I have a 72 F-100 with power steering. I just installed a new set of tires and had the front end aligned.
It seems to me that the truck follows the direction that you steer too long.
It keeps drifting the direction that you steer.


If you are driving down the road and it is over on the right and you want to bump it over to the left, instead of just going over a little to the left and then going srtaight, it just keeps going towards the left (it does it both ways).
Is this normal or do I need to adjust something or replace something in the steering.

This is the first (67-72) F-100 that I have owned with Power steering.

thanks for the help

 

I think the front end alignment may not have been done correctly. The caster angle is what determines the return to straight after a steering input. Not enough positive caster will cause what you have. The only way to set the caster on these trucks is to bend the end of the axle. A good shop that does these trucks should have the special tools that are for only the twin I-beam trucks. The shop may have not have these tools. Also the toe in/out may be too far out which will cause this as well. Take it back to the shop and tell them and have them drive it. They should understand what you are experiencing.

 

Anutter question, What is the condition of the rag joint near the firewall?

You should be able to raise the hood, open the driver side door, and while standing by the door, move the steering wheel while watching for any movement (play) there.



John

 

2wd or 4wd?

 

Before ya go bending I beams you need to make sure all the rubber bushings a good. When they wear out, the alignment is shot. I've never had to get an I beam bent, but have had wonderful results changing bushing to polyurathane on both my 67 F250 and 71 Bronco

 

x2 on the -black- urethane axle bushings. :)

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/toe-in1.jpg
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/toe-in2.jpg

Toe in adjustments done by the "experts" are crap. ;)

With that setup you can do your own and experiment to find what you like.
The other adjustments in a twin I beam suspension are set already unless
it's been wrecked.

I prefer 0 to 1/32" in.
YMMV :)

Every time I got my pickup back from the dealer after I'd changed out an
I-beam myself, (twice) got it back driving like crap and told everything was
fine except for the toe-in and they'd adjusted for close to 1/8" in.

That much toe-in will "cup" the outer half of your front tires. :)

If you take your Ford twin-I-beam pickup with cupped front tire wear to
an "expert" he'll say "that's just what Ford twin-I-beams do".

BTDT a few times too dangged many, ex-spurts is more like it. ;)

Alvin in AZ
'75 F150 360FE T18

 

Sorry, should have included the part about making sure all the rubber parts are good/new. Once the rubber is replaced they do seem to go back in perfect alignment with only the toe needing to be set. I smacked a low curb pretty hard with my 72 a few years back and didn't mess up the alignment.

 

Radius arm bushings? they are new
what else is included?

I'll check the rag joint.

 

it's a 2 wheel drive

 

I just installed new tires on my 71 F100 sport custom and it has ps and pb also. I DROVE THE TRUCK HOME AND IT WAS TERRIBLE. I think the bushings all need replaced and an alignment. Also my ps pump still moans and groans and I installed a new one also. Is there air in it? I cannot do much to it now--like 11'' of snow--but will do what it takes later. Thanks Bill

 

did you do a disc brake conversion? did you swap in the beams or have the beams out for a refurbish. If swapped side for side the caster will be off...Allowing the steering not to center naturally.

look at your king pin inclination should be bottom before top about 6 to 7 total degrees. Whomever aligned it should know this information....

Garbz

 

No, it still has the drum brakes.
The guy I bought this truck from drove it everyday for over 20 years. It could be that the drag link and tie rod ends are wore out. It was 17 degrees here this morning and windchill of 6 so I didn't play around in the shop very much at all. I will check the rag joint and steering components tomorrow.

Thanks for the info.

 

Dan, I am wondering a little now if the truck isn't OK, but you may not be used t driving a well worn 40 year old truck, with some unique driving habits.

You wrote the PO drove it everyday. He was prolly used to it being slightly mean to handle.

You may need a little time to bond.



John

 

Yes, I have given that some thought. I have owned my 70 model for 17 years but it doesnt have PS.

I am still planning on replacing the steering components.... Thanks

dannyb

 

Dan, if you feel as tho your pickup handles like crap, it prob'ly does. :/
Mine did and it sucked. :/

What I did was replace all the expendable parts and then measured the
crap(!) out of it underneath until I was satisfied I knew what to do.

I moved the driver's radius arm rear support forward 5/16". :)

Sounds easy enough spelled out here but I must have measured and figured
on it uh-hun-nerd;) times over several years before the solution seemed
clear.

Never said I was smart, just persistent. ;)

With all the rubber parts replaced with new -black- polyurethane, rear leaves
re-arched and front springs matched up and shimmed to provide "Ford spec"
ride height and everything in the steering system tight including the power
steering gear line bored and bushed... mine drives and handles better than
it did when new.

No kidding. :)

A sand blasted, painted new-looking frame can still handle like crap if it ain't
trackin' straight! :/

It can be done if you want to do it.

The trick is to not do it the way I did and spend years laying under your
pickup figuring it out by yourself... you've got the internet now... you aren't
working on it all alone unless, of course, you want to.

Alvin in AZ
'75 F150 special ordered late Nov '74 when I was 21 years old
ps- too bad it ain't a bump side, I've always preferred their look. LOL :)
pps- don't tell the guys over on the dent side forum I said that ;)