Slack in the steering
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Freshman User
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Slack in the steering
My steering on my truck has quite a bit of slack in it and it drives me crazy!! Should i put the stock steering back in or a beefed up aftermarket in? I need some ideas on what to do
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
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I have a 97 F350. I might just need to replace the stabalizer shock but it seems like its in the steering box. I can jiggle the steering wheel and the wheels dont even turn so that makes me think that its the steering box. When im driving it acts like it wants to follow the road so that makes me think that its the stabilizer.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: MICHIGAN
You can adjust some of the slack out of the steering gear. The nut and screw on the top of the gear is the adjustment. 1/4 turn on the screw is usually enough. If more is needed the gear is likely worn out.
BTW: Steering stabilizers usually mask a bigger problem. Lift kits and/or larger tires wear the steering parts prematurely.
Adjust total on center load to eliminate excessive lash between the sector and rack teeth as follows.
Use thre link below for a picture of the steering gear.
With the engine off, turn the steering wheel from full right stop to full left stop at least once.
Remove steering wheel pad horn switch.
Disconnect the steering gear sector shaft arm from the steering gear sector shaft using a Pitman Arm Puller.
Attach a newton meter (pound-inch) torque wrench to the steering wheel hub nut and determine the torque required to rotate the power steering gear input shaft and control back and forth across the center position (± 90 degrees).
Reset the meshload only if the measured torque for total on-center load is less than 1.5 Nm (13 lb-in). If reset is required, loosen the adjuster lock nut (#6) and turn the sector shaft adjuster screw (#4) until the measured total on-center load torque is 2.0 Nm (18 lb-in). Hold the sector shaft screw in place and tighten the lock nut to 48-61 Nm (35-45 lb-ft).
Recheck torque readings and replace the steering gear sector shaft arm. Tighten the pitman arm-to-sector shaft nut 230-310 Nm (170-228 lb-ft).
Verify no binding condition in steering throughout full stop-to-stop travel. Verify customer concern is resolved.
Replace steering wheel pad horn switch.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...achmentid=2444
BTW: Steering stabilizers usually mask a bigger problem. Lift kits and/or larger tires wear the steering parts prematurely.
Adjust total on center load to eliminate excessive lash between the sector and rack teeth as follows.
Use thre link below for a picture of the steering gear.
With the engine off, turn the steering wheel from full right stop to full left stop at least once.
Remove steering wheel pad horn switch.
Disconnect the steering gear sector shaft arm from the steering gear sector shaft using a Pitman Arm Puller.
Attach a newton meter (pound-inch) torque wrench to the steering wheel hub nut and determine the torque required to rotate the power steering gear input shaft and control back and forth across the center position (± 90 degrees).
Reset the meshload only if the measured torque for total on-center load is less than 1.5 Nm (13 lb-in). If reset is required, loosen the adjuster lock nut (#6) and turn the sector shaft adjuster screw (#4) until the measured total on-center load torque is 2.0 Nm (18 lb-in). Hold the sector shaft screw in place and tighten the lock nut to 48-61 Nm (35-45 lb-ft).
Recheck torque readings and replace the steering gear sector shaft arm. Tighten the pitman arm-to-sector shaft nut 230-310 Nm (170-228 lb-ft).
Verify no binding condition in steering throughout full stop-to-stop travel. Verify customer concern is resolved.
Replace steering wheel pad horn switch.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...achmentid=2444
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conoso
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Jun 8, 2012 12:26 PM
