steering troubles
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Joined: Mar 2007
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steering troubles
I already posted this in the steering section but this section seems to get alot more traffic....
OK a week ago I bought my 78 F150 4x4 w/ 351m and C6. The steering had a ton of play in it, it was hard to keep it in one lane going down the hiway. I went ahead and let my local shop put a new steering gear box in it, new tie rod and basically go through the whole front end. Well its alot better now, but still too much play. The mechanic says the slop is in the column and we need to either buy a new column, get one at a junkyard etc. Does anyone here have any other ideas?? Should I go ahead and try the column? I spent alot of $$ already on the gear box hoping that would solve it. Im in Platte City MO if any one knows any one close that could help.......
OK a week ago I bought my 78 F150 4x4 w/ 351m and C6. The steering had a ton of play in it, it was hard to keep it in one lane going down the hiway. I went ahead and let my local shop put a new steering gear box in it, new tie rod and basically go through the whole front end. Well its alot better now, but still too much play. The mechanic says the slop is in the column and we need to either buy a new column, get one at a junkyard etc. Does anyone here have any other ideas?? Should I go ahead and try the column? I spent alot of $$ already on the gear box hoping that would solve it. Im in Platte City MO if any one knows any one close that could help.......
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Nope, Im headed back up there right now and I'll mention it to them. Raytown MO.......... I just sold my house at 350 & Gregory and moved up here to Platte City last year. Do you do most of your own work on your truck? I like to but I lack confidence in alot of areas lol.........
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The bar that runs from the frame on the left side to the axle on the left side( not sure what it is called) has rubber bushing on the ends. Replace them. $20. This will stop your truck from wandering all over the road.
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From: Kansas City, KS
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No, It's called a trac bar. Look at it. Round, approx. 2 inch diameter bar, curved near one end. Attached to frame on left side near stering box. Runs to axle housing near RF wheel. Has rubber bushings on the ends.
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O.K. here's my 2 cents. I had alot of play in the wheel and a binding feeling when I was coming out of a turn and did alot of what you did. I was told (on this site, I love this site!!) to check the rag joint. Which I did, it was good but I bought another just in case. Since your mech said it's in the column check the joint were the top piece goes into the u-joint just outside the fire wall. It's splined and has a bolt in it. If that seems to have alot of play in it, this is what I did. Loosen that bolt. Take the cover off the column in the cab. There's 2 bolts that hold the column to the dash. Loosen these 2 bolts and tap the wheel towards the dash a 1/2 inch or so. This pushes the splined top section into that u-joint. Tighten the bolt on the u-joint and reassemble you column cover. Done!! Hope this helps. I haven't seen anyone else mention this in other sloppy steering post (I could be wrong) but it solved my problem.
89 post and my first addaboy.
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