Loose steering...should i be worried?

[teameyecatcher]

Ok so here's the problem....about a month or two ago I noticed a lot of play in my steering wheel, especially on the interstate. Took it into the shop I had my lift put on and they said everything looks fine. Jacked it up myself and tried to shake the front wheels thinking the bearings had gone bad, but no luck their either. What could this be? I sure hope it is something as simple as an alignment.

The only issue I have with it is a lot of play in the center (i.e. wheels straight forward). On the interstate I have to basically hold the wheel about 25degrees or more to the right to keep it going straight. If I let it go the truck will wander and want to go down the slope in the right hand lane, but the slack is still there. Its like I have a "dead zone" 25 or 30 degrees to each side where moving the wheel does nothing. What can I do??

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

i would try alignment first... but the first thing that came to my mind is how big tires you running and do you have a after market steering stabilizer

[460+]

If you can get someone to work the steering wheel from L to R in short movements, look at your tie rod ends and track bar for movement.

[teameyecatcher]

Originally Posted by Raul@Stealth Automotive

i would try alignment first... but the first thing that came to my mind is how big tires you running and do you have a after market steering stabilizer

I'm running the stock size Goodyears on the factory ford 20's, so nothing crazy at all, and I do not have an aftermarket steering stabilizer. Would that be reccommended?

Originally Posted by 460+

If you can get someone to work the steering wheel from L to R in short movements, look at your tie rod ends and track bar for movement.

I tried turning the wheel in park with the engine running while the guys from the lift shop looked but of course either a. the wheel did not display any problems or b. nothing looked wrong.

Maybe I will try the alignment first. Thanks

[teameyecatcher]

OK heres the answer to my problem, something that some of you may be concerned with and want to double check.

My problem was related to the lift I have. The shop that installed it forgot to put lock-tite on the nut for the pitman arm, and it had slipped loose almost coming off. Found that out at the ford dealership-they installed a new nut just to be safe.

Take a look there, its a simple fix if you have the problem but definitely dangerous if overlooked. I think the new nut was $10 from ford, but of course their labor for finding the issue was insane. Of course, it can take a while for this nut to come loose. I have about 40k miles since the lift, and it eventually backed out-prob had this issue for the past 2-4k miles. Yikes

[huhner5]

I also had that problem... The track bar being loose will cause this also......It was not tightened properly after my lift

[hpf350]

I'm having this same exact issue but my pitman arm seemed fine. where else should I be looking? where is the track arm located?

[hpf350]

i meant the track bar. where is it in relation to the pitman arm?
i'm lloking around for a diagram but I haven't had an luck yet.