Sloppy steering
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New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
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Sloppy steering
84 F150 4x4 with many many miles. I don't have a tilt wheel, but am experiencing a good quarter turn of play in the wheel. The wheel's got a little of that steering wheel as entry handle slop. I saw an expensive shaft replacement inn LMC. I guess it could be a steering box problem as well. I replaced the radiator frame support, hoping that reconnecting the frame rails would help (did help me pass Maine inspection though)
How do I figure out where the problem lies?
How do I figure out where the problem lies?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 69
From: New Zealand
Tightening the steering box adjustment made a dramatic difference to my truck. It involved about 3/4 of a turn. Before that, you had to keep full concentration at open-road speeds to avoid trouble.
But there is a proper procedure to follow, & preload to torque the adjuster up to, or the box can be damaged - the Haynes manual outlines it, also the Autozone site.
You need to pinpoint any tie-rod looseness first (one person rocking the wheel back & forth while another checks each rod-end ) & be sure the box is tight on the frame.
But there is a proper procedure to follow, & preload to torque the adjuster up to, or the box can be damaged - the Haynes manual outlines it, also the Autozone site.
You need to pinpoint any tie-rod looseness first (one person rocking the wheel back & forth while another checks each rod-end ) & be sure the box is tight on the frame.
New User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: CO Springs
My steering sounded a lot like yours. Had a buddy at Goodyear look it over once I purchased it. It needed a number of things in the front end, new tie-rods, repack the bearings and of course an alignment. Almost done with the tierods.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,977
Likes: 2,733
From: Virginia
The only way to figure out the worst offender is to get someone to lightly rock the steering wheel back and forth while you look around for play in the shaft, rag joint, steering box, and steering linkages.
