front end wandering on my 05 ex. trying to figure out if it is my steering stabelizer. what would be a good after market brand to buy

 

Best way to tell would be to actually remove the stabilizer and drive around. If it still does it you can try replacing it with any known brand. Rancho, Bilstien etc.

Is your leaking? Do you have tires larger than stock?

If you search for wander here in the forum you will find that wander seldom stems from the stabilizer. Loose steering box, soft springs, irregular alignment are the popular culprits.

Welcome to FTE!

 

Monsta has hit on the "normal" culprits that afflict our Ex's

Here is an excellent thread by dbtx that takes you thru the simple steering box adjustment.

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

I had a VERY slight wander and play in the Ex. I too toyed with the steering stabilizer...but quickly steered clear (no pun intended). As Monsta points out...you can simply disconnect it and drive around to see if it affects anything.

What I ended up doing was tightening the steering box about 3/4 turn in 1/4 turn increments until I was happy at the 3/4 number.

I ALSO had my front end shop order some aftermarket adjustable camber/caster joints and install them during my front end alignment. The OEM joints do not allow for much if any adjustment in the camber/caster department. I wanted about 3/4 POSITIVE camber...factory they are spec'd at +1/4 +/-3/4 or could be a range of +1 to -1/2. Mine read -1/4 and -1/8 (drivers/passengers). 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...He ordered the aftermarket ones and dialed me into +3/4 both sides...

With the two things I have done (steering box tighten and camber) the Ex tracks VERY straight even with my 34' 9000# travel trailer behind me...MOST times I only need 1 hand on the wheel...and when on a stretch of road that is safe (i.e. I am alone)...I can remove BOTH hands and simply hold the wheel with my knee and the Ex goes EXACTLY where I need and STAYS exactly where I need...

I'm not sure yet if the correlation of MORE wander issues "seems" to afflict PSD Ex's vs the V10 version that I have...the PSD's are 600#'s HEAVIER and I'm not sure if that factors into the equation yet...

Hope you get what you need with Monsta's feedback and the link I provided above...

Good luck and let us know how you do.

joe.