You don't drive Betsy you guide her. Any one know what this is I could use some help. When i put the front end up and wiggle the tires just to make sure nothing is loose the bearings feel good and tight but the wheel seems to have some front to rear movement. She really likes to trac when on the freeway and in grooves from big rigs. I'm putting new treads on tomorrow and don't want to mess these ones up. By the way the old tires seem to be wearing fine but they were 31x1150 so there was alot of tread on the road to kind of keep it straight now i will have 235x75 so it could be worse.
Thanks
RCC

 

You may find the new tires helping with that area. I was gonna suggest moving the tires from the rear to the front to see if they were any better.

The folk at the tire store may suggest repairs as well.


John

 

I believe you have a classic aged ford delima. it could very well be just a tie-rod end worn out or it could very easily be a combination of a little bit of wear on all stearing parts including the stearing box. i would start with the stearing box as you may be able to take out he play at no cost. if you have a friend sit in the cab andturn the wheel back and forth . not enough to turn the wheels but back and forth on the slack of the stearing wheel. hope i said that right, anyway if you lay on the floor and watch all the moving parts of the stearing system you can determin which parts are moving back and forth and not moving the part it's attached to. that'll give you an idea which parts to replace first. getting rid of the bias ply tires was the best thing that ever happened to these old trucks. Dutch

 

Front to rear movement could be tie rods/drag link. Also check steering coupler (rag joint) and make sure radius arm bushings aren't worn.

 

Thanks guys, I know this is a fairly common issue. Is there a way to check the radius arm bushings or just look for movement? My original thought was King pins but there doesn't seem to be any up down movement to indicate that. The steering box was replaced a couple years ago and feels tight but i will try to get it up on stands this weekend and try looking for other movement. If it doesn't rain all weekend again.
Thanks
RCC

 

You can do a quick replacement of the radius arm bushings for less than $30. Over time the rubber starts to soften or tear. A new set wouldn't be a bad idea since they are pretty cheap and easy to do.

 

Shhh on the rain....lol...the radius rod bushings should be compressed equally from side to side...If not replace...Ive not replaced them, but have pulled front ends out from a few trucks...total gut job takes about 45 minutes.
My wrenches I bought just for this job are also up there if you need or want a hand...and its not raining
LOL

As for checking steering slop...grab the base of the column under the hood and twist it...you will feel the truck move in your belly as you are leaning over it for one...another, if you look below the area where your hand is you can see the pitman arm move and as such if theres any slop between it and the centerlink you can look right down and see it. The only part you cant see from this POV is whats going on at the wheels themselves...thats where you get a helper to jiggle the wheel a lil bit and look at what is or isnt going on at the wheels. There was a NOS L outer tie rod end on Ebay yesterday...cheap too....most of the front end parts can still be had NOS if you wanna go that route...all Im missing for my beast is the 3B203C radius rod bushings. That and motivation...Im debating if I wanna get my column rebuilt too as it needs the full meal deal...bushings and turn signal switch...


Anyway, let me know as Im prolly gonna be up there in the next few days.


- cs65

 

Thanks Don,
Yea if you get time stop by I got something really cool to show you and maybe we can figure out what is loose. Got the new tires on the front and it does make a little difference but still get a little jiggle when i hit bumps. Haven't got the back tires on yet as i have to haul some mulch tomorrow and the big tires are able to handle a little more weight than the new ones. Luckily we aren't going too far with it but just don't want to blow a new tire rather blow an old one.
Talk to you soon give me a call we will be around all weekend.
RCC

 

Will do...went on an excursion up north today...traffic cooperated though and no rain :-)


- cs65

 

I had the same problem and I put on new king pins, new shocks, new bearings and all new steering components, then got a wheel alignment...It steers wonderful....meanwhile while I had everything apart I also put on new front brakes....total cost in parts was under 1 grand including machine shop service and replacing on new front drum....Labor was done in a weekend with no manual...just sweat

 

I finally di figure this one out. A little wheeling and dealing packing the wheel bearings new tires cost a grand total of $50. Steers like new again.