Loose Steering

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Oct 14, 2002 | 01:12 AM

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: May 2002

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From: California and Idaho

Loose Steering

I have a '92 F250 HD 4x4 with a Dana 50 IFS. The truck has 70K easy miles on it. I'm the original owner and it's never been wrecked or damaged.

I'm running 33" BFGs on 16.5 alloys. I had a 3rd leaf installed several years ago to level out the front end. My steering feels loose and the truck tends to wander when I'm towing. On certain types of bumps I can feel a clunk in the steering column. This problem developed over a period of time.

I replaced the drag link and tie rod ends and installed a steering damper and checked the alignment. I saw some inprovement but the problem is still there.

Any ideas?

Oct 14, 2002 | 04:03 PM

barn

New User

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 10

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From: key west usa

Loose Steering

the same thing has just happened to me over the weekend and it was only from one bump that started while i was off-roading. i was lokking AT SOME OF THE OTHER POSTS AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS EITHER TIE ROD END OR SWAY BARS

rjb

Oct 14, 2002 | 11:04 PM

FORDNUTTZ

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 137

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Loose Steering

sounds like sway bar bushings

checl ALL buchings on your truck and see if there cracked/split/damaged or just plain not there

if so for any of this then you should replace them

if i waas you i would replace all bushings in the front end with poly ones

hell the rear might as well get done too while you at it

Oct 14, 2002 | 11:32 PM

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 46

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From: California and Idaho

Loose Steering

I think you're right about the bushings. Can the bushings in the leaf spring ends be replaced without dropping the entire leaf spring assembly?

Oct 15, 2002 | 12:09 AM

AZ4x4f150

Elder User

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 726

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From: Glendale USA

Loose Steering

have someone get in the truck and rock the steering wheel back and forth while you're looking under the front end I had replaced my tie rod ends and over time it was getting loose and it turned out the one of the sleeves to adjust alingment loosened over time and the tie rod tie rod end was about to come out of the sleeve I fixed the problem by putting some loctite on the threads of the clamps to hold the rod ends

Oct 15, 2002 | 12:22 PM

MustangGT221

Post Fiend

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 14,947

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From: Topsfield, MA

Loose Steering

The steering box also gets old and worn with time, and after awhile will get loose as the gears wear which will make it wander on the road, you see it during towing because it's more dramatic. I have the same problem, and tighted up the steering box. You have to be careful you don't tighten it to much or it'll break.

Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds