Hello guys I have an '04 F250 with 4" lift and 35" A/T tires and I've been concerned with the way my truck drives, it seemed to me there's a lot of steering plays.

When I drive on the freeway, to adjust to the slightest road curve required more steering than I think it should. I could slightly shake the steering wheel left & right and the car would still go straight

So far I've done alignment, skyjacker dual steering stabilizer and did not help whatsoever.

Just curious what should I do next? I'm thinking probably the steering gearbox?

Or this is just the way it is? (kind of sucks when trailering, so much steering to do when adjusting to the road)

I came from an F150, and I miss the steering response, I can move the steering wheel just a tiny bit and the car would respond.

 

Hey thunder7, I have an '04 F250 that is completely stock and I have the same issues. I came from a Toyota Tundra. I had the F250 to the dealer 3 times complaining about it. THey tightened up the worm gear, alligned it, and checked everything. 2 different dealers told me that's just the way they drive. I still think it sucks. I love everything else about the truck. I was curious if the later years were any better...

Greg

 

Something's not right there. I have an '04 with a 4" lift and 35" Mickey Thompsons, and it steers fine. My last truck was an F150 too, and yes the steering is different, but it still shouldn't be that bad.

 

There is a screw on top of the steering box that guys are tightening, and solving this problem.Do a search and check it out.Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

GregD, I feel you man I don't think that's how it should be, Ford build one of the best heavy duty trucks in the market. I think you should try taking your truck to different dealers since you're still under warranty I assume. I only have powertrain warranty left, so I have to solve this issues myself.

anyways my next step, is figuring out how to adjust the steering gearbox.

Is there an aftermarket steering gearbox with shorter ratio, that would improve steering response?

cheers

 

Moved to SD...enjoy

 

I had a similar problem on my 99 SD. Turned out that the inner tie rods were worn. I could move them back and forth about 1/2 inch and rotate the rod a good 15 degrees around it's axis. I could also rotate the steering wheel about 5 degrees either direction before the wheels would turn. Replacing the inner tie rods fixed this.

 

I think that some of the play in the steering wheel is put there on purpose. These are big trucks and ride a little rougher than other vehicles. If the steering wheel was too tight every time you hit a bump and your arm turned the steering wheel a little bit you would be swerving. I have about 5-10 degrees of slack in my steering wheel and I like it that way, you just have to get used to it. I notice that when people who are used to driving a car try to drive my truck they are constantly turning the wheel back and forth, but I hardly ever have to adjust.

 

Jim0517,

I have replaced my inner tie rods with oem parts, then got it aligned and didn't help

Beerstalker,

That's a very good point. But I just think mine is way too much play, compare to my F150.

I could actually live with 5 degrees play, but mine more like 15+ degrees.

I wanted to test drive other F250 and see if it drives the same.

 

Yeah try driving another truck and see how it compares. Try to compare it to something close to your model though, don't try comparing it to a 06 or 08 as they are completely different front ends. Another 04 250 with lift would be ideal, one wihtout lift would be good, an 00-03 model ok, etc.

 

My truck did not come from the factory like that. I just got the steering wheel play, after almost 80000 miles. It was not like this before. I'm going to take a close look at the suspension/steering tonight. Something happened. The truck does not pull to either side at all. Its just play in the wheel, and I really feel it on a curve on the interstate. I don't like it.

2002 F250 SD CC LWB 4X4 5.4 Auto

 

I agree! I remember the first rack and pinion sterring vehicle I had. I was all over the road because it was so touchy. After only driving gear box type vehicles it took some getting used to.

 

my 99 4x4 (WITH 4 INCH LIFT) steers the same way...it's freaky on the freeway, and I'm carrying a big camper to boot!

I've replaced the tie rod, draglink, ball joints with all new parts...then put an auto supply rebuilt steering gear on, and had the truck aligned...still have that damn 'play' in the steering!

The alignment shop said it's coming from the steering gear, and that they usually reject 3 our of 4 rebuilt gears with too much play!

I guess I'm going to have to get another steering gear, have it bench tested and try again! It's a real pain to chase this problem!

 

Something bad just happened today

The steering pump possibly went out, or there's vacuum problem, not sure

I have no p/s turning to the right, but turning left seemed ok. So I can't even drive the truck right now, because I couldn't turn the steering wheel to the right fast enough to make turns. It seemed like there's 100lbs resistance when turning right LOL, I had a really good exercise from it.

Anybody have this issues? or know what should I check first?

I'm going to probably start another thread about this.

 

back on the "steering play topic"

I guess some people think this is how big trucks drives, but anyways I rented an International truck from penske recently and it didnt' have the steering play like my 04 F250 does.

so that's why I really think is not normal for my truck to do this