I am not a technical enough person to say what this issue is, although it seems like alignment...

Here are the symptoms:
When my wheels are at 12'oclock, the steering wheel is at 4. Even while cruising down the highway I have to greatly overcompensate for this. While making turns, the indicator wand also is off, disengaging the turn signal when I least expect it (and need it!).

And lately, I feel that it has become a safety issue. When I go to make the turn into my driveway, off a somewhat busy road, turn signal wand deactivates the blinker and snaps back to its center location, as if I have already made the turn.

Is this as simple as some sort of calibration screw that will help to realign the steering wheel and column - or should I just go full bore and get an alignment.

OR. Is it not an alignment issue at all. Thanks for your help and advice in advance.

-Erik

 

Usually it's an alignment issue, the front toe is out of adjustment. However if its as far off as you say it is it could be a number of other things such as bent tie rods, a bad rag joint, etc. It's hard to say for sure without driving it but the alignment would be the most likely cause, and when they are doing the alignment they will know if there are any worn or damaged suspension parts. An alignment runs anywhere from $60 to $150 depending on where you go. Dealerships are probably on the higher end of the price scale but they will be more familier with your vehicle.

-Jon

 

Usually an alignment shop will do an inspection for a small sum. Just call around to different tire dealers or shops.

Adrianspeeder

 

thank you for the replies. I will start calling around tomorrow.

 

they charge between $25-50 for the inspection, if your wheel is that far off it could be alot of things, worst off it is the steering gear box, but it could be just worn parts like idler arm or tie rod ends or ball joints or pitman arm, or your alianment could just be off and than it could be easily fixed by the alianment shop, good luck

 

I am getting an alignment, to start, this weekend.

The truck is in a pretty sad state - as shown by the volume of my posts on here. I was driving her for almost a year as a daily driver and not giving it enough love. Now I am pouring it on in the hopes that it remains financially viable to keep her.

Anyway thanks for the information.

 

Have you checked the air pressure in the tires?

FWIW, the only time you ever need an alignment is after parts have been replaced. If you need one now, you have damaged parts, and they must be replaced before you get an alignment. Don't be fooled. If someone tries to sell you an alignment without new parts, you're being ripped off.

 

let me just say this statement is not true, the upper control arm uses adjusting cams to adjust the caster and camber, and if these are not tight or if you go on a washboard dirtroad, or you hit a curb or anything along those lines then you might move the cam throwing your alignment off, nothing is broke you just need a alignment in a case like these, if you think they are ripping you off ask to see the computer print out of before and after, good luck

 

Wrong. If your caster or camber is off, you replace the adjuster, then do an alignment.

 

dont want to be mean here but no, if the adjustment cam moves because of what i stated earlier, it is still in good working order(the threads are not striped) than all that needs to be done is put back to specks with the existing cams, I do alot of offroading and put the suspension threw alot of stress what i do is put a mark on the cams with a yellow marking pen on the cams to the bracket, after a long trip the cams can morve just alittle and i can use the marks to get my caster camber back to specks, the cams are fine the stress i put it under offroading sometime will move it the cams themselves are fine, so dont be mad at me for corecting you, but this is just how it is, the adjustment cams should never need to be replaced unless the bolt is stripped or the cam indexing hole is oblonged(out of square) i have alot of experience here, moog makes a good set of cams i had some grade 10 made for me because of the stress i put on the cams

 

I'm not mad at you for correcting me, I enjoy learning new things, but in this case, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. The way I was trained is the same procedure that's outlined in the Ford factory service manual (1995 F-150, F-250, F-350, Bronco, F-Super Duty; Body & Chassis, page 04-00-18; Suspension Service, Wheel Alignment, Front), which is to replace the adjuster if the caster or camber isn't within specs.

I'll admit, you probably do these more than I do, but in my business, I go by the book.

 

agreed