Steering/Front end play?

Tiny
BRINGTHEHEAT04
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD F-150
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 210,000 MILES
I've been dealing with this steering/front end play issue for a while now and it's been getting worse and worse. I've taken it to a few different shops, and they say everything feels tight. But it's gotten so bad now I won't even drive it on the highway. It literally feels like the whole front end is "loose".

I've replaced both front strut assemblies, inner and outer tie rods, rotors/Hub assemblies (they all come as one part with bearings) brake pads, Upper and lower control arms/ball joints on both sides, brand new tires all the way around and it's still there and still getting worse.

When I grab the tires with the truck off the ground there isn't any play, but I did notice when I turn the wheel sharp right with the truck sitting still the whole-body Shifts down which I didn't notice before. It Definitely doesn't do it when I turn it left and it's a pretty noticeable shift where that whole side of the truck kind of drops down. When I turn my steering wheel and watch the tires, they turn with the wheel without there being "slack" in the steering wheel.

This is my daily work truck and has caused me to be late or miss the entire day More often than not lately. It usually does ok when I first start driving it but right when I think it's doing fine it starts again and I have to pull off the highway, a few times it didn't seem like I was going to make it off which is why I stopped driving on the highway all together for now.
Tuesday, October 31st, 2023 AT 10:38 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
I would look at the frame because I have seen them break and cause the problem you are describing. Here is an exploded below for the front steering which I can't see anything that would cause such a big problem. The shops said this looks all good, correct? Then check the frame behind the front suspension, please use a flashlight to help see, if you see a line with rust this will be the broken part, please upload an image of anything you find in question.
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Tuesday, October 31st, 2023 AT 12:10 PM

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