steering help
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
steering help
anybody ever have to change there steering gear box on there 03/04 my truck wanders on the highway to the point that i got stopped for drunk driving (i wasnt the officer had a pretty good laugh) i talked to a few shops that said they are famous for bad steering gear but i have never read anything about it on this site im thanks in advance
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 724
Likes: 2
From: Sarasota, fl
Check your ball-joints, stabilizer bar, and all steering components under the truck first, then go for the steering gear....
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,929
Likes: 3,651
There are adjustments that can be made to "tighten things up".
The steering box is accessible from underneath - to a degree and depeding on the model year.
Ford's procedure is to loosen the jamb nut, (nut and set screw combination on top of the box) turn in the set screw till snug(not tight) then back off 1/16th of a turn, and tighten the jamb nut. If you get it too tight it will make the steering difficult.
To access the jamb nut, there is a big radiator hose in the way on '05's and up. You can get very little control over adjustments from underneath.
The box is VERY accessible if you remove the fender liner. The extra 15 minutes to take it off and put it back on was well worth it. The adjustment is right out in the open this way.
It may be easier to adjust older trucks w/ leaf springs from underneath.
The steering box is accessible from underneath - to a degree and depeding on the model year.
Ford's procedure is to loosen the jamb nut, (nut and set screw combination on top of the box) turn in the set screw till snug(not tight) then back off 1/16th of a turn, and tighten the jamb nut. If you get it too tight it will make the steering difficult.
To access the jamb nut, there is a big radiator hose in the way on '05's and up. You can get very little control over adjustments from underneath.
The box is VERY accessible if you remove the fender liner. The extra 15 minutes to take it off and put it back on was well worth it. The adjustment is right out in the open this way.
It may be easier to adjust older trucks w/ leaf springs from underneath.
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Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,339
Likes: 350
From: Breckenridge, TX
Resuurecting instead of starting a new thread:
Bismic, on an 07 is it easier to pull the finder liner or the air filter setup to get to the steering box? I can reach up and around the box and I can feel some stuff up there, but there ain't no way to see anything. Turn the set screw til it's tight? Or 1/4 turn at a time until the truck steers tighter?
And um.... could someone maybe post the procedure to pull the fender liner.... yeah, I feel dumb don't worry
Bismic, on an 07 is it easier to pull the finder liner or the air filter setup to get to the steering box? I can reach up and around the box and I can feel some stuff up there, but there ain't no way to see anything. Turn the set screw til it's tight? Or 1/4 turn at a time until the truck steers tighter?
And um.... could someone maybe post the procedure to pull the fender liner.... yeah, I feel dumb don't worry
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