Steering Pull
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From: Iowa
Steering Pull
I have a 03 F-250 Supercab 4X4. Six months ago I had the ball joints replaced. Before I had this done my truck drove straight as an arrow. After I got my truck back it pulled to the left. I took it back to my Ford dealer and they supposedly aligned it again, but it still pulled left when I got it back. I drove it like this for the next several months and just recently had it looked at again. First I took it to a small town bodyshop and guess what, still pulls to the left. Two weeks ago I took it to a big tire shop and had it aligned again. At first I thought it was fixed, but a few miles down the road it started pulling to the left again. I took it back and they checked it again and they told me it was within spec. Well my truck still pulls left. They told me my truck has gearbox pull. Is this possible? Does my gearbox need replaced? Is there an aftermarket gearbox that is stronger then the factory piece. I am at my wits end with this problem, so any help would be greatly appreciated. 
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Could be worn spring bushings that are causing the pull. Also, make sure the brake calipers are free and not binding. Since this just started when the ball joints were replaced I would suspect something done when that was done. Does the steering wheel return to center after coming out of turn OK? Is the truck hard to keep straight on the highway or does it wander? Also, check the front calipers to make sure they were installed correctly and that a brake hose isn't twisted and kinked. Easy to do, but don't ask me why I know! 
John
John
Last edited by jtmerritt; Mar 20, 2007 at 02:00 PM.
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From: Annapolis,MD.
Just to add what jt said,Was anything done to the tires when the balljoints were done (or since) i.e. rotated/replaced? What are the settings,now?Some people think that because it's "IN SPECS." means it's good,but caster should be 3.5 deg. and spec. is 1.5-5.5 so if the LF is 2 and the RF is 4,it's in spec. but will pull left.
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From: Iowa
Originally Posted by jtmerritt
Could be worn spring bushings that are causing the pull. Also, make sure the brake calipers are free and not binding. Since this just started when the ball joints were replaced I would suspect something done when that was done. Does the steering wheel return to center after coming out of turn OK? Is the truck hard to keep straight on the highway or does it wander? Also, check the front calipers to make sure they were installed correctly and that a brake hose isn't twisted and kinked. Easy to do, but don't ask me why I know!
John
John
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From: Iowa
Originally Posted by SRD4X4
Just to add what jt said,Was anything done to the tires when the balljoints were done (or since) i.e. rotated/replaced? What are the settings,now?Some people think that because it's "IN SPECS." means it's good,but caster should be 3.5 deg. and spec. is 1.5-5.5 so if the LF is 2 and the RF is 4,it's in spec. but will pull left.
Left Front Right Front
-0.1 Camber 0.1
2.9 Caster 3.2
0.10 Toe 0.11
8.4 SAI 8.1
8.3 Included Angle 8.2
Front Cross Camber -0.2
Cross Caster -0.3
Total Toe 0.21
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
The caliper doesn't get installed wrong, what happens is that when installing the caliper if you aren't careful you can twist the barke hose such that when the caliper is installed the hose will kink. Nothing really noticeable when driving other than maybe a little pull in the steering but eventually it will cause the side that the hose is twisted on to eventually have problems. I did it and the problem was discovered only when I went to replace the ball joints. I had put new pads on just the year before but when I pulled that rotor it was pitted and had serious surface damage to where I had to replace it. I supect what was happening was that the pads weren't retracting completely which was causing them to heat up as well as the rotor to the point of damage. If you get under the front end of the truck and look at both calipers you should see the hose riding high and clear, if it is installed wrong it will be noticeable.
I just never did when greasing the front end tie rod ends, darg link, etc.
John
John
I just never did when greasing the front end tie rod ends, darg link, etc.
John
John
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From: Annapolis,MD.
As a rule,a vehicle will pull to the side with the least amount of caster.On ''paper'',yours should do that (L 2.9 < R 3.2).But that small amount should'nt,having a little more on right usually will compensate for any crown in the road.Since you DO have a pull,I would take it back and have the caster set to the same #'s.
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From: Iowa
Originally Posted by SRD4X4
As a rule,a vehicle will pull to the side with the least amount of caster.On ''paper'',yours should do that (L 2.9 < R 3.2).But that small amount should'nt,having a little more on right usually will compensate for any crown in the road.Since you DO have a pull,I would take it back and have the caster set to the same #'s.
Tracy
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