I have a 97 F-150 and recently it has started to wander all over the lane. I can't seem to keep the thing steady. And I'm really in trouble if a large vehicle passes me moving pretty good because the wind from that vehicle will darn near push my truck into the next lane without the steering wheel even moving. It just drifts over and I've almost gotten smashed several times. The truck also feels like I have bricks for tires and this all just started! I've had the front end aligned (Ford dealer told me that was the problem). Please help!!!

Thanks

PS Also, whenever I go over a speed bump, I hear a loud squeaking noise as if the truck needs to have the front end greased seriously.

 

I'm not sure if our trucks have these(mines at the dealer right now) but it could be the steering coupler. It's usually some where between the firewall and steering box. It looks like a thick rubber washer between the two ends of the steering shaft. This could be ripped,or missing. This could cause the symptoms
you described. Go give it a look,I wish I had my truck,I could tell you for sure if our trucks have them. good luck,,,,,98

P.S.;get that dealer to look at it,and ask them for the alignment money back,lol
Or at least tell them to put it towards the real repair,,,,,,,98

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98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
Yokahama AVS/ST's
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Stillen Quad light air dam, sweet!!
Euro taillights
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
[b]Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
Viper alarm
On the way/wheels,tires, etc..etc.......
the monochromatic boogie is done,cool!.
Come see my new pictures@ www.my-f150.com

officialtomwaits.com
reverendhortonheat.com

WOW,what a cool site!

FENDER GUITARS ROCK!!!
Had to take the picture out,it was way too out of date ,,,,98

[This message has been edited by 98SCREAMER (edited 02-07-2001).]

 

98SCREAMER-Whatcha doing to your truck? I am driving over to Orlando in the morning to get my new GT II's mounted on my new 17x10 rims. I also did a nice little exhaust mod that I am going to take pictures of while it is up on the rack. I installed a Y pipe infront of the Magnaflow which took 3 bends out of the stock exhaust. More later....

[This message has been edited by Flats Man (edited 02-07-2001).]

 

Ubaney,

I had the exact same problem with a 1991 Explorer I had a few years back. I was commuting 100 miles a day and I could barely keep it between the lines on a straight road.

I didn't know much about 4x4's then so I sold it thinking it was a basket case -- it had 150k on it. Turns out it just needed new ball joints on the steering linkages. it would have cost like $150 and about 2 hours work to fix.

Also, there is an adjustment bolt on the top of the power steering box - if the gears are worn inside you can crank that bolt down maybe 1/2 to 1 turn and take up some of the slack there (this might be a job for a professional).

Make sure to check all the easy stuff also, like tire pressure, tight lug nuts, power steering fluid, wheel bearing preload, etc. If your tires have a lot of miles and were driven at high speed, they might be shot. Even if they have 20% tread left, the tire carcass may have overheated and be unsafe if they have been abused.

If your truck is used and abused, it may even need new kingpins on the spindles. That would be a last resort, and definitely a job for a mechanic.

My 2000 f-150 wandered straight from the factory, but it was the opposite problem. I took it to the dealer and they did an alignment but it still wandered. Turned out the steering box was too *tight* and didn't let the steering move freely. Once I knew this, it took all of 10 minutes to fix.

good luck.

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Howie's Effie: "Nadine"
Amazon Green 2000 F150 XLT 5.4L 4x4 ORP Supercab Flareside
Captains Chairs, Electronic Shift, Rear Slider, Keyless Entry, Cab Steps, 3.55 L/S
Mods: Superchip, FIPK, Flowmaster Force II, Rhino Liner, fogs + hibeams