I have a 2001 Ford Excursion. I had all 4 ball joints replaced and now I am experiencing poor steering and drivability. While driving in town and on the freeway I am constantly having to correct the steering. The car wants to dart to the right and then dart to the left. It will not drive straight for very long. Constant steering correction is very tiring, especially on long trips. Can anyone help me understand what is happening to my vehicle. What can I do to remedy the problem? The steering was not near as bad before the ball joint replacement.

 

I wanna say steering box adjustment....

Cause thats all I know....lol

 

It sounds like the alignment was corrected to OEM settings. I'd assume.
You were so used to the toe out condition and now the responsive steering is driving you nuts.
You should check your steering stabilizer.
Also try to lower tire pressure to 55 psi. in front, 65 rear see if it helps any.
If your steering box is loose you could wander some too as smokie suggested.
Good luck,

 

When you make steering corrections do you move the wheel a lot or a little? I'm going to assume with the ball joint replacement since that would tighten the steering that you move the steering wheel a little. Also, if you are not the original owner the steering box could have been adjusted to correct for worn ball joints by the previous owner. Anyway, I believe a steering box adjustment is needed. That is done by loosing the nut on top of the steering box with a 5/8 socket and then insert an allen wrench in the stud. Looking down on the top of the steering box turn the stud clockwise to tighten and countercloockwise to loosen the steering. Hold the allen wrench and with a stubby 5/8 wrench tighten the lock nut. Be sure to retighten the lock nut with the 5/8 socket. Which ever way you adjust it you need to do it in 1/4 turn increments then drive it. Mine was loose and wondering all over the road with only 30,000 miles on it. I had to make large steering wheel corrections to keep her straight. Then I adjusted mine and I over tightened it. Going down the road I was constantly moving the wheel. So I backed it off in 1/4 turn increments and now it is fine. You want some play in the wheel and by adjusting the steering box you can get it just right. When you make the final adjustment be sure to turn the wheel full left the right to be sure there is no binding. I also installed dual Rough Country steering stabilizers. That helps to keep the steering wheel corrections to a minimum. Hope this helps!

DSMMH

 

Couldn't delete

 

I hate to ressurect a 3 year old thread for my first post, but I've been fighting with this same issue on an 05 Excursion and can't seem to get access to the adjustment on the steering box. I'm doing it all by feel from below the truck and it just seems too tight to get a wrench or socket on it. Are you guys getting at it from below, or removing things up top to access it from above?

Perplexed.

 

Access is best from the top.

 

I think you may have a belt broken in a tire.
I am assuming you had the front end aligned. If not that could be the problem.
If your truck is a 4X4 make sure the hubs aren't locked.

Try rotateing the tires and see if the steering changes and make sure the air pressure is correct after rotation of tires.
If it steers the same this will elimate the tires as the problem.

 

Christian,

Were they genuine Ford ball joints or another brand?

I had a friend who had the ball joints replaced on his Superduty with Moog, and they were so tight that you could not rotate left to right the knuckle after the replacement.

They were then replaced with genuine Ford and the knuckle would swivel easy as pie.

If the joints were too tight, I could see where the EX would seem to have a mind of it's own. As you would correct for the truck moving one direction it would stick going in that direction, then you would correct the other way and the process would continue.

Also, as another member pointed out, check your steering stabilizer. It could also be tight.

I had the ball joints and one tie rod replaced on my EX and the caster set to 3.5 degrees. I had the steering box checked for play and it was minimal. This fixed the seemingly constant overcorrecting on mine.

Good luck,

Tom

 

I just installed new Moog BJs to my SD yesterday. My truck seems to be doing the same thing. Does the vehicle not come back to center after a turn? If so, I was told this is normal after some types of BJs are installed and there is a "break in" period.

 

Pic's to go with the Steering adjustment.
See the 3 photos on page 14.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...-today-14.html

 

captainkbt,

I think that is exactly what could happen.

The truck will not return to center.

If the moogs require a breakin, i wonder how long that would be.

After mine were replaced (and by the way, the Ford replacements have grease nipples installed), the knuckles rotated freely and the steering returns to center.

Tom

 

I think we lost the OP temporarily. He needs to describe exactly what is happenening....if it still is. Mine wheel jerked quickly to the right and then to the left, right, left, etc, but it was much slower than a shimmy (about 1 second to the right then 1 second to the left, violently), and it didn't always do it and it was cured by going to a gravel area and moving the wheel lock to lock so it definitely had nothing to do with tires, suspension parts, brakes, etc. 90% went away when I changed the PS pump and the rest was cured when I replaced the belt.........it was very strange.

 

Mine has been doing this for over a year now. Had just about everything replaced on the front suspension including steering shaft $$. It dissappeared for a few months then recently came back.

Tires are new & recently rotated. Only have about 77,000 miles on an 01.

I'm suspecting the pump as EXv10 stated. My problem is intermittent and disappears after a while driving. Seems like a sharp left turn sets it off.

 

seem like an old thread