Steering problems after changing ball joints
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Saskatoon, SK
Steering problems after changing ball joints
I had my ball joints replaced at a local shop(Moog). My left hub was pretty rusty and was replaced along with the u joint on that side. I had swaybar bushings done front and rear, new shocks(Monroe reflex), new tires, and an alignment. The right hub had been done on warranty just near the end of the extended warranty program (160000 kms). The truck now has 190000 kms. All other front end parts checked out okay.
Since the work was done it feels funny. The truck goes very nice and straight down the road and the combination of new shocks, tires, and swaybar bushings got rid of any clunking that was starting to show up. However, when a steering correction is required, it feels like I must push the wheel a bit then when it corrects it darts off and requires similar input again to counter the over correction. Its actually very unpredictable now. The shop said to bring it back but have not had time yet. I have made about 3000 kms since the work was done.
Any suggestions??
Since the work was done it feels funny. The truck goes very nice and straight down the road and the combination of new shocks, tires, and swaybar bushings got rid of any clunking that was starting to show up. However, when a steering correction is required, it feels like I must push the wheel a bit then when it corrects it darts off and requires similar input again to counter the over correction. Its actually very unpredictable now. The shop said to bring it back but have not had time yet. I have made about 3000 kms since the work was done.
Any suggestions??
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2006
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As Monsta suggested, the first thing that should be checked is that the balljoints were properly torqued.
If that does not work then it is more than likely the balljoints. I know a couple mechanics (including my own) that will no longer use Moog balljoints on SD's due to questionable quality. The main reason being that they are too tight and affect the steering.
The last time my mechanic put Moog's on a SD it caused the steering to be way to tight (required forceful input) and would not allow the truck to self center as you drove down the road, which it should. So those were replaced with a second set of Moog's which had the same problem. The third set installed were Spicer's and the problem was solved...
Supposedly Federal-Mogul (Moog) has bought out a number of overseas suppliers (mainly China) and it seems to be affecting part quality...
If that does not work then it is more than likely the balljoints. I know a couple mechanics (including my own) that will no longer use Moog balljoints on SD's due to questionable quality. The main reason being that they are too tight and affect the steering.
The last time my mechanic put Moog's on a SD it caused the steering to be way to tight (required forceful input) and would not allow the truck to self center as you drove down the road, which it should. So those were replaced with a second set of Moog's which had the same problem. The third set installed were Spicer's and the problem was solved...
Supposedly Federal-Mogul (Moog) has bought out a number of overseas suppliers (mainly China) and it seems to be affecting part quality...
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Front End
I've seen similar occurances of this symptom on other trucks I've worked on. Some seem to be ok after 500miles or so of driving and others I've had to re-do then they are fine. I'm not 100% convinced its just the balljoint quality that's causing this. What I tried on one truck was simply loosening the balljoint nuts, pop the knuckle & then reinstall as if starting over. This actually fixed a F350 I did & it now has 9K on the replacement joints with no issues.
We are still using Moog Balljoints for our repairs. I don't know of anybody else I'd switch to since a lot of the Balljoints are all made by the same sources anyway.
The biggest problem is we've become a throwaway society and nobody seems to really care about quality anymore.
DG
We are still using Moog Balljoints for our repairs. I don't know of anybody else I'd switch to since a lot of the Balljoints are all made by the same sources anyway.
The biggest problem is we've become a throwaway society and nobody seems to really care about quality anymore.
DG
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Saskatoon, SK
Well I finally had the truck back to the shop. It does not have a steering dampener. They popped off the tie rod ends while it was on the wheel alignment lift and both wheels turned free and smooth. After spending more time analyzing the problem, its not that things are stiff but rather like there is a loose area in the middle and the wheel has to be turned quite a bit before there is any response. It is the same both ways - the wheel moves quite a bit before the steering responds.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Saskatoon, SK
After more testing and more opinions I have come to a better way to describe the symptoms - the steering gets sticky once in a while. If you go to correct, sometimes its stiff, other times normal. If you go to re-correct after a steering correction, once again the odd times its tight/sticky. If there is a trend, it gets sticky when steering to the right a bit more than to the left. I did hear something wierd yesterday. I was backing out of a parking lot and we heard what appeared to be a tire rubbing the mudflap on the front drivers side; however, my tires never come anywhere near the flaps and it was on perfectly level pavement.
