Steering Wander on a 1994
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Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13
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From: Santa Clarita, CA U.S.A.
Steering Wander on a 1994
Hello again guys, I again seek your expert help. My father's truck (1994 F-150 XLT, 2x4, 302, E40D, extra cab, long bed) has been having this wandering problem in the steering. It has a free play of approximately 1" from side to side, while the vehicle is up in the air, before the steering reacts. Both my father and I are concerned about this because my sister drives it daily (short trips to work), and we worry that this can possibly be dangerous. We looked at the suspension and the rubber bushings are in good shape (not OEM looking, and not cracked). I had thought the center link was going south, but it also is good. Any idea as to potential causes of this problem? Thanks for your help fellas, I always appreciated it. 
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 101
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From: Overland Park, Ks.
First make sure all the steering parts are not worn , tie rods etc & that the tire psi & alignment are correct & the wheel bearings are adjusted properly . The sector shaft on the steering box can be adjusted to reduce the amount of free play in the steering wheel , But it usually doesnt take much adjustment . Its an adjust & drive deal . Loosen the locknut on the sector shaft while holding the adjusting screw , turn the adjusting screw one turn to your right to begin with & drive it . Its easy to reduce all the free play out which can cause the truck to turn very quickly esp since you are used to the boat type steering . One or two turns will usually return a more positive feel to the steering wheel .
Hope this gets you started.
Hope this gets you started.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,827
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From: FL
i agree with johnny, check the steering box. about 2 months after i installed my tires, all the extra stress on the steering loosened up my steering box. it was so bad that i had about 4 inches of play in the steering wheel. a buddy of mine helped me tighten it and it fixed the problem. good luck!
Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 57
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From: Charlottesville, VA
Steering wander
Hey:
I'm new to the board, but not to the problem you describe. Started with me a few months ago on my '95. Turned out to be a crack in the frame around the steering box was giving all that flex--a fairly common problem. It was pretty hard to see the crack until we got her up in the air, even then you needed to look pretty hard. Anyways, got her welded up and appear to be good to go, certainly much less flex now.
Hope it helps
Scott
I'm new to the board, but not to the problem you describe. Started with me a few months ago on my '95. Turned out to be a crack in the frame around the steering box was giving all that flex--a fairly common problem. It was pretty hard to see the crack until we got her up in the air, even then you needed to look pretty hard. Anyways, got her welded up and appear to be good to go, certainly much less flex now.
Hope it helps
Scott