Steering woes!
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 2
From: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Steering woes!
I have a 1980 f-150 4x4 that I uses as a daily driver. The truck has 1-1/2" leveling springs in the front and a 3" body lift so I can run 33" BFG's. When I got the truck it was a total basket case. I have since replaced every component steering, wheel assembly, bushings, joints, bearings etc and that means everything including the steering box and a new borgesen streering shaft and all suspension components. The truck rides good and tracks straight (I had a full alignment including adjustable camber/caster bushings installed), but the steering is still vague and twichy. It feels like steering with a rubber band. I know these trucks a predisposed to bump steer which only makes that vagueness worse.
To combat bumpsteer I installed dual stabilizers and bent the stock pitman arm 1-1/4" to correct the steering geometry. Is there anything else out there that I can do to this truck to tighten the steering? Does anybody make an aftermarket steering box that is a tighter with a reduced ratio possibly?
To combat bumpsteer I installed dual stabilizers and bent the stock pitman arm 1-1/4" to correct the steering geometry. Is there anything else out there that I can do to this truck to tighten the steering? Does anybody make an aftermarket steering box that is a tighter with a reduced ratio possibly?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 2
From: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Did you relace the tires with the same size tires? The reason I ask this is I also have an 86' f-150 with a 6" lift and 35" tires and this truck drives great. You would think it should drive worse but it doesn't. Could this be defective sidewall strength or something?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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From: Niceville, FL.
Try temporarily increasing the air pressure in the tires to see if it improves steering response. That should decrease sidewall flex. I had some Generals (1 ply sidewall) on a Chevy C10 that were very "twitchy" if less than 35 psi. Put on some same size Michelins and no problem at all.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 2
From: Lincoln, Rhode Island
I found the answer to my steering problem by accident. I was under the hood working on my plow lines when I need the drivers side wheel turned. My father turned the wheel and that is when I noticed the the frame at the steering box was flexing substantailly. I took the steering box out and found a crack in the frame from top to bottom behind the box. So I welded the frame and added a heavy angle across the truck that ties the two frame rails together with the plow frame to avoid cracking the frame again. The steering feels much better now.
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