1999 F350 7.3 Diesel 6 speed manual rear wheel drive
I have 303,450 miles on the truck with the original steering box. I have installed new Ball joins and new tie rod assembles (with new factory ball joints in them)
The truck has been correctly aligned professionally.
The vehicle still wanders left to right even after attempting to adjust the set screw for the worn gear slack take up. At one pint the screw was adjusted too tight and the vehicle would not return the steering to center. Even then it wander across the road. (rather exciting for sure!)

Suggestions on my next step.

Could the box simply be worn out?

Thank you.
Eric

 

2 suggestions;

If you are running michelin tires on front of your truck, consider another brand.

There is a definite sequence for adjusting a steering box. Wise move to get a good manual and follow the procedure as directed.


We usually describe a wander to one side as pulling to the right or left.
There could be several reasons for this . Something like a broken center bolt on a rear spring.
If the alignment shop wasn't looking for a cause of pulling problem they could overlook many causes..

 

Hanky,
Thank you.
I have looked for a good book on the steering box as I have heard before there is a special procedure.
Any leads on a reference?
Thank you for the response.
Regards,
Eric

 

The one , first adjustment is for the worm shaft.

The second is for the depth of the sector shaft.

 

Hanky,
Thank you!
Regards,
Eric

 

What have you decided to do ?

 

May not be your issue, but we've seen new ball joint installs that the spindles were rotationally too tight.
What happens if they are is,, the joints 'hang' and the steering rather than just make small normal corrections , sort of pinch/jerk as the rotation is made causing oversteer and wander.

 

Well i have some homework to do. Been off line for a few days.
Hanky: I'll check the two adjustments to see if I can detect anything out there.
Haypower: You raise an interesting question. When I installed the new Ball Joints i was able to easily turn the Wheel/knuckle assembly before I reattached the steering /tie rods.

Thank you both for the inputs!
Regards,
Eric

 

If nothing was disassembled from original steering box, ,,,,

Turn the steering wheel to extreme left, then count the number of turns to extreme right.. Once you know that, you can place the steering wheel in the center of that range.
If nothing.was disturbed, the steering wheel should be in the straight ahead position.
Now you can adjust the depth of the sector shaft.
If you turn the adjustment on the side of the steering box in a little and if you move the steering wheel a little left and right you should feel a high spot or a little drag on the steering wheel. That is where you want the adjustment. You will notice if you turn the adjustment screw in to far when in the center position , the steering wheel will not move easily, so you back it off slightly, until it has no drag , then lock the position of the adjusting screw with the lock nut .
It is not complicated, but you need to know what to look for.

If you still have a wander or pulling problem , it is not involving the steering box.