Steering gearbox replacement - Diesel Forum

wittmeba · 07-23-2008, 06:15 PM

I have a 2001 Ford F250 Diesel.

The problem I am having is constantly having to correct steering while driving straight down a highway. There just seems to be 1 - 1.5 inches play in the steering wheel that doesnt get to the tires.

I have had 3 of 4 ball joints replaced (the 4th is ok verified by 2 sources), replaced the pitman arm joint, new tires (Revos), adjusted and readjusted the steering gearbox tension and had the steering column colapse joint welded to remove any possible remove any possible movement that may not be transferred from the steering wheel to the wheels.

During the front end alignment, a specialist increased the caster to 4.5 degrees and it all helps, but doesnt eliminate the problem. He also indicated Ford trucks like this have a steering problem and has seen this same problem with others. He didnt have a fix or solution.

About the only thing left is the steering box and rag joint. Anyone replaced the steering box and what kind of project was it? How do you determine the number of teeth on the spline 32 or 36 (8 or 9) << been listed both ways?
Look here: 2001*Ford*F Series Trucks Select Model from Power Steering Pros

Any ideas on cost and complexity of DIY? Time? Special tools?

Thanks,
Bruce

**missmanj** · 07-23-2008, 08:38 PM

im really interested in this topic as well ive been fighting a wandering front end for about a year now, every since i got new tires its been all over the place. Do steering dampeners do anything?

DieselDeaf · 07-23-2008, 11:37 PM

Try removing the steering dampener (if you have one) and see if the problem goes away. Sounds strange but give it a try check back, I've had weird interactions between various tires and the addition of the steering dampener.

(Oh yeah I wouldn't recommend welding up the slip joint, if you had a wreck the steering column would punch thru your chest like what you used to see in those old car crash videos they would scare us half to death to in high school)

wittmeba · 07-24-2008, 04:37 AM

Yes I do have a steering damper from the Off Road option added when purchased new.

About the welding of the steering column. While true it will not colapse as designed, I figured if it reduced the wandering it would reduce my potential for needing the steering to colapse.

I think Im going to have them replaced as it seems thats all there is left that could be wrong. When they are replaced, the lower section is part of the assembly for the rag joint so the weld will have to be ground off to remove the section. Just hate to spend the money guessing.

As I hear others having the same problem, it makes me wonder if there is a design flaw and should there have been a recall or TSB.

MWORD · 07-24-2008, 07:26 PM

May seem weird, when I replaced the ball joints with Moog greaseable ones, my truck seemed like it was all over the place. After about 20,000 miles it is back to normal.

PStroked444 · 07-24-2008, 08:08 PM

I am very interested iin this too. I have ben having this wonder thing happen to me too. I cold not get up to 65 without a crossing of lans....very scary. Then I changed the gear box out for a used one. This fixed the problem to a degree. It still wanders but not near what it used to. I just read to day in Diesel Power magazine on a dodge fix for the wander.

jposes · 07-25-2008, 12:53 AM

NOt sure if it will fix your problem but changing out the gear box is not that big of a deal. It took me about half of a Saturday to do mine. You will want to get a pittman arm puller and some PB Blaster to make things easier also get yourself a good impact and some really big sockets. I cant remember exactly but I think it was around 31mm for the nut connected to the drop pittman. There is also some dissassembly to get to the steering box i.e. battery box, air box, etc. Here is a link to a post I had about mine when I did it.
Broken Pitman arm?

jzellers · 07-25-2008, 08:43 AM

Bruce,

From the experience I've had recently with my Excursion, I think the steering box is your problem, given all the other work you've done. Even with adjustment on your current box, if you have that much play, your box is probably shot. A couple other things to check if you haven't already - leaf spring and track bar bushings. If these are wore it can add side play to the axle and cause slow steering response. I've had to replace both on mine.

Your caster setting at 4.5 degrees is towards the higher end of the specs, which seems necessary for these trucks. My last task is to get a good alignment to correct poor caster angle which is causing my wheel to not return completely to center after a turn.

I would recommend spending a little extra on a gear from readheadsteeringgears.com. They remachine the housings for NO play. I'm very happy with mine. Like jposes said, it's about half a day and you'll need a pitman arm puller.

It seems like with these trucks it ends up being a combination of several worn parts that cause the poor handling over time, but in hearing some other's experience some of these vehicles handled poorly from new, so go figure...

Joe