thanks for a great thread everyone. it was a long read but well worth it.

I know I need new shocks and new spring bushings. My steering box is already leaking anyway, and not knowing anything about these issues I have been topping it off with generic PS fluid. I suspect the system has been worked on before by who knows who (I'm the 4th owner). So it looks like this re-engineered Redhead steering box is the way to go, thanks!

Meanwhile, I have a related question. The last component of the whole steering/stabilizing system as you trace through all the connected parts is a part more towards the left side of the truck (looking at it facing the engine, you can see it clearly standing several feet in front of the truck) that looks sorta like a hydraulic arm of some kind; a shiny rod clearly moves in and out of a bigger, black tube. What part is this? And what does it indicate if the shiny rod is clearly bent some?

I have a good amount of play in the steering wheel and have since I bought the truck. It had new ball joints put on right before I bought it (I know this is true because they are aftermarket joints with grease xercs; don't know if they have been properly filled with the weight off the front end though). I also had a steering arm replaced by the highly reputable tire shop I've been visiting all my life (first time owning a truck like this one) but was super busy right then and did not look at exactly which part this was....tracing through all of the parts now I'm not sure which one it was.

 

[quote=jackstraw;7706143]

Meanwhile, I have a related question. The last component of the whole steering/stabilizing system as you trace through all the connected parts is a part more to wards the left side of the truck (looking at it facing the engine, you can see it clearly standing several feet in front of the truck) that looks sorta like a hydraulic arm of some kind; a shiny rod clearly moves in and out of a bigger, black tube. What part is this? And what does it indicate if the shiny rod is clearly bent some?
quote]

That is the steering stabilizer. There are upgrades.There is a bigger replacement of the stock one, and a dual setup which is what I run. The dual is recommended for tires bigger than 33's I believe, but wouldn't have any adverse effects on stock ones.

 

Want a cure for our wandering issues? TOYOTA!!! Tell that to Ford!

 

Got another idea. Has anyone found a way to replace the steering with a power rack & pinion???

 

How about we just put in a Red Head Steering Box as it has been proven to be the fix

 

Yeah, but just think how much fun it would be to have steering with 1/2 turn lock to lock

 

Has anyone simply tried to change out the tires??? I am throwing this out there because, the old bias ply tires did exactly that. Over sized tires do that to. It may simply be the added weight from a diesel, on tires that are grabbing the road as apposed to rolling on it. ??? just a thought.

I wouldnt think RAck and Pinion are durable enogh for these truck... Maybe a yota or Nissan but not 3/4 ton ones

 

Where do you find good caster wedges or shims? I need some but would like something quality not like aluminum ones for lift kits.

 

I am on my 3rd set of tires,,,, the ones on there when I bought it was a real severe M/S tire, I then went to a Bridgestone Revo (I goofed here long story short, Had c rated Revo's on the front and E rated on the reat, blew the side wall out of the C rated Revo that I was running on the front at 65 psi) big mistake on my part I knew better, truck is to heavy for that tire, so had to buy 2 new tires on this road trip and bought some E rated grapplers alittle bit more aggressive than the Revos and am now running them, just took them off the front and rotated them to the rear now have the E rated revos in front ....

So long story short,,, yes I have had different tires on the truck, and still have the same problem,,, mine is not yet severe, but it definately is a problem,,,,, I have heard 60 psi all the way to 80 psi,,, and am opting for between 75 and 80 dont make the problem better or worse,,,

bottom line at red head steering box is in the plans to correct this problem,,, if you look back thru this thread,,, you will see where I have done a very complete inspection on the front end, and even rotating the tires two days ago I can still see the problem, with the front tires in the air and the wheel locked,,,, grab the drivers side tire and wiggle it back and forth like you are trying to turn the wheel and watch the link attatched to the steering box,, you will see the movement.... and the problem....

 

What would be really cool is if the place would add a "view all" option to threads. So we don't have to go page by page by page by page by page by page.....

 

I assume you are saying the movement is transferred to the steering box by the pittman arm and that the gearing inside the box should have prevented this.

 

I am saying the gearing inside of the box is allowing for this, all of the linkage moves together all the way to the gear box. even the shaft coming out of the box is moving, which should not be happening, the steering wheel is locked, so you should not have any movement at all coming from the gear box...... I know this is a long thread, but back up the thread a long ways you will find where a guy explained why the ford gear box has a problem, and why the red head gear box fixes this problem

 

Bump for question on Caster Wedges

 

My truck as well as of many of yalls is trying to kill me!

 

At least most of the problem. I was at the local superduty parts yard today getting another steering gear for my truck and for grins, I grabbed an intermediate shaft for the steering column. Well, I decided it was easier to change the shaft. I pulled my intermediate shaft out, taking all of 5 minutes to do so. I grabbed each end and twisted, the dang thing must have a quarter turn of slop in it, just friggen sloppy worn. I checked the new one, and it was tight as a drum.

Soooo, to all those ford shop mechanics, maybe this stupid country bumkin aint so stupid. I have asked at least half a dozen ford garages if just maybe that intermediate shaft might be bad... and I was made to feel stupid for asking suck a dumb question.