FORD Truck Steering problem -- Trailers and Towing

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SUBJECT: # 8732: FORD Truck Steering problem

Submitted by Phill (136.200.212.33) from CALIFORNIA on 2/25/03 12:38:00 PM

Not trying to change this board from a Chevy Repair to Ford Repair site, :-) but....

it seems every Ford Truck I've had has steering problems after a few years. I have an '89 E350 Econline chassis with the 460 engine. When I'm going at highway speeds, the steering gets squirrely and gnarly. There is alot of play (3-4 inches arc length) on the steering wheel to maintain a straight path, and the vehicle favors one side following bumps and dips. On straight smooth road, no listing, so alignment seems good, front tires are wearing evenly. Tie rods and drag link bushings are tight (I jacked it up and jiggled the tires looking for loose play).

So what remaining parts are there that will cause the loose steering? Gear box? Power steering pump? The fluid level is kept full. Any experienced Ford truck owners' or any mechanics' input is appreciated.

2/25/03 9:04:00 PM Submitted by rono (63.64.10.202) from INDIANA says Steering
Sounds like the steering sector (gearbox) needs to be adjusted. I had the same problem on my 86 E350.
rono
2/25/03 10:04:00 PM Submitted by Chris m (216.40.205.212) from TEXAS says Adjustment is easy... just be careful...
Raise the front of the vehicle to where the wheels are off the ground or not, but it's more risky if you don't. If you're like me, you won't jack it up and take the side of risky. LOL Next, set the steering wheel and tires straight ahead, if that's not possible, set the tires straight. Now under the hood, look at the power steering assembly (the black box along the frame rail connected to the linkage coming from the cab, not the pump connected to the engine). You will see a bolt and a sloted head in the middle of the bolt. These are not connected. The bolt locks the slotted head down. The slotted head is the adjustment and it is quite easy but you have to be carefull and do like I said about raising the tires off the ground or make sure the tires are perfectly straigt. Either way the tires need to be straight though. Loosen the larger bolt a turn or two with a box end and then take a screwdriver and turn the inside screw clockwise like your tightening it. Try first with one half turn then snug it all down and go for a test drive. If that's not enough, repeat. Don't go more than a few full turns...
Later, Chris (ReelWork)
Post up a reply please and let us know how it goes...
2/26/03 8:43:00 AM Submitted by Ron1 from NORTH CAROLINA says Steering Box Adj
Chris m is mostly correct on adjusting the steering box. I would add a couple things, The steering box adjuster is a large nut with a slotted head stud in the middle. With as he said the wheels pointed straight ahead, loosen the nut while holding the center stud still. Then gently turn the stud clock wise until you feel resistance or it gets tight, back it up a 1/4 turn and hold it with the screw driver while you tighten the nut. WIth the frt wheels off the ground and the engine not running turn the steering wheel right and left past center and be sure you don't feel it get tight or hard too turn on center. If you feel it getting tight back off the nut and turn the stud back another 1/4 turn, hold the stud still and tighten the lock nut. You should have a very slight amount of play in the box when the wheels are staight. You donot want any tight spots. Good luck! It's not as hard to do as it may sound.
2/26/03 11:54:00 AM Submitted by Roby from TEXAS says Front tires
How much pressure are you running in your front tires? The condition you are describing can be caused by overinflated rubber on the front end. Check your sticker on the driver side door panel. If memory serves me correctly the pressure should be around 54 psi. First things first.
2/26/03 4:32:00 PM Submitted by Phill (136.200.212.33) from CALIFORNIA says The tires are .....
Michelin load range D, rated for 65 psi max. The door panel says 65 in front and 60 in rears (duallies) and I keep them right at the factory psi range. It's a Class C 24' -motorhome on an Econline E350 (one ton) chassis.
What can happen if I overtighten the steering adjustment screw? Someone told me there's a pivot shaft in the gear box that is prone to getting bent and off center, thus the favoring direction of steering.
thanks,
Phil
PS, how's it going Chris? You're not in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or Turkey yet?
2/28/03 10:42:00 PM Submitted by kardoc (216.39.196.58) from TEXAS says steering looseness
Check the intermedeate steering shaft, it may have the u-joints with play in them. I have had to replace them on two different Fords I have owned.
3/3/03 11:31:00 AM Submitted by Phill (136.200.212.33) from CALIFORNIA says Fixed it!
Had the dealer replace the drag link and all sway bar bushings and re-aligned. That fixed it. Feels like a new truck now. $668. But along the way, they did something to the steering pump. Now it moans and squirts fluid. Signs of fluid sprayed all over. Aauurrrgghh!!!
5/26/03 3:18:00 PM Submitted by Colin knox (207.229.10.196) from Canada says F150 1997 steering wheel
i WAS WONDERINF IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME. 1 HAVE A 1997 F150 TRUCK AND MY WHEEL ALIGNMENT IS FINE BUT MY STEERING WHEEL IS WAY OFF AND ITS ANNOYING. WHEN MY TRUCK IS GOING STRAIGHT, MY WHHEL IS CRANKED ABOUT 35 DEGREES TO THE LEFT.
HOW DO I READJUST MY STEERING WHEEL, IS IT AS SIMPLE AS TAKING IT OFF AND PUTTING IT BACK ON? IF SO HOW DO I SAFELY TAKE OFF MY STEERING WHEEL.
THANKS COLIN KNOX
6/3/03 1:37:00 PM Submitted by paul (66.248.83.204) from CALIFORNIA says Steering problem with ford f250 1990 truck
I need some advice to correct a problem on my 1990 Diesel Ford F250- super cab. Just recently and without much warning, it is *very* difficult to turn to the right... turning left is smooth, but to the right ( past straight ahead) requires very hard wrestling with the steering wheel. With a lot of effort it barely rotates an inch, then with more wrestling, another inch. It will eventually get to the full two steering wheel turns to the right, but this is not drivable at all.
The smoking gun is the steering box, but has anyone heard of this symptom ( ok in one direction bad in another).
some other observations:
-plenty of power steering fluid (actually 3/4 inch overfilled), and turning to the left works fine with the engine running.(?thus no pump problem?)
-taking weight off the right wheel(jacking it up) makes it easy to turn (with enging running), even when there is some contact with the ground. Adding more weight back on the tire makes the turning right difficult again. (?thus no obstruction in the linkage?)
--revving the enging doesnt seem to help much.(?not a pump problem?)
--I seemed that there were a couple of times that the steering to the right got 'fixed' momentarily, but I am not certain about this.
--I have not done any adjustments to any steering components.
--I have not tried turning the wheel with the front tires jacked up and the enging *not* running. IF the right turn was difficult then, I would adjust the screw bolt in the steering box.
Help! and Thanks
6/8/03 1:13:00 PM Submitted by Opie Brockett (12.219.51.4) from IOWA says ford truck sterring
I have a 1970 ford f-250, the steering wheel does not return to center after a turn. I not talking about the center of the wheel being in line with the tires, i mean you have to manually turn the wheel back to center after a turn. Most trucks and cars i have driven return to the center postion or close to it after you go thru a turn. I have replaced the steering gearbox, i have replaced the kingpins, i have a fairly new power steering pump, the steering wheel seems to turn very easy when i had the gearbox out so i dont think it is binding up. Everything is well greased and seems to be in good working order. Recently i have installed bigger and wider tires but i had this problem also with the stock setup. I have not put on a lift kit or a lowering kit, the truck is basicly stock. Could caster camber or wheel alignment cause this problem, i have never had uneven tire wear and have driven this truck 40,000 miles cross country. I am at my wits end and have no idea where to turn to next, thanks for any reply email or on here. Opie
6/16/03 11:22:00 PM Submitted by Sydney Piaia (67.112.202.50) from CALIFORNIA says steering problem
Having a problem with too much play in the steering of our '91 Ford E350 motorhome. Took the advice of tightening up the steering box, which did solve the steering problem- 1& 1/2 turns. BUT this caused tension(?)in the form of a noise in the steering wheel/column when turning. Also had power steering fluid leaking after tightening it. Any thoughts? Is it damaged? thanks- Sydney