1986 f150 front end problems
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Junior User
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From: spring,tx.
1986 f150 front end problems
i have a 1986 f-150 1/2 ton 302 efi auto trans supercab. my front tires lean in slightly. tires dont seem to be wearing uneven. alignment seems to be good. i have some play in the sterring and a shimmy in the sterring wheel at 40 to 45 mph. any ideas what to check first? i dont know if it could be ball joints, shocks, bushings or pitman arm. if you have any ideas of what it might be and how to check it it would be appreciated. thanks
Post Fiend
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From: Lost
With tires leaning a little, and play in the steering, ball joints are the first thing to look at. Support the axle with a jack, and see if the wheel will rock up and down, then side to side. If it does either, watch to see where the play is coming from, and that will tell you what part(s) need to be replaced.
The above works for either 2wd or 4wd.
The above works for either 2wd or 4wd.
Posting Guru
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From: Loganville, WI
I was just guessing since he said it had a shimmy it might be the stabilizer on a 4x4. Rogue is correct bad ball joints would do that as well. I've also seen tires lean in when the upper a-arm starts rusting bad and starts to fold, not pretty. Play in the steering wheel can be caused by either of the tie rod ends, drag link or center link, usually how I test that is if any of them move easily by me moving them they need to be replaced.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: patricia ab canada
also check all those rubber bushings as well.the truck is 20+ years old and the rubber is probably rotten and missing chunks.also if you reverse your truck into your parking space and look at the front wheels the tops will be pointed inward.once you move forward they will even out.also do as mentioned above and check those ballpoints.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
A shimmy that comes and goes at a certain speed is usually a tire balance issue, do you feel it in the steering wheel (ft) or the seat/whole truck (rear)
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Junior User
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From: spring,tx.
i got under my truck today and put it on jack stand. ball joints seem to be ok. when i grab the tire and move it from side to side the sterring wheel moves also. is that supposed to happen. truck has 122,000 miles on it.
Post Fiend
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From: Lost
The steering wheel moving is actually a good thing. It means there isn't a lot of play in the linkage.
If you cannot see any play in any of the front end components, the shimmy could be from either tires that are worn unevenly, or weak shocks. It could also be from both. Weak shocks on a twin I beam will cause funny tire wear, and that will in turn cause noticeable vibrations under certain conditions. Weak shocks also cause the springs to see more flexing, and over time will weaken the springs, causing them to start sagging. On a twin I beam, sagging springs will cause a noticeable lean inward at the top of the tires.
You could have weak shocks, that have caused uneven tire wear, as well as spring sagging to start setting in.
If you cannot see any play in any of the front end components, the shimmy could be from either tires that are worn unevenly, or weak shocks. It could also be from both. Weak shocks on a twin I beam will cause funny tire wear, and that will in turn cause noticeable vibrations under certain conditions. Weak shocks also cause the springs to see more flexing, and over time will weaken the springs, causing them to start sagging. On a twin I beam, sagging springs will cause a noticeable lean inward at the top of the tires.
You could have weak shocks, that have caused uneven tire wear, as well as spring sagging to start setting in.
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