New Truck and Need some help...

[New-Diesel]

I just bought my first diesel truck back in November 2011. It is a late 99 F 250. I love this truck. It is in really good shape body wise with no rust on it. But I have had to put alot of money into it. I put new Hpop line on and had the front u joints replace. I have also had the power steering lines replace (all 5 of them). I also just replaced my water pump. So after all that the truck seems to be running really well.

My questions are.
1) My steering wheel is really loose and I have traced it back to the steering gear. I have asked around and alot of people said that this is the norm and that it isn't really that bad. Or they have told me that a new one isn't going to fix the problem because they all have the same issue. My question is...is there an after market steering gear that will hold up that I can replace it with or how do I fix this issues with what I already have?

2) My truck is a F 250 Super Duty FX4 Offroad. What is the difference between my truck and a standard Super Duty?

Thanks

[dieselcrawler]

You didn't state the mileage of the truck, but with the age, it's safe to assume you can't go wrong replacing the steering gear box...

Is slop in the steering normal? yes, due to age and wear on a truck that age. Should it be there? No.

To my knolage, FX4 package was limited to suspention things like shocks and sway bars, not steering gear boxes.

[New-Diesel]

Sorry forgot to add mileage. It is 163,000.

I was told that replacing the steering gear box was not going to total fix the problem. That the issue was a design flaw in the box and that all trucks of this time frame had this problem from day one. Is this true?

[New-Diesel]

I just wanted to know what the difference was between a standard Super Duty and an FX4 because my leaf springs are broken and I want to make sure that I get the right set. I have found all kinds from 3300 lbs to 6000 lb ones.

Thanks

[gomer pyle]

FX4 just means that your 4x4 came with skid plates for the t-case and fuel tank

[bruce51d]

I think fx4 came out in like 03-04, people can throw a sticker on anything