My 2000 F150 4x4 XLT has a steering issue: there is play in my steering. The truck drifts in either direction i can feel its doing it and begin to correct but people driving behind think I'm drunk (not that bad but it feels like I am driving that way).

I've had the ball joints replaced and the tie-rods. what's next? any ideas?

 

did you get an alignment?

 

Ditto.

 

I agree with the previous posters, you should definitely get an alignment after performing such work-- except that this will not alleviate play in the system.

If it's a 2000, it shouldn't need suspension work already, should it? Was it in an accident, did you run it over something big, what's the deal? More clues would be helpful.

 

Alignment was checked...twice...and it feels like play in the steering wheel, so I'm certain its not the alignment. I thought the play was coming from the tie-rods but not the issues. You could see the movement in the tie-rods ends since being replaced the play is not as bad but still there. I'll be driving straight then my truck decides to starting drifting in one direction. I'll steer back slightly in the other directions and while it corrects it sometime I have correct right back into the middle again...like i said its like driving drunk. Could it be steering box?

When I first bought the truck i used it heavily off-road and now I live in the city which the "paved" roads of the city are much worse then dirt roads.

 

when they did the alignment did they check your pitman arm and idler arm? if you jack up the front of the vehicle and move the tire side to side you will be able to see movement in the two places i mentioned, if there is exessive play then you need to replace one or both of these components, your gear box could be going bad also, $217 at autozone for the gear box, good luck tracking down the problem, a steering stabilizer would help keep this from happening in the futer as it will help with bump steer and make the steering feel tighter

 

Have you checked the intermediate shaft? I have personally seen them have play, and cause a memory steer contition. The pitman arm and idler arm can too cause looseness in the steering. What you need to do is have someone shake the steering wheel while you inspect these parts (with tires on the ground). If the truck has high miles, then a simple gearbox adjustment can take care of the loosness, but if overtightened the gears inside the box will bind.

 

Ditto on the Pitman arm and Idler then steering gearbox.

Another item that has probably been checked is wheel bearings. I found my left side bearing 'on the verge' of expiring and the right one 'seeping' grease. So I replaced both.

I just replaced the lower control arm bushings on my 02 (left side). Aside from drifting to the left, there was a dull thud that I thought was coming through the floorboard and the caster kept changing.

I hope this helps and good luck.

 

Idler arm...plenty of play there. In the process of waiting on parts then will have alignment checked again.

thanks for the help!