I just bought a 2000 excursion and it has major wandering in the steering and so I checked all the front end out and nothing made it better.I just found your web site and I guess im not alone out here.Where can I purchase the rear anti sway bar and the rear control radius bar?My local NAPA cant help me out.

 

Do a search on here for "tighten steering box". Then search for "Landyot radius rods".

You can buy a Helwig rear sway bar at JC Whitney on line.

Let's see some pictures!!

 

[QUOTE=glenn dzioba;6679852 so I checked all the front end out and nothing made it better.[/QUOTE]
Did you replace anything or just inspect it?

I would make sure everything is tip-top before adding anything.

 

do not neglect a good alignment either, money well spent.

 

Do a search using the term "steering wander" and you'll get hours of reading. Pay attention to posts with info regarding the Roadmaster Active Suspension (RAS) and spring swaps (V Code, B Code, modified B codes, F code springs) for those are the two major ways people combat the problem.

But first, do as Ken suggested: Make sure all of your suspension components are up to snuff.

Stewart

 

As you`ve found out your not alone. I had the same problem, it was all over the road when not towing and downright scarry when towing ny TT!!! I was ready to get rid of the X, but after coming here and finding out a few things I tightened up the gear box, which helped a little and then installed the Hellwig rear sway bar. that sway bar was the single best mod that could be done to the X. it now tracks straight with very little steering input and is very comfortable while towing my TT.

I now feel that it handles like a gocart, albiet a 7500lb go cart!!! LOL

Do the Hellwig, you won`t regret it!

 

Thanks for all the input.We dont have a picture of the truck yet because Ive only had it for 3 and a half weeks now.This is what Ive done to it already:Tires balanced,Tierods replaced,Ball joints replaced,Front end Alignment,Tightened the gear box up a half turn but that was way too much so I backed it down to a quater turn,Also did a vin number check on it and the report says that this has been a problem since it had 21,000 miles on it and now it has 68,000 miles thats most likely the guy got rid of it.

 

Glenn,

Welcome to FTE and Excursion ownership!

These beasts can be challenging to get a handle on...but IMO more than worth the small efforts...

The advice by those above are spot on...as Stewart suggests...do a seach for those few topics and you will have hours and hours of reading...any questions let us know as many of us have been thru this before.

A couple of questions not asked yet...

Tires...do you happen to know the size, load range and pressures you are currently running?

Personally I have found that too high of pressures in my E range 265/75/16 tires causes me much more of a squirmy feel to the handling over the 60 front and 70 rear I settled on...so just let us know what you are at on tires...

Also...is your Ex a V10 or PSD version?...I only ask because of the up front weight differences between those two motors.

Last thoughts...I intentionally had my front end shop install a set of adjustable camber/caster shims. As this is NOT a changable parameter as set from the factory...you need the aftermarket shims like I had installed. I had him set my camber to the positive side of the spec range. Others on here have had the caster set to the postive side of the spec range as well...

I can say that the camber spec range is rather small (maybe 1 1/2° see this thread https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...rovements.html). but the caster spec range is HUGE...close to 10° if my feeble memory serves me right. A positive caster and camber may be all you need. Shims and labor to do it along with the front end align cost me ~$130 if I remember right...may be worth a try...do a search on camber/caster to see what else turns up. canadian smokie has some threads on this topic you may find helpful info in.

Please take note that in that post I linked to above...at the time I had air bags...I do NOT have them any longer...I have since installed the RAS on my Ex and couldn't be happier...but as Stewart points out...you can attack the same issue with V/B code springs like he did...

Again...WELCOME to FTE...let us know on the tires.

Joe.

 

I second the adjustable shims...it made a major difference in my steering feel. Go with the maximum castor allowed while staying inside the camber spec. (one affects the other) I think i was able to set mine to almost 4 degrees from 1.5.
I will probably do the Hellwig next to tighten it up even further.

 

I also added the shim and increased caster on our 2000 Ex 7.3 4wd. Greatly improved. Now I wish I had gone more + on the caster yet. Next time I have wheels checked we will probably increase right caster 1/2 degree.

 

Any special place you guys are getting your shims? Or are they easily had at any brake supply type store?

Stewart

 

$16 at Rockauto.com for the shims.... $8-12 for the bushings....

 

Mine came from NAPA