Steering...How much play?
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 261
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From: Regina, Saskatchewan
Steering...How much play?
Ok..here my thing I've got some steering play...which I thought was ....ok...considreing the age and what not of my truck...now my mechanic....says I have direction issues...COME ON!!....I brought it in for brake work...which he says are fine...even though they lock up (intermittent) at the slightest touch of the brakes...I told him it was caliper issues....I'm loosing faith in this guy....would rather spend 95$/hour at Ford...at least there the guy knows what he's doing.....oh yeah...it was there 2 weeks ago and the tech at ford (who took my truck out on a test drive) said nothing about possible direction proble....WHY CAN'T I FIND PEOPLE WHO THINK WHEN THEY WORK!!!! ARGH!!!!
Yes you can move the steering wheel a bit...1/5th of a turn before action....but isn't this normal on a Big A$$ truck with big tires with 135k miles on it? Shold i tell him to take a hike?
Yukonsly
Yes you can move the steering wheel a bit...1/5th of a turn before action....but isn't this normal on a Big A$$ truck with big tires with 135k miles on it? Shold i tell him to take a hike?
Yukonsly
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
You can adjust some or all of the slop out of the steering gear. There is a lock nut and screw right before the steering shaft coming from the cab. You might need to remove the plastic cover that just clips onto the hoses/pipes coming from the pump.
Removing your driverside tire makes the job easier. You can work through the opening between the wheel well and frame. Lossen the nut while holding the screw. Do NOT let it move. When the nut is loose turn the screw clockwise about and 1/8th of a turn and tighten the nut. Check your progress and don't go too far too fast. Going too far will put a bind on the sector shaft and eventually ruin the steering gear. Keep in mind that some parts will wear out eventually so adjusting it may or may not work.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...=steering+gear
I copied this from the factory service manual. It's more complicated than what's necessary IMO:
Adjust total on center load to eliminate excessive lash between the sector and rack teeth as follows.
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 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 and turn the sector shaft adjuster screw 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.
Removing your driverside tire makes the job easier. You can work through the opening between the wheel well and frame. Lossen the nut while holding the screw. Do NOT let it move. When the nut is loose turn the screw clockwise about and 1/8th of a turn and tighten the nut. Check your progress and don't go too far too fast. Going too far will put a bind on the sector shaft and eventually ruin the steering gear. Keep in mind that some parts will wear out eventually so adjusting it may or may not work.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...=steering+gear
I copied this from the factory service manual. It's more complicated than what's necessary IMO:
Adjust total on center load to eliminate excessive lash between the sector and rack teeth as follows.
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 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 and turn the sector shaft adjuster screw 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.
Last edited by Cuda_jim; Mar 2, 2007 at 04:54 PM.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Regina, Saskatchewan
SWEET!...if you have pictures that would be awsome....I have since talked to my mech and he is singing a different tune about the play in the steering....but it's still there...It would be nice if i could adjust that....MAN THIS FORUM ROCKS!!!
THANKS TO EVERYONE OUT THERE!!....you are all my new best friends....Just wish I could have everyone over for a beer....or non-alcoholic beverage for those who don't drink
Yukonsly
THANKS TO EVERYONE OUT THERE!!....you are all my new best friends....Just wish I could have everyone over for a beer....or non-alcoholic beverage for those who don't drink
Yukonsly
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
When I adjusted mine, I marked the set screw with chalk before I loosen the nut. That way I had a point of ref. I made mark at 3 o'clock,loosen nut,adjusted set screw to 6 o'clock, tighten nut and test drove. Did this three times, finally stop after 1 full turn of set screw.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 38
From: Nampa, ID
Yukonsly,
Good luck with the adjustment. I'll be checking my rig after I get her back from the shop once the accident damage is fixed.
BTW...I like Coors Light, Corona, and Michelob. When's happy hour?
Good luck with the adjustment. I'll be checking my rig after I get her back from the shop once the accident damage is fixed.
BTW...I like Coors Light, Corona, and Michelob. When's happy hour?
