[TdiRacing]

Well, I have replaced all the ball joints, link and center joints, new rubber coupler in steering, power steering box, but I am still getting some sway while driving. Not as much as before, but it is still there.

Tires? Yup, can it be the damn tires? They are Cooper Discoverer H/T, but they are not E rated tires. Max PSI is only like 35. The load number is 106, which is low.

I bet it is these crappy tires that are the cause, what do you guys think?

Oh, I the king pins are nice and tight, the only other thing I will be replacing this week is the Axle pivot bushings. The old one's look like they are cracking.

 

[TugEngineer]

i would say tires,

 

[cdnsarguy]

With all that front end work I would think tires, BUT did you do an alignment afterwards....... Borrow a buddies tires and see if the sway is still there.

 

[tim94f250]

Check the axle pivot brackets. They can loosen, then crack and tear the bolts out. It happened to me. Tim

 

[TdiRacing]

Axle pivot brakets look good. Will get the Poly Axle Pivot Bushings this week. Had to order them, none local. I will be getting an alignment after I get it all together. It is not a pull that I feel, it is like the truck wants to wander. Steering is tight now, so the only thing I can think is that the tires are not right. They are bulging a bit, and after looking at a lot of trucks this weekend, I have concluded that they need replaced. Will be on the look out for some good 10 ply E rated tires.

 

[Greg77]

If your running some P tires (4 to 6 ply) with only 35# of air pressure there going to wander. Some brands are going to be worse than others but there is a lot of weight on that front end sepeciaaly if its four wheel drive. Those P series tires aren't designed for a diesel.

Greg

 

[asavage]

[ QUOTE ]
I will be getting an alignment after I get it all together.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you've replaced the balljoints without aligning it, it's very likely that alignment is the cause of the wandering.

 

[TdiRacing]

After I installed all the new components, it is much better than before. i had steering wheel slop, which is now gone. I have the toe correct, so I don't think it is the alignment. I am hoping to sell some stuff so I can get new tires. I want to haul my trailers, so I need good tires that can hold the weight.

 

[asavage]

Ford trucks use eccentric bushings to adjust camber & caster, and if the rig had been previously aligned with average-wear balljoints, and you install new ones, even if you were able to make certain that the adjusting bushings didn't move, the alignment would be off. Toe is only one of three axis adjustments needed.

I'd invest in an alignment first. Around here, runs about $70.

 

[TdiRacing]

I will do that anyway, once I get my Axle pivot bushings in towrds the end of the week. I still think that I need new tires, just for the safety factor. Not worth a blow out while towing.

Who does good truck alignments? I guess I would need a chain of some sort as I am in Ohio?

I bet my caster/Camber is off as you say as well.

 

[sle2115]

Not sure where in Ohio you are, but if you are near Athens, they used to have a great alignment man named Randy at McKinstry (now called Auto Tech). I assume you are not near Athens however.

 

[Greg77]

Be a little bit careful where you get you truck aligned. There aren't many real good alignment people that can work on Ford pickups. Around here in a fifty some mile radius there are probably only a couple out of 20 or so that know what they're doing.

Greg

 

[TdiRacing]

I know that it is hard to find someone who knows these trucks and can or will do a good job and care about how it turns out. Most shops do it in like 15 minutes and it is crap. I have found a race shop here in town that also does some truck work. The guy said I can come in and assist and watch and we can set it up the right way. Sounds like a good place to go. Will stop by and check out their equipment this week. I bet you guys are right, that the alignment is critical as well as a good set of tires.