Wander, suspension, beat the dead horse.
#16
03-08-2008, 01:32 PM
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Princeton NJ
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#17
03-08-2008, 02:32 PM
Senior User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jamestown, NY
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Stewart_H
V code and B code springs are front and rear Ford OEM leaf springs found on the F250. The coding (in this case V and B) signify what rating the springs are.
The Excursions came with crappy springs from the factory. The consensus is, Ford did so to appeal to soccer mom's, whom they thought would be their target customer. The Excursion springs were meant to offer a softer ride, unfortunately this also created what us Excursion owners call "Steering wander."
The first way is to remove the Excursions OEM springs, replacing them with the V/B codes found on the F250 (refer to parts list in my old post, quoted above), which removes the offending spring, which causes the problem.
The tapered blocks can be added when the spring swap is done. Some Excursion owners didn't add the block when swapping the springs and they discovered their Excursion sat ever so slightly higher in the front.
When the blocks are added, replacing the OEM blocks which are smaller, the increased size of the tapered block will now give an Excursion a very slight rake, which is more visually appealing to most people.
Stewart
The Excursions came with crappy springs from the factory. The consensus is, Ford did so to appeal to soccer mom's, whom they thought would be their target customer. The Excursion springs were meant to offer a softer ride, unfortunately this also created what us Excursion owners call "Steering wander."
The first way is to remove the Excursions OEM springs, replacing them with the V/B codes found on the F250 (refer to parts list in my old post, quoted above), which removes the offending spring, which causes the problem.
The tapered blocks can be added when the spring swap is done. Some Excursion owners didn't add the block when swapping the springs and they discovered their Excursion sat ever so slightly higher in the front.
When the blocks are added, replacing the OEM blocks which are smaller, the increased size of the tapered block will now give an Excursion a very slight rake, which is more visually appealing to most people.
Stewart
#18
03-08-2008, 06:06 PM
Originally Posted by bnuvp
What is the cost of doing this fix? My wife has lost her nerve driving our EX due to the wander issue that probably caused her to spin out on some ice.
I also added new Bilstein shocks and a Hellwig rear sway bar when I did the springs.
I do have to ask though, how does your Ex handle when it's on dry pavement?
How many miles are on your Excursion?
I ask because, while the OEM springs on the Excursions are too soft, which creates the problem, the wander can be exacerbated by worn ball joints, steering box problems, or a few other items.
I bring that up because you asked about the spring upgrade, contributing the common wander problem to the spin-out on the ice. Who knows, you may not have much of a problem and your tires may have contributed more to the spin out than the wander issue.
What I'm getting at is, while it was easy for me to deduce my problems were only related to the OEM springs, if I were you, I would make sure there were no other contributing factors involved with the problems you are experiencing.
Check this thread out. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/604469-steering-wander-improvements.html?highlight=ball After reading it, do a search by user name and type in X_Hemi_Guy. That's Joe and he's got a ton of documentation regarding suspension problems and upgrades as it relates to the daily driving of the Excursion as well as towing heavy loads with the Ex.
My posts pretty much document only the spring issues the Ex have, Joe's does a great job of looking at other aspects. His posts and mine usually one-two punch the problem.
Stewart
EDIT: You don't even have to do a search. I forgot Joe posted in this thread already. Just scroll up to post number 8 and you'll get some great info.
#19
03-09-2008, 06:44 PM
Senior User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jamestown, NY
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Truck has 118K, stockexcept for replaced ball joints, calipers, rotors and various bushings. The ball joints and tires are good and the alingment is within Ford specs. We did find a bad RF wheel bearing after the accident which probably contributed. The wheel had a lot of play in it. I'm leaning towards a steering box problems since it seems to come and go, especially on cold days.
On dry (or not) roads the steering becomes stiff. It will vear left or right with the slightest steering input. I've found that I'm best to keep my hands off the steering wheel and it goes straight, though that can lead to other obvious problems. Lately it has been much better. I did bring my tire pressure up to 60 pounds and replaced the serpentine belt. I was interested in the alignment specs someone mentioned. I don't know much about these specs, I would like to pass that info along to the guy who does that work for me.
Thanks.
On dry (or not) roads the steering becomes stiff. It will vear left or right with the slightest steering input. I've found that I'm best to keep my hands off the steering wheel and it goes straight, though that can lead to other obvious problems. Lately it has been much better. I did bring my tire pressure up to 60 pounds and replaced the serpentine belt. I was interested in the alignment specs someone mentioned. I don't know much about these specs, I would like to pass that info along to the guy who does that work for me.
Thanks.
#20
03-27-2008, 12:52 PM
I have a quick question to tag on the end of this thread as I have similar issues with my Ex. 7.3. Are the ford part numbers stamped on the springs themselves? Because I found a used set from a F250 for sale. Talked to lister and he wasnt very coherent in answering my questions. So I'd like to make sure the parts are correct when I go have a look. TIA!
#21
03-27-2008, 06:16 PM
Elder User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bob, tell your alignment guy to order you a set of camber/castor adjustable shims. set them to the most positive castor setting while still maintaining proper camber. On mine it increased it by 2% positive which made a huge difference in the stability and 'weight' of the steering wheel at speed.
Also, from how you described your steering inputs, it sounds like your steering box is overtightened causing it to bind. But, then again, maybe its just your steering is so close to the lower spec for castor, you're essentially driving a shopping cart...
Also, from how you described your steering inputs, it sounds like your steering box is overtightened causing it to bind. But, then again, maybe its just your steering is so close to the lower spec for castor, you're essentially driving a shopping cart...
#22
03-28-2008, 03:48 PM
#23
09-17-2018, 10:51 AM
Lead Driver
The castor settings on the X's are set up like shopping carts making corrections very twitchy. Buy a set of adjustable castor/camber shims and rake it out as much as you can (typically 2 degrees or so) makes a big difference in steering weight and highway tractability.
This along with the stiffer springs and a steering box adjustment should make your X a true pleasure to drive.
This along with the stiffer springs and a steering box adjustment should make your X a true pleasure to drive.
glad FTE was able to make it out of the dark ages.
#24
09-17-2018, 10:56 AM
Hotshot
#25
09-17-2018, 12:42 PM
Stewart
#27
09-17-2018, 01:13 PM
Lead Driver
What's funnier is how ALL the Excursion Internet forums basically propagated the same "logical deduction" for many, many, MANY years and how long it took before someone, in this case fastang50, who had previously bought into the "group think" to say "hang on a sec, time out, lets look at this from a castor stand point" which got us started down the enlightened pathway!
Stewart
Stewart
I can think of at least one forum that would have know better,
#28
09-17-2018, 04:26 PM
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
