Well after I've recently done a BUNCH of work to the Ex (gear swap which dropped the front steering drag link and front axle, tire rotation and air bags installed in the rear...) my normally straight tracking Ex developed a slight wander in her track...

First thing I noticed after the front end work for the gear swap was that the steering wheel was no longer centered.

I played with the air pressure in the tires...the air pressure in the air bags (8psi - 15psi...i.e. NOT MUCH), I tightened my steering box...nothing cured the very slight wander...the box DID need tightening and that is a big improvement.

But I have been scratching my bald head as Bessie (as the kids call her) performed flawlessly last summer in the ~7000 we towed our 30' ball to bumper 7500# TT thru all kinds of terrain and weather...WTF is going on now?!?!?

So I find a really GOOD front end only shop. They put her on the rack and find that the front camber is -1/4 and -1/8. SPEC is +1/4 +/-3/4 or could be a range of +1 to -1/2. So I was in spec but on the LOW end. For a vehicle to track straight"er" a slightly positive camber is better...or so I have been lead to believe...

So I had my shop order a set of concentric bushings that sit ontop of the ball joints and they control the camber and caster adjustment...Ford does NOT allow much adjustment in the stock bushing...

So he installed the bushings today and set me to +1/2 on both driver and passenger side as well as adjusted the alignment to get the wheel centered again...

So far...it feels better...mind you I only drove it home and won't really know until I hitch up...but things feel MUCH tighter and tracks much better...

I know the Ex's have a tendency to wander...I'm just wondering if the ones that do...have a negative camber from the factory? The ones my guy installed have A LOT of adjustability so if needed we can now tweak things in if I don't like what it is...just a small labor charge for his time...nothing big...

Just wanted to report what I found as perhaps a camber/caster adjustment could help some of the wander in these beasts?...

I'll let you know how Bessie does pulling the new 9200# TT in a couple of weeks but so far she feels much better unloaded!

joe.

 

That's good to hear Joe. I'm off tomorrow morning for a weekend trip, and can't wait!! Got the trailer back from storage tonight, and I just continue to be amazed at how effortlessly the V10 pulls my trailer from a stop. Tons 'o torque compared to my previous chevy 5.3, and my Ford 5.4. It's so relaxed that it will really curb the urge to upgrade the trailer, unless I get the 4.3's!

Doug

 

I have heard of this before, but never gave it much thought. glad to know you found something! I hope it works out for you. were going out tomorrow to the campground (it`s the last weekend we have our seasonal site!), it`s only a 1 hr drive, but it will still tell me how well it handles. it did good coming home from the dealer so I hope it stays that way. let me know how it works out for you.

 

Thanks guys...I'll keep you updated...but once again on my very short trip this morning...she handles SO MUCH BETTER than yesterday!...maybe I am on to something...

Doug...4.30's would be a HUGE improvement! LOL...

You guys have me VERY envious...I'm not pulling my TT out of the barn for another 2 weeks...BUT I am going crappie fishing today and all weekend!!!...time to stock up the freezer for all my buds that love to eat a good ole crappie fish fry, onion rings and beer while camping!

Seriously though...with all the tweaks I've done to the Ex (steering box tighten and this latest alignment...) she handles BETTER than she did last year in responsiveness...we'll see when I drop 1100-1200#'s of TONGUE weight back there in 2 weeks though if my opinion remains this positive!...I hope so.

joe.

 

mmmmmm fish fry mmmmmmm

Now that's something to be envious of!

Last year on our Destin trip, some buds went on a chartered fishing trip, and we had a red snapper fish fry that night ... ohhh buddy ... that was some good fish!

 

can the steering box still be tightened down on these? I know the older pickup trucks can

edit: oops I just noticed you said it helped already

 

dbtx,

We've vacationed at Navarre before the hurricanes wiped out that barrier island area...(just west of Destin) and I've taken an charter out of Destin...caught some red snappers, trigger fish, grouper and a 40# cobia out of the gulf!...so YEAH...some good eats for sure and they fight a little better than these papermouthed crappies I catch here!

wilson,
Yes they can...

Here is a post by doug that walks you thru the an EXCELLENT way of doing it...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-steering.html

Hope this helps you out...

joe.

 

Well we got out this weekend, beautiful BTW! the X handled the TT great no wandering no swaying nothing, the weekend was great, upper 70`s and low 80`s. coming home sunday afternoon was amother matter. there was high winds from the south west, I`m talking gusts of around 40-50mph!!! the X and TT did great despite being blown around. there was no sway just the X and TT moving in the lane as one unit. you could feel the DC doing it`s thing by keeping the TT straight in line with the X. but, driving north with a southern tailwind was effortless!!! I can`t imagine how it would have been with no sway control!

I am now looking forward to more great weekends traveling although I hope with much less wind!

 

Update after a 100 mile highway trip this past weekend.

The Ex appears to be back to what I remember following these last tweaks...the 100 highway miles at 70-80mph (not towing) proved that she tracks straight and true again. Even able to hold her steady with my knee as I used to be able to do...so I am very happy with this work.

I will hitch up the TT next week to take her from winter to summer storage and am confident the TT will track well behind the Ex.

Oh yeah...the 100 mile highway trip was to go do some crappie_fishing!...ended up fileting 68 fish with 10" being the SMALLEST we kept...lost a bunch due to the 25+MPH winds...but as they say...ANY day fishing is better than a day at work!...

Crappies in the freezer mounting up and Ex is back...ain't life grand!

Kevin,

Great to hear you had a great weekend too...I can't imagine towing in that wind...it was bad enough trying to hold anchor in the boat with the wind blowing like crazy!...I had all three anchors down and got a good bite...wouldn't have wanted to tow though!

joe.

 

Been to Navarre. It is nice, What campground where you at?
Jeff

 

You resurrect a three year old thread to ask an off topic question?

Welcome to FTE bro!

Tell us about your Ex.

Stewart

 

I just picked up an 04, 6L, with 112,000 miles to replace my Ram Hemi as tow vehicle for our tt. I am not a PU type person, I like my SUV's. I was haveing the wondering issue that I have been reading about. My fix was a wheel alignment. I also put new rubber & shocks on.Tires that where on there when I got where only 6 ply. The only thing I do not like is the fuel mileage. I thought it would be better. I am getting 17 not towing & 10 towing. That is the same as my Hemi was. Other than that we love it. When we go any where my 7 year daughter always wants to go in there Exursion (Excursion).

 

3 year old threads are nice to read sometimes!

 

Ah, I'm guilty I always seem to forget to look at the original date of the thread.
Caught myself giving Rep points on old threads. But there again some old threads are new to me.

 

Who said they have to be new? It all keeps revolving anyway.