think thats too dangerous? The truck seems to drive OK, not like new but OK. It actually tracks pretty well on the interstate at 70 mph.
2. Any reason the u-joint nuts would be missing?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Well, u-joints don't have nuts. Unless he's talking about the u-bolts that hold it to the yoke, but they're not used everywhere you have a u-joint.
If the truck drives fine and doesn't wander too much, then don't worry about it. It sounds like that front end shop was having a slow day and needed some more business.
If the truck drives fine and doesn't wander too much, then don't worry about it. It sounds like that front end shop was having a slow day and needed some more business.
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Andym, he mighta said u-bolts, I was picturing nuts that go on two ends of a u-bolt that holds the u-joints to the yoke. Maybe it was bolts, I'll ask him again when I pick up the truck.
The truck really doesn't wander to speak of, not enough to warrant spending a bunch of money for an old truck.
The truck really doesn't wander to speak of, not enough to warrant spending a bunch of money for an old truck.
