Can anyone give me some specs from the Ford service manual for 2001 F-150 power steering gear adjustments? Not sure what Ford calls them, but GM terms are:

1. Ball drag
2. Bearing preload
3. Over center preload
4. Total preload

Would assume Ford uses similar terms. All figure would be lb. in. Thanks.

 

Guy21

E-mail me with what you are trying to do and I can find it on my Ford service DVD. I can send you the procedure on power steering pump rebuild also if it will help.

 

Ron (2001screw4.6)

Thanks for the offer, but I would prefer to keep it on this board for a while and see what happens. Basically, my 2001 Screw has developed what I feel is excessive steering free play and is hard to control on the highway. At 3,200 miles, I have about 1" of free play as measured at the steering wheel. Ford and my dealer say this is within acceptable tolerances, but won't perform any shop measurements of the gear. My experience (all GM) says that if I have as much free play as I do, there won't be any over-center preload to be measured. If Ford has an initial preload spec and an additional over-center preload spec., there is no way my vehicle meets it. I have a lot of warranty left, but the stonewalling by Ford upsets me, plus I have to listen to the wife. If you can find the specs. and post them, I would appreciate it. Additionally, is anyone else seeing a lot of steering freeplay in 2001's at low mileage?

 

Guy21

There are several things that can cause free play in the steering wheel, they are (1) Loose, worn or damaged steering linkages or tie rod end (2) Loose steering gear bolts. (3) Damaged or worn steering gear. (4) Loose, worn or damaged steering column bearing(s). (5) Loose, worn or damaged lower steering column shaft U-joints. Try the following test to find the problem.

NOTE: Excessive vertical motion of the studs relative to the sockets may indicate excessive wear.

With the parking brake applied, perform the following:
Have an assistant rotate the steering wheel back and forth 360 degrees and watch for relative motion of the studs in the steering linkage ball sockets. Watch for loose steering gear mounting.

Another method is to raise the front wheels (1007) off the ground, grasp the wheel at the front and rear and watch for excessive play or binding in the joints while trying to steer the wheels.

Replace or tighten any worn, damaged, or loose tie rods, tie rod ends, linkages or components.

 

2001screw4.6

Thanks again, but it it is the dealer's responsibility to verify conformance to Ford specs. under warranty. It is essentially a new vehicle.

Still looking for steering gear preload specs. if anyone has access to them.

 

Steering Gear Specs.

For anyone interested, I found a Ford manual today. Listed specs. are:

Worm Bearing Prelaod - 8 lb.in.
Meshload over Worm Preload - 2 - 7 lb.in.

Total Preload - 15 lb.in. max

Steering Wheel Free Play - 3 mm (0.12 in.)

 

I have similar problems. Dealers have replaced idler 2X,steering box,steering shaft,Ford enginner supposedly drove the truck,etc,etc. This tells me that incompetence is what is found at the dealerships.The truck has wandered on the road since day 1.Your theory appears interesting. Does your truck wander or basically do you have to saw the wheel back and forth to keep it straight?
Let me know what you do. I want to try this too.

 

1stnuford,

Once I got ahold of the service manual specs, it became obvious that my free play greatly exceeds Ford standards. The spec is 3mm or 0.12 in. of free play at the steering wheel. I have at least 0.50 in or about 4 times the optimum limit. Your description of sawing back and forth is best as any normal steering correction required from side to side must first compensate for the free play. Ford called me the other day and asked about the condition. The dealer is helpless as all they do is say it is within Ford specs. which it obviously isn't. I have not heard back from Ford or the dealer. I have been told that for the 2002 models, the steering gears have been changed, but not told why or how. I asked Ford on the phone that a 2002 gear be retrofitted to my 2001 SuperCrew.

 

Any luck with the steering ( or lack of ) issue from FORD? I am curious as to how to repair/adjust to the specs. can it be done or is replacement the way to go ?

 

1st

Still waiting to hear from Ford regarding my request for verification and repairs. Went to another Ford dealer today and measured the free play in the steering wheel. Came up with about 19mm with engine off and 15mm with engine running. Ford spec. says 3mm. We checked by holding a ruler up to one of the steering wheel seams and measuring play to either side. See what yours registers and post it. When your steering gear was replaced, did they put in a used gear. Look for REMAN on the RO under the parts listing indicating a remanufactured used gear was installed.

 

Yes, the steering box was a "reman". And this was back in 2000!! Never did understand that one. Anyway, I will try to measure this tonight. Thanks for the info. This is what makes this forum so great !

 

Hi, any luck on this issue yet, I see in the expedition area that the speed sensitive steering was discontinued in mid 2001. Seems that it was creating a wandering condition? My supercrew is wandering and I will be checking shaft knuckles, freeplay, etc. asap. If I put a scewdriver in the flexjoint just above the steering gear box I can move it back and forth without moving the linkage, Is this normal? Does the power steering have to be running? Can anyone tell me how to test the free play accuratly, so I can not get blown off at the dealership . thanks.

 

super66

I measured the steering wheel free play by aligning a metric ruler with one of the sewn seams in the steering wheel. Without applying too much force, you can then move the wheel thru the free play and record the total free play. Do this with the engine off and also running. Please post your results. Ford's published spec is 3mm, mine has about 15mm.

 

ok, my measurment is 1.5cm which should be 15mm also. This does not feel abnormal to me however, in inspecting the lower knucke joint (just above the steering box) with help I put a vicegrip on the joint to hold it steady and had my helper seesaw the wheel, the ujoint seemed tight however the pin that holds the joint onto the shaft has noticable play. Does anyone know if this is a solid mount or if it is rubber insulated for vibration? This movement of maybe 3/16" in the pin could telegraph into real play and a loss of the new feeling?

 

super66

Ford's specification for steering wheel free play is 3mm (0.12in). It can be found on page 211-00-5 of the 2001 F150 service manual. 15mm is excessive. Go to your dealer and check out a new one on the showroom floor. It is more like 3mm or less. Also in the manual (page 211-00-21) is a symptom chart. One of the symptoms for steering wheel play is "Loose, worm or damaged lower steering column shaft U-joints". The recommended action is "Replace the lower steering column shaft". It doesn't sound like the u-joint is a servicable part by itself.