Help with steering wheel thats off and loose steering wheel

[Vital Velocity]

Looking at a truck but when you are driving down the road you have to have the steering wheel at the 2 oclock position to go straight, and you can move the steering wheel back and forth by about 4" either way before the truck actually steers.

Its been a while since ive been in a 7.3L

What would i be looking at replacing? Typically how much$$$

Its a 99 with 160xxx

Thanks

[Eric]

Mine was doing the same thing after I lifted it. Had the drag links replaced and it drives like a new one

[Vital Velocity]

with any particular ones? Or just needs new ones?

[Eric]

I'm assuming that they put stock ones on it It was $475 for both links and an alignment...

[e99f2506sp]

As far as the steering wheel being off, that can be changed by adjusting the steering arm between the pitman arm and the passenger side knuckle. Loose then either 13 or 15mm bolts that hold the sleeve, then stick a screwdriver or something in the opening in the sleeve and adjust. If I remember right, turning it counterclockwise shortens it which would turn the wheel to the left, and if you turn it clockwise lengthens it and makes the wheel turn to the right...sounds like you need to shorten it.

As far as the sloppyness, its very common in super dutys unfortunately. You can tighten up the steering box, but only so much. The best thing is to replace the steering box and all the tie rods. I'm saving to do this myself actually.

Good luck.

[Vital Velocity]

So looking at
Drag Links
steering box
Tie rods

They did just put the lift on, and hadnt finished putting the front stabalizers on either (shocks that go side to side, in case im using the wrong terminology)

[Vital Velocity]

BTW thanks for the responses, the other forum i use rarely gets replies

[e99f2506sp]

I'm also looking at a steering stabilizer, so let me know how that helps you.

Im dealing with the sloppiness until the ball joints need to be replaced. I put a leveling kit on and my caster is off. They can put shims in the ball joints, but I'd rather wait and do it all at once to save labor. I'm also planning on replacing the steering box, tie rods, and drag links at the same time with hopefully a lot better stuff. Won't be cheap, but it will be done.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Vital Velocity

So looking at
Drag Links
steering box
Tie rods

They did just put the lift on, and hadnt finished putting the front stabalizers on either (shocks that go side to side, in case im using the wrong terminology)

A steering stabilizer probably won't help your problem. It will take some of the bump steer out of it but it won't fix the slop in the steering. I think they might have tightened my steering box when they replaced the drag links but I can't remember

[Zaairman]

Whoa... Let's start cheap/free here then make your way to the expensive stuff.

Tighten your steering box. There's several topics on here about it, so search for it and you'll find all you ever need. If that doesn't fix your "looseness", then move on to the expensive stuff (steering box, tie rods, etc).

An alignment will fix your crooked steering wheel. I think mine was like $35-40 with a $10 off coupon. They did a great job. Do this after you fix your steering issue.

A steering stabilizer has never helped any of these issues, whether it was the stock one, a new stock one, the stock one that I bashed into a big metal pipe (hidden in tall grass), the stock one after that which was also bashed into something or the ProComp one that's on there now.