I have a 1994 F150 and the steering feels excessively loose. Is there any way to tighten the steering on this truck?

Thanks

 

Yea but it depends on what has the play in it, you need to watch while someone rocks the steering wheel right and left. Don't turn it, just rock it back and forth enough to see any play.

Any tie rod with play needs replaced, that is the best place to start. May be some in the steering gear box, maybe even in the column itself but more and likely its a tie rod end or two causing it all.

 

I just had the alignment set on the truck and the shop tells me my parts are good.. ? I've heard there may be some kind of adjustment you can make in the steering box. How do you adjust this?

 

when under the hood of your truck you will see the steering box mounted to the frame. on top of the steering box you will see a nut with a screw type fitting(horrible explanation, i know..) it has a slot on the top for a flat head screwdriver. you will first loosen the nut and then you will be able to turn the screw. inside the steering box there is a worm gear, and by turning this screw you will get some adjustment. be careful and dont overdue it as i have heard if you do it will put your steering in a bind. when adjusting the screw, i found it easiest to do from under the truck, with a 90 degree angled screwdriver. still was a PITA.

 

Also lift the hood and you will see the intermediat steering shaft. Turn the ign key to unlock the steering wheel and grab the steering shaft and rotate it clockwise and counter clockwise. Look for any play in the slip joint near the firewall and for play in the rag joint down at the steering box.

 

You can only adjust it with an inch pound torque wrench on the steering wheel nut.
Any other way and you risk the steering wheel locking in a turned position and then you may wreck.

By the book adjustment:

Adjust total on center load to eliminate excessive lash between the sector and rack teeth as follows. See meshload specifications below for checking and setting values. This is the only adjustment required.

1. Disconnect the steering gear sector shaft arm from the steering gear sector shaft using Pitman Arm Puller T64P-3590-F.

2. Disconnect the power steering return hose at the power steering oil reservoir and cap the reservoir return line pipe.

3. Place the end of the power steering return hose in a clean container and turn the steering wheel from stop-to-stop several times to discharge the fluid from the steering gear. Discard the fluid.

4. Turn the steering wheel to 45 degrees from the right stop.

5. Attach an inch-pound torque wrench to the steering wheel nut and determine the torque required to rotate the shaft slowly approximately one-eighth turn toward center from the 45 degree position.

6. Turn the steering gear back to center and determine the torque required to rotate the steering gear sector shaft back and forth across the center position (± 90°). Refer to the following chart for checking and resetting specifications. If reset is required, loosen the adjuster locknut and turn the sector shaft adjuster screw until the reading is the specified value greater than the torque at 45 degrees from the stop. Hold the sector shaft screw in place, and tighten the locknut.



7. Re-check torque readings and replace the steering gear sector shaft arm and steering wheel hub cover.

CAUTION:
Do not pry against the reservoir to obtain proper belt load. Pressure will deform the reservoir and cause it to leak.

8. Connect the power steering return hose to the power steering oil reservoir and fill the power steering oil reservoir to specifications listed in «Section 11-00». Adjust belt tension, if necessary.

 

I've always just adjusted them by turning the screw in until it bottoms out, then backing it off 1/4 of a turn. Never had any problems doing it that way.