Front Suspension and steering Upgrades

[Gary Lewis]

Dad's truck came with a front and rear sway bar, and it drove and handled very very well. I drove it to DE from OK with a FULL load of furniture in the bed with no worries. And it drove very easily.

But other trucks I've had weren't as easy to drive. One, the '82 Explorer, was initially very difficult to drive. And I finally figured out what the problem was - the steering box. It was badly worn and the slop in the wheel kept you turning back and forth to "catch" it. So I tightened the adjustment on the box up about 1/16 of a turn, and went from having to catch it to having no feel. Basically, I discovered that a worn box is done. D.O.N.E It can be adjusted, but it won't drive right.

I finally replaced the box with a Cardone reman'd unit and it made the truck drive as well as Dad's. It didn't handle as well, which I attributed to the sway bars, but it drove easily.

So, having gone over your list, I see the steering box isn't included. Does it have any slop? And, has someone adjusted the setting on it?

And, by the way, I don't recommend reman'd boxes. I got lucky, but a lot of guys haven't. There's a spot in the front of the cast iron box which is used as a bushing for the shaft. But it wears, and remanufacturers don't replace it. They just check for how badly it is worn and if it is past their acceptable limit then they use it.

Instead, I'd recommend a box that has been bored out and a bearing put in to replace the worn spot. But I only know of two outfits do that: Redhead and Bluetop. However the rumor is that Redhead got too big for its britches and their product and customer service went south. So one of the guys split off and started Bluetop, which has good reviews.

[Rembrant]

Basically, this truck is now put together with steering and suspension as new again. I do not like the way it handles and how light the steering is. Without anything left to fix/replace I guess this is just how these trucks are supposed to be?

I didn't see it in your list of items, but are you still running the stock "suggestion box"...I mean steering box?

What size/profile tires are you running?

I've done pretty much the same with my 1984 short wheel base. New everything...and I mean everything.

However, with the stock steering box, these trucks just wander...that's kind of how they go. I installed a RedHead steering box, and it made a big improvement, but it's still not tight as rack and pinion or anything.

 

[66gtk]

Basically, this truck is now put together with steering and suspension as new again. I do not like the way it handles and how light the steering is. Without anything left to fix/replace I guess this is just how these trucks are supposed to be?

I didn't see it in your list of items, but are you still running the stock "suggestion box"...I mean steering box?

What size/profile tires are you running?

I've done pretty much the same with my 1984 short wheel base. New everything...and I mean everything.

However, with the stock steering box, these trucks just wander...that's kind of how they go. I installed a RedHead steering box, and it made a big improvement, but it's still not tight as rack and pinion or anything.

I'm not aware of any work performed to my steering box, which is stock. I am not aware of any adjustments that are available either? If there is a way to adjust it, I could use some directions on that (:

I'm running Cooper Evolution 235/75r15

Here's Ella going 60 MPH down the highway going straight. She was doing much better by this point (:

[Gary Lewis]

I'm not aware of any work performed to my steering box, which is stock. I am not aware of any adjustments that are available either? If there is a way to adjust it, I could use some directions on that (:

I'm running Cooper Evolution 235/75r15

Here's Ella going 60 MPH down the highway going straight. She was doing much better by this point (:

The adjustment is the screw sticking out the top with a nut around it. BUT, it is not meant to be adjusted in the field. It was set at the factory and is not supposed to be touched. However, if you mark where the adjustment is, precisely, so you can get back to it you can see what you think.

But only go in really small increments. In my case 1/16th of a turn was enough to make a big difference. And then I put it back. The box was worn such that I either had slop or no feel, and there wasn't anything in between.

And, if you go too far you can crack the box. But take it easy and see what you think.

[66gtk]

The adjustment is the screw sticking out the top with a nut around it. BUT, it is not meant to be adjusted in the field. It was set at the factory and is not supposed to be touched. However, if you mark where the adjustment is, precisely, so you can get back to it you can see what you think.

But only go in really small increments. In my case 1/16th of a turn was enough to make a big difference. And then I put it back. The box was worn such that I either had slop or no feel, and there wasn't anything in between.

And, if you go too far you can crack the box. But take it easy and see what you think.

sounds like I'll just leave it alone (:

I've gotten used to it and like all good drivers need to simply know my vehicle's limitations and drive it according to the conditions. Remember when we used to all know how to do that? All these modern vehicle nanny controls have created a new generation of people who don't know how to drive.

[Rembrant]

I'm not aware of any work performed to my steering box, which is stock. I am not aware of any adjustments that are available either? If there is a way to adjust it, I could use some directions on that (:

I'm running Cooper Evolution 235/75r15

Ok, 235 75's are totally fine. I was just curious if you were running wide/low profile tires on the front like I am. They actually make the problem worse as the wider tires track with the road more.

There is an adjustment procedure for the steering box, and it's very simple. I did it to mine originally, and it felt a little better, briefly, but then got loose again. I installed two new reman boxes before finally buying a RedHead box. I actually wanted the BlueTop box, but every time they had a sale on, they had no stock on the Ford boxes, and RedHead did, so that is all that drove my decision. I might try a BlueTop in the future.

They do make a noticeable difference.

[grumpin]

I'm not aware of any work performed to my steering box, which is stock. I am not aware of any adjustments that are available either? If there is a way to adjust it, I could use some directions on that (:

I'm running Cooper Evolution 235/75r15

Ok, 235 75's are totally fine. I was just curious if you were running wide/low profile tires on the front like I am. They actually make the problem worse as the wider tires track with the road more.

There is an adjustment procedure for the steering box, and it's very simple. I did it to mine originally, and it felt a little better, briefly, but then got loose again. I installed two new reman boxes before finally buying a RedHead box. I actually wanted the BlueTop box, but every time they had a sale on, they had no stock on the Ford boxes, and RedHead did, so that is all that drove my decision. I might try a BlueTop in the future.

They do make a noticeable difference.

The Ford trucks I’ve had have been long wheelbases. My 86 drives nice. But I may just be driving like 66gtk said, know your vehicle.

But my Bronco is a different story. If I haven’t driven it for awhile it gets my attention. I always considered it aptly named. Very short wheelbase.

I think Ella did a great job. On teaching my three kids to drive the youngest scared me! Until we bought her a smaller vehicle. She was getting the hang of the Bronco though.

[Angelo Voltura]

I'm not aware of any work performed to my steering box, which is stock. I am not aware of any adjustments that are available either? If there is a way to adjust it, I could use some directions on that (:

I'm running Cooper Evolution 235/75r15

Ok, 235 75's are totally fine. I was just curious if you were running wide/low profile tires on the front like I am. They actually make the problem worse as the wider tires track with the road more.

There is an adjustment procedure for the steering box, and it's very simple. I did it to mine originally, and it felt a little better, briefly, but then got loose again. I installed two new reman boxes before finally buying a RedHead box. I actually wanted the BlueTop box, but every time they had a sale on, they had no stock on the Ford boxes, and RedHead did, so that is all that drove my decision. I might try a BlueTop in the future.

They do make a noticeable difference.

Interesting, I had a different experience. On my 2wd short box, I had 275/60/15 Cooper Cobras all the way around, 2" wheel spacers, and a completely rebuilt (minus steering box/shaft) front end including a Skyjacker stablizer, and the thing would take corners at 80 mph like nobodies business, without so much as a squeeling tire. I was confident enough that I actually took it out on Watkins Glen.

I probably shouldn't have been driving that fast, but damn was I impressed for an old truck.

As parts wore out and miles got put on, I definitely noticed loss of frame rigidity believe it or not, but some reinforcement in areas made the thing drive like new again.

[Rembrant]

Interesting, I had a different experience. On my 2wd short box, I had 275/60/15 Cooper Cobras all the way around, 2" wheel spacers, and a completely rebuilt (minus steering box/shaft) front end including a Skyjacker stablizer, and the thing would take corners at 80 mph like nobodies business, without so much as a squeeling tire. I was confident enough that I actually took it out on Watkins Glen.

I need to clarify my comments a bit, because we're probably on the same page. I'm also running 275/60/15 Copper Cobras all around, but our roads are worse than yours, and with the ruts in the asphalt, the wide 60's series tires track with the ruts badly...so on that kind of road (which we have a lot of) the steering wanders quite a bit. When I was running the truck with the stock small tires, it wasn't nearly as bad. My old man's Infiniti and my wife's Lexus are the same...winter tires no problem. Throw the low pro summer tires and wheels back on, and they're tracking all over the place. On smooth flat asphalt, they all track straight and smooth.

The tighter RedHead box eliminated a lot of the wander, but the truck still tracks with the road (ruts) a bit. If I threw a set of 235/75/15's on it, it would probably drive perfectly.

Mine handles corners pretty well. One thing with those Ford steering boxes is that most of the slop is when driving straight. Throw them into a turn, and that is where the boxes are still nice and tight. We have some pretty twisty roads around here, and I must say, my steering is solid while turning. Driving straight down the road though...it still does wander a little bit.

 

[Angelo Voltura]

Interesting, I had a different experience. On my 2wd short box, I had 275/60/15 Cooper Cobras all the way around, 2" wheel spacers, and a completely rebuilt (minus steering box/shaft) front end including a Skyjacker stablizer, and the thing would take corners at 80 mph like nobodies business, without so much as a squeeling tire. I was confident enough that I actually took it out on Watkins Glen.

I need to clarify my comments a bit, because we're probably on the same page. I'm also running 275/60/15 Copper Cobras all around, but our roads are worse than yours, and with the ruts in the asphalt, the wide 60's series tires track with the ruts badly...so on that kind of road (which we have a lot of) the steering wanders quite a bit. When I was running the truck with the stock small tires, it wasn't nearly as bad. My old man's Infiniti and my wife's Lexus are the same...winter tires no problem. Throw the low pro summer tires and wheels back on, and they're tracking all over the place. On smooth flat asphalt, they all track straight and smooth.

The tighter RedHead box eliminated a lot of the wander, but the truck still tracks with the road (ruts) a bit. If I threw a set of 235/75/15's on it, it would probably drive perfectly.

Mine handles corners pretty well. One thing with those Ford steering boxes is that most of the slop is when driving straight. Throw them into a turn, and that is where the boxes are still nice and tight. We have some pretty twisty roads around here, and I must say, my steering is solid while turning. Driving straight down the road though...it still does wander a little bit.

Yes I do remember them having some bump steer going on that did improve with smaller tires, at one point I was even running 7.0-15 bias plys. I have looked into a redhead/bluetop box as well but that truck isn't worth putting that money into anymore.

Every truck I've ever had wandered in a straight line, eventually I just got so used to it that driving a brand new car made me drive all over the road.