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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Steering Issues

Old Apr 6, 2008 | 08:14 PM
  #1  
bumper.45acp's Avatar
bumper.45acp
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Steering Issues

I Have An 86 F350 2wd (not Dually) The Steering Is Loose And I Constantly Have To Work The Wheel Back And Forth To Keep It In A Straight Line, Kinda Like Watching A Drunk Drive. Whenever I Hit A Bump It Darts Either Left Or Right Depending On The Trucks Mood, Or Where It Wants To Go. I Have Replaced I Beam Bushings, Tie Rods, Wheel Bearings, Checked Ball Joints And Everything Is Tight On All Suspension Components. I Added A Steering Damper, And A Gear Box And Nothing Made Any Difference At All. I Have Had To Park The Truck Because Its To Dangerous To Drive.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 08:25 PM
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Sounds like it needs a good alignment. When you replaced the steering box, was it new or used?

Have you checked the rag joint? It connects the steering column shaft to the steering box. They are known to wear out and cause lots of play in the wheel.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 09:35 PM
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[quote=bumper.45acp;6004692]. I Have Replaced I Beam Bushings, Tie Rods, Wheel Bearings, Checked Ball Joints And Everything Is Tight On All Suspension Components.quote]
You've got to be missing something on the suspension or gearbox, unless it's rag joints. I always check for suspension gremlins by jacking up the vehicle and suspending it by the frame so all the tension is off the suspension. Then I grab each wheel and rock it in and out from the top and bottom, and then turn it side to side. You can actually feel the slack in most instances, and if you watch all the components closely , usually spot the problem. Sometimes you may need an extra set of eyes, but I guarantee you that if this truck is doing what you say, you can see the slop in the problem area if you'll do this.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2008 | 09:43 PM
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Did you replace radius arm bushings??? I was having similar problems, so I spent a day with the air chisel, and installed new radious arm busings. A world of difference.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 09:36 PM
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I will double check everything again and this time with a friend and also without my beer goggles, lol. It was a used box, but it was perfect on the truck it came out of. I will try the radius arm bushings. I will let yall know when I find something. thanks 4 the help.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2008 | 11:36 PM
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If you have to replace the radius arm bushings it is not necessary to remove the brackets. Search this formum for "radius arm bushings".
 
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