Ok, here's the deal. My 99 Lightning has developed a steering stability issue. From what I've heard, a lot of people have had alignment problems with their Ls, and so have I. But, I don't think this is alignment related. Holding the steering wheel steady, the front wheels seem to move from left to right. I'm thinking it could be the steering rack, but doubtful on a '99 with 30k miles. Anyone have ideas? Tie-rods? Anythign else? Please email me with your thoughts....
My email

 

Is this a feeling while you're driving or a condition you can see while it's on a rack?

 

I don't know what's wrong but our Ls don't have a 'rack'. Might jack up a wheel and 'pull' and 'push' the wheel to see if the wheel beargings are adjusted correctly?

Dan

 

I have noticed a similar thing on my L (and on my Tbird as well).

I have noticed that the wide tires on the front of the L make it particularly sensitive to road imperfections. This is most noticeable at traffice lights in heavily traveled areas. This can make the L feel highly unstable, but this is not a real problem.

If you feel the instability on highways, you should check your tires (balance and inside wear) and your alignment (particularly toe in). My L and Tbird are both horrible at keeping alignments. I have noticed that an alignment can help abate the instability in both. However, tires can be screwed up by bad alignments. If the tires have been messed up by a bad alignment (it doesn't take too much), then an alignment isn't going to completely fix the instability. I have noticed that new tires do wonders for the instability.

It is very, very important to get the L aligned often (especially with the huge, not to mention expensive tires).

 

I just had my L aligned and they installed the shim kit. This is supposed to be able to hold the alignment better. Although, I was told that since the L was over 12 mos/12,000 miles, I had to pay for the shim kit and the alignment. I was also told by the service manager that the techs put the shim kits more often than not, into the F-150's. Since this seems to be a common problem (has been around for years!), one would think that the shim kits would be installed during the initial build process??? I dunno

 

HTRDPUP-

You should find out why exactly they said you needed the shim kit (I assume this is the elliptical shim kit that shows up as a CAM & BOLT ASSY on the parts list).

My dealer put this on my truck because my camber was out of spec. Or so they said.... Turns out they have were aligning my L to normal F150 specs. Had they been using the real L specs, the negative camber wouldn't have been out of spec and there wouldn't have been any need for the $300+ job of putting in the elliptical shims.

-Mark Bossard

 

Spike Eng...
This is on the highway. Did that guy say that Lightnings don't have rack and pinion steering? I haven't even looked into the truck yet, so I really wouldn't know. If they don't have rack and pinion steering, what do they have then? Also, this may sound odd as well, but looking at the front of the truck with the wheels both pointed directly forward, the driver's side tire appears to be sticking out of the wheel well about an inch, and the passenger side only a half inch. Any ideas? tires are fairly new...
KJ

 

"while it's on a rack."

Let me use a different set of words: Jack it up and put it on stands. If the steering is locked you can move one of the wheels, then it may be a mechanical problem.

If that checks out: It could be tire pressure, tires, alignment (too much caster, for instance).

Sorry about the confusion, but the shop I use generally says things like "let's put it on the rack and check it out."

Regarding rack and pinion steering, check NLOC Road Racing forum in 2002.

Spike

 

Is that kind of like when Jim Rome [a.k.a. Van Smack] says "rack 'em" ?

 

KJ94GT,
The L's have recirculating ball steering, not rack and pinion.