Artum Snowbird wrote:
As an owner of a 2000 F350 7.3 I too have been plagued with problems. After going to my honest shop locally and being told the alignment was fine, I researched my steering box adjustment and ended up taking up some slack myself in just a few minutes.
It now tracks well again, much better than before.
Mike,
I did both loosen and tighten my box on the F-250 for a very short test, then carefully put it back where I found it. One turn one way or the other didn't make any difference. I suspect the previous owner or one (or more) of a number of shops I stopped at may have messed with it if it really was too tight as the final pro shop stated.
The steering box on our Excursion always was quite a bit looser as far as steering wheel play is concerned, but it drives just fine. I see no reason to change it.
What I suspect is that many unfortunate owners, after a poor new ball joint install, drink the kool-aid and end up buying many aftermarket "handling" fixes and convince themselves that Ford screwed up. It was pretty obvious to me that the night-day difference between my two trucks indicated the Ford design was just fine, but something very subtle was wrong with one... the F-250.
By subtle, I mean one tire shop foreman, where the original install was made and screwed up, told me his F-250 steered just like mine and that they all do that. Strong evidence to the contrary didn't sway his opinion one bit. He was a nice guy, but I feel sorry for him. I was willing to pay for the correction if he knew how to do it. I think I could do an original install myself, but I wasn't sure I could get the new joints loose enough to reset them without damage.
Only the last pro shop did, and I gladly paid them for their expertise.
Wes
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