Hello all! Found what I thought was a good deal on a 2001 E-350 that would fit my needs well. I work on vintage motorcycles, so I know my way around the toolbox etc, but I haven't done much with cars other than brake jobs and clutch swaps (I have a 2007 5-speed subaru outback too)

I bought this beast so I could haul some dirt bikes around and preferably stuff two in the back of the van. The seats were needed for when I bring the kids along. There's only one thing that I want to take care of relatively quickly, and that's the play in the steering wheel. Seem like an awful lot of slop that I would like to tighten up. If anyone has ideas on where to look first, please let me know. I'll be searching the forums over the next few days to help find my answer. Thanks in advance, this is my first ford.

Bruno

 

One way you can do this ,
Make sure the vehicle can't move, parking brake on, and in park with the engine running.
Get under the front and have someone move the steering wheel back and forth about a half turn in both directions while you check the tie rod ends, idler arm, steering link from the arm coming off the steering box assy, connecting to the idler arm on the passenger side. There should be no horizontal movement in any of the joints only pivotal movement. Any slop or looseness is cause for replacement. If the idler moves up and down , it's worn. You would have to take the load off the ball joints to check them. If no looseness is found you might need to move the sector shaft adjustment on the back of the steering box assy in a little ,1/4-1/2 turn with the wheels straight ahead so you don't produce any bind in the mechanism. You should be able to handle the above since you are familiar with mechanical work.

It is advisable that if you need to replace the tie rod ends, and other steering linkage parts to have the front end alignment done to make sure toe in is on the money . You can gamble on this, but if it ruins the tires , now you will have to replace the tires AND have the alignment done.

 

Thanks a lot Hanky! I'll print that out and do what you said. The guy did throw in an entireTie Rod, Drag link, ball joint 10pcs kit brand new in box. And yeah, I definitely understand getting the alignment done afterwards. Peace of mind and cheaper than new tires, these tires are practically brand new! I have a friend who works on cars for a living, so I'm going to have him check it out with me when he puts it on the big lift. That way he can help point out things too. I appreciate this info, it helps a lot! The other thing I was looking at is something about the steering box? I found a couple of threads on here and there is something that has to be brought back into spec for that too. I figured I'd replace whatever was in the kit he bought anyways just to have it done and know that it's all new. Van has 250k miles.

 

Your friend most likely knows this, but some things in steering linkage don't show up if the linkage is checked with the wheels off the ground.

With that many miles you could be looking at radius arm bushings also.

 

Rock on. I'll make a note to ask about that too. Thanks a ton, seriously. I have no idea what any of this stuff is called on a car unless I look it up. I can tell you anything about old motorcycles though...haha.

 

That's funny, because all I can tell you about old motorcycles is I picture them with Schultz riding in a side car !

 

I'd love a side car! You need a special license to operate them from what I hear. Which makes sense. I've fixed a few over the past couple years and got to ride them around the building, super stable one way, and super tippy the other!