Tie Rod ends

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seykbronc

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So, been driving the Bronc around for a cpl days now, Im noticing that the steering wheel is very loose when turning towards the right, but tighter when turning to the left....is this the tie rod ends maybe? When driving there is ALOT of play from 12-2ish then it will turn right. But when I turn left, it starts to turn almost immediately past 12 going counter clockwise. What do you all think? Much appreciated

 

Rons beast

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It's hard to say what the problem is. It isn't likely that a tie rod would be sloppy in one direction and not the other, but all kinds of stuff happens.!

Get under the truck and check all the steering components, and the suspension, especially ball joints. Don't forget to check wheel bearings. While under there, check where the steering box bolts to the frame. It is known for cracks in the frame, allowing movement of the box. If all that looks good, have a trusted friend slowly turn the wheel as you described in each direction. Look to see if the pitman arm is moving in both directions or doesn't move when turning right. If that is the case, you need a new steering box.

Good Luck

 

Bully Bob

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Ditto Ron.. plus...,

If you're unsure what you're look'n at/for..., keep in mind that a solid steering (& brakes) system is a "LIFE SAVER".! Yours, or possibly someone elses.

If the prob. isn't obvious, get to a front-end shop ASAP.! They may charge you for an inspection., but, that's cheaper than a hosp. bill..., or worse.... :( /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 
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seykbronc

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Thanks for the info fellas, I will get on that on Sunday and let you know what I found. I will also try to tighten using the method described in the forums Tech pages on the Steering box

 

Bully Bob

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Seyk.,

If you're referring to the "pre-load" ***** on the box..., that's not a good idea. In fact, it may be what caused this problem.

i.e. the PO attempted using it for adj. purposes.

If you've discovered that much play in the box.....it's likely history. (& again, dangerous)

 

miesk5

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yo,

Get diagnosis from shop and use this to help you understand what they they look for and suggest r&r or adjustments, etc.;

Sticky Steering, Pointing or Small Angle Returnability

High spindle rotating torque.

INSPECT for sticky steering linkage joints and/or spindle ball joints/kingpins and REPLACE as required.

Excessive steering gear preload/meshload.

MEASURE preload/meshload, ADJUST as required.

Power steering control valve centering.

INSPECT and SERVICE as required.

High steering column friction or binding.

INSPECT for interfering parts, worn steering column bearings and SERVICE or REPLACE as required.

Wander

Improper loading.

WEIGH vehicle, BALANCE loading and/or REMOVE payload as required.

Low tire pressure.

INFLATE to specification.

Improper tire/wheel size.

REPLACE as necessary.

Steering linkage ball joint looseness or wear.

INSPECT and SERVICE as required.

Spindle ball joint/kingpin looseness or wear.

INSPECT and REPLACE as required.

Wheel bearing looseness or wear.

INSPECT and REPAIR as required.

Worn suspension bushings.

INSPECT and REPLACE as required.

Loose suspension attachments of components.

INSPECT all attachments of components and SECURE/TIGHTEN with proper torque or REPLACE as required.

Weak shock absorber control.

SERVICE shocks as required.

Improper steering gear meshload.

MEASURE meshload and ADJUST as required.

Steering gear peak meshload not on center.

If clear vision is correct, INSPECT steering gear and ADJUST or REPLACE as required. If clear vision is not correct, CHECK alignment, CENTER steering wheel and RESET front toe to optimum setting as required.

Excessive front total toe-out.

CHECK alignment and RESET front toe to optimum setting as required.

Wanders Side to Side / Loose Steering

Vehicle overloaded or unevenly loaded.

CORRECT as required.

Improper (mismatched) tires and wheels.

INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination.

Improper tire pressure.

ADJUST air pressure in tires.

Loose steering gear mounting.

ADJUST to 73-89 Nm (54-66 lb-ft).

Front and rear suspension components loose, worn or exhibit damaged condition.

TIGHTEN or REPLACE as necessary. REFER to Group 04.

96SteeringLinkage.gif

1 3A131 Tie Rod Ball Stud

2 3310 Front Wheel Spindle Tie Rod Adjusting Sleeve

3 3304 Steering Sector Shaft Arm Drag Link

4 Drag Link Ball Stud

(Part of 3304)

5 3A131 Tie Rod

6 N800895-S56 Nut

7 3590 Steering Gear Sector Shaft Arm

A Tighten to 70-100 Nm 51-73 Lb-Ft)

Loose, worn or damaged steering sector shaft arm drag link.

TIGHTEN or REPLACE as necessary.

Loose wheel lug nuts.

TIGHTEN to specifications.

Spindle pin (king pin) binding.

LUBRICATE suspension.

Improperly adjusted front wheel bearing.

ADJUST to specification.

Steering column intermediate shaft coupling fractured.

REPLACE as required.

Incorrect toe setting.

SET to specifications.

Improperly adjusted steering gear.

ADJUST to specification (meshload only).

Steering column misaligned.

REFER to Section 11-04.

Steering column components loose or exhibit excessive play.

REPAIR as required

Pulls to One Side

Improperly sized tires.

INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination.

Improper tire pressure.

ADJUST air pressure in tire.

Unevenly loaded vehicle.

CORRECT as required.

Improper brake operation or adjustment.

INSPECT, ADJUST and CORRECT as required.

Improperly adjusted front wheel bearing, or worn or damaged rear wheel bearing.

ADJUST or REPLACE as required.

Broken or sagging front spring and/or rear spring.

INSPECT and REPLACE as required.

Loose steering gear mountings.

TIGHTEN to specification.

Loose, worn or damaged steering sector shaft arm drag link.

TIGHTEN and REPLACE as required. Replace the steering sector shaft arm drag link (3304) if the ball stud is loose in the steering control ball stud socket (3A754) or the steering sector shaft arm drag link is bent. Replace the front suspension steering ball stud dust seal (3332) if any nicks, cuts or tears are present. Do not attempt to straighten a steering sector shaft arm drag link. Removal

Raise the vehicle on a hoist with the wheels in the straight-ahead position. Refer to Section 00-02.

Remove the cotter pins and nuts from the ball stud at the steering gear sector shaft arm (3590) and steering tie rod. Remove the ball studs from the linkage using Tie Rod End Remover TOOL-3290-D or equivalent.

Loosen the bolts on the tie rod adjusting sleeve clamp (3287) if equipped. Count the number of turns it takes to remove the steering sector shaft arm drag link from the front wheel spindle tie rod adjusting sleeve (3310).

Installation

Install the steering sector shaft arm drag link the same number of turns it took to remove it from the front wheel spindle tie rod adjusting sleeve. Note the position of the tie rod adjusting sleeve clamp. Tighten the adjuster nuts to 40-57 Nm (30-42 lb-ft). NOTE: Make sure the ball studs are seated in the taper to prevent rotation while tightening.

Install nuts and tighten to 70-100 Nm (51-73 lb-ft).

Install new cotter pins.

Check toe-in. Refer to Section 04-00. Check clear vision. Refer to Section 11-00.

Bent front wheel spindle.

INSPECT and REPLACE as required.

Bent rear axle housing and/or loose rear spring, shock absorber and suspension arm attaching points.

INSPECT, TIGHTEN and REPLACE as required. REFER to Group 04.

Frame or underbody out of alignment.

CORRECT as required. REFER to Section 02-01.

Misaligned front wheel.

SET to specification. REFER to Section 04-00.

Wheel Alignment, Front

Caster, camber and toe are the three major, measurable alignment parameters.

Camber and toe affect tire wear and directional stability.

Caster affects directional stability without causing tire wear.

The values of caster, camber and toe change when a vehicle is loaded and driven. Therefore, the specifications shown in this section reflect the static measurement of alignment required so the vehicle will have an alignment when driven that is most favorable for tire wear and directional stability.

Caster and camber adjustment is provided by means of a series of interchangeable mounting sleeves (camber adjusters) for the upper ball joint stud. There is one adjuster available for caster.

Measure camber with available alignment equipment. If camber is out of specification, proceed to Step 2.

Raise vehicle on hoist and remove the front wheels.

Remove the upper ball joint cotter pin and nut.

Loosen the lower ball joint nut to the end of the stud.

Strike the inside of the spindle near the upper and lower ball joints to break the spindle loose from the ball joint studs.

Remove the camber adjuster sleeve. If required, use Pitman Arm Puller T64P-3590-F to remove the adjuster from the spindle.

Install the replacement service adjuster.

To increase camber (more positive) point the arrow on the adjuster outboard.

To decrease camber (more negative) point the arrow on the adjuster inboard.

NOTE: Excessive spindle turning efforts, causing poor steering returnability, may result if the fastener tightening sequence described in the following steps is not followed exactly.

Remove the lower ball stud nut and apply Loctite® 242 or equivalent to the lower stud.

Hand-start the lower nut and partially tighten to 54 Nm (40 lb-ft).

Install the new upper nut and tighten to 115-135 Nm (85-100 lb-ft). Advance the nut to the next castellation and install a new cotter pin.

Finish tightening the lower nut to 128-149 Nm (95-110 lb-ft).

Install the wheel and lower the vehicle.

Check camber and set toe according to alignment procedure.

96camberadjustersleeve.gif

1 � Slots in Sleeve Engage Lugs to Prevent Rotation of Sleeve Which Would Result in Change of Caster Angle

2 � Split in Sleeve Allows Sleeve to Expand When Ball Stud Nut Is Tightened, Locking Sleeve and Ball Stud in Location

3 � Ball Stud (Part of 3049)

4 � Ball Stud Axis

5 � Support Collar with Integral Indexing Lugs Welded to Axle Arm Stamping

6 � Step in Sleeve for Engagement of 2-Jaw Puller When Necessary for Removal

7 � Axle Stamping (Part of 3002)

8 � Angle at Which Sleeve Holds Ball Studs Determines Camber/Caster

9 � Sleeve and Support Collar Axis (Also the Ball Stud Axis When 0° Camber Sleeve Is Installed)

TOE:

The steering linkage has adjustments at the tie rod end (3A131). First, remove the horn pad and make sure the steering wheel is properly installed as described in Section 11-04. With steering wheel locked in place, set toe to correct specification.

Loosen the clamp bolts for the adjusting sleeve.

Rotate the sleeve until the correct toe alignment is obtained.

NOTE: Lubricate clamp fasteners prior to tightening.

With the clamps 4.76mm (3/16 inch) from the end of the sleeve on 4x4 models and centered between the adjusting sleeve lock ring protrusions, position the bolts as described below.

After setting toe, the two clamp bolts/nuts on each adjusting sleeve must be positioned within a limit of 45 degrees (plus/minus) as shown with the threaded end of the bolts on the left-hand sleeve pointing toward the front of the vehicle and the threaded end of the bolts on the right-hand sleeve facing rearward.

96tre.gif

After setting toe, the clamp bolt/nut on the left (drag link) adjusting sleeve must be positioned within a limit of 45 degrees (plus/minus) as shown with the threaded end of the bolt pointing forward.

Recheck the toe alignment to make sure no changes occurred as the clamp nuts were tightened.

Belts on tires misaligned.

REPLACE as required. REFER to Section 04-04.

Steering gear valve binding or out of balance.

CLEAN and REPLACE as necessary. REFER to Section 11-02B or Section 11-02D.

GO to Pinpoint Test C.

The F-150 4x4 and Bronco Independent Front Suspension (IFS) system is composed of a Dana 44 two-piece front driving axle assembly, two helical front coil springs (5310) and two radius arms.

The front driving axle consists of two independent axle arm assemblies.

One end of each axle arm assembly is anchored to the frame (5005).

The other end of each axle arm assembly is supported by the front coil spring and radius arm

96Suspension.gif

1 3B008 Steering Rod Link

2 800895 Nut

3 642569 Cotter Pin

4 380288 Steering Cap

5 801079 Bolt

6 3002 Axle

7 5019 Front Crossmember

8 620604 Nut

9 802073 Nut

10 802114 Bolt

11 802246 Bolt

12 802073 Nut

13 620604 Nut

14 801079 Bolt

15 3K090 Front Axle Bearing Bracket

16 802210 Bolt

17 3B183 Radius Arm Bracket

18 800937 Nut

19 34922 Nut

20 379572 Washer

21 2B463 Shield (RH Only)

22 3A184 Outer Insulator

23 3B244 Spacer

24 3B203 Front Insulator

25 3B186 Front Retainer

26 3405 Radius Arm

27 N805348 Nut and Washer

28 18198 Insulator

29 5B315 Spring and Shock Bracket

30 18124 Front Shock Absorber

31 620468 Nut

32 620469 Nut

33 18126 Shock Bracket

34 805033 Bolt

35 3405 Radius Arm

36 605921 Bolt

37 58740 Bolt

38 3B446 Front Axle Radius Arm Bracket

39 40954 Bolt (2 Req'd)

40 390678 Stud

41 5B316 Lower Spring Seat

42 5414 Front Spring Insulator

43 5A349 Retainer

44 388833 Nut

45 5310 Front Coil Spring

46 5A333 Upper Retainer

47 40949 Bolt

A � Tighten to 71-100 Nm

(52-74 Lb-Ft)

B � Tighten to 18-24 Nm

(13-18 Lb-Ft)

C � Tighten to 34-46 Nm

(26-33 Lb-Ft)

D � Tighten to 60-81 Nm

(49-59 Lb-Ft)

E � Tighten to 434-461 Nm

(320-340 Lb-Ft)

F � Tighten to 26-34 Nm

(19-25 Lb-Ft)

G � Tighten to 326-352 Nm

(240-260 Lb-Ft)

H � Tighten to 94-134 Nm (70-100 Lb-Ft)

J � Tighten to 34-46 Nm

(26-33 Lb-Ft)

K � Tighten to 113-153 Nm (84-112 Lb-Ft)

L � Tighten to 213-287 Nm

(157-211 Lb-Ft)

M � Tighten to 104-148 Nm (77-109 Lb-Ft)

See more Steering & Suspension Componet LINKs in my site

 
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seykbronc

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Sounds like I need to take it to the shop to avoid committing a stupid mistake....thanks fellas

 

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