2000 Ford F350 RADICAL STEERING

Tiny
GRIMES JOHN 70
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD F-350
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 119,000 MILES
I have had the frontend completely rebuilt by the ford people including the replacement of the steering box and the additionof a steering dampener which it never had before. I have had it lined up at two different dealerships and it still is not right. So far I have 2900.00 in parts and labor and you can hardly keep it between the lines. It is so radical I am almost afraid to drive it. It is so much different now than when it was new you would think it was a different truck. I took it back to the last dealer and they just flat refused to try to fix the problem. Also the first dealer said the steering box was ok when they checked it. All of these repairs were done within a month and 5000 miles. I also took it to an independant frontend shop and they checked the alignment and said the ball joints were torqued too tight and they retorqued them and it helped but it still is not right. Thanks in advance for your advice. John
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 AT 6:39 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
With a straight axle front end it is possible to have too much preload on the ball joints causing the steering to feel "sticky" did the last shop see anything else wrong? Did I understand that the first shop charged for a front end rebuild then refused to fix the initial complaint?
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Thursday, May 15th, 2008 AT 12:31 PM
Tiny
GRIMES JOHN 70
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
YES THE DEALER AS MUCH AS TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AFTER THEY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX AND INSTALLED THE STEERING DAMPENER. THAT WAS 1100.00 ON TOP OF THE PREVIOUS DEALERS BILL OF 1995.00 FOR COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE REST OF THE FRONT END COMPONENTS. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO SATISFY MY PROBLEM OR THAT IT WAS A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION. I AM A RETIRED LINE MECHINIC WITH GMC TRUCKS AND I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY WHEN I SAY THE TRUCK DON'T STEER RIGHT. I JUST THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE MISSED. I HAVE EVEN HAD NEW GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES INSTALLED FOR ANOTHER 850.00 SO I THINK I HAVE DONE EVERY THING POSSIBLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WAS JUST HOPING YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE SOME INSIGHT ON THE PROBLEM
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Saturday, May 17th, 2008 AT 8:04 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Try popping the steering linkages off the knuckles and see if the spindles move freely. If not it is most likely too much preload on the ball joints, If ok, could be the steering box is sticky and needs its adjustment backed up a little
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Monday, May 19th, 2008 AT 7:49 AM

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