Fix Steering Play on Old Ford Trucks (Cheap and Easy!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- If your old Ford truck still has play in the steering after checking and replacing tie rods, ball joints, and the steering box, your steering shaft may be the culprit. Using cheap feeler gauges, the joint in the steering shaft can be shimmed to eliminate most of the play.
Another point many forget. The steering box wears over time also. Theres an adjustment bolt on top to tighten that up. So if youve already done everything else and theres still slop, just adjust tighten up the steering box with that adjustment bolt and it should solve the issue.
Most of those steering boxes have never been adjusted since new.
I did the same thing with a soda can, I didnt bother to measure it. totally took slop out. You earned a like for posting, something I never can do. But Lord man clean up that wiring.
This Video Was the Answer!!!
My Friend (Vietnam Vet) Had this Problem! He's Super Happy at these Results 🥳👍🙏
Great vid, keep these old fords runnin!
I busted out laughing when I saw all those extensions lol great video
I think everyone's done that at some point in time...
Loss of torque
My longest extension is 3 ft long, but hey his worked, use what you got.
@@MrMygeeain’t stupid if it works
@@WalterMelonsI know that’s right
To anyone who is fighting an amount of play similar to that of the final product keep in mind there isn't much left mechanically. I'm sure some play is coming from the steering column u joint but you have to remember that your tires are made from rubber and the sidewalls will flex. A power steering gearbox also uses the power steering fluid to hydraulically take up slack and that's harder to do when not under pressure form the pump. Unless you run low profile tires and a super tight steering box (which isn't how you should set one up) you will never have zero play at that wheel in a key on engine off situation. What it's really important is that you don't have to fight to maintain control of your truck
Another solution is to squish the upper tube so that it grips the rod slightly. On the bench, a few whacks of a hammer or a squeeze in the vice. Cinches it right up with ZERO slop (slight interference fit). If you got big bear mitts, maybe vice grips would work without even taking anything off the truck. Not necessary to use shims or welds or anything that'll potentially bind up.
There's an easy-to-access single bolt under the steering wheel holding the upper tube to the u-joint.
Will the two steering shaft pieces still slide apart (or together) after doing this? Great idea either way.
That’s what I did on 2 ford vans back in the day. No disassembly....I just crushed the steering tube with a mini vice.
Slopped 'Em...
are you able to walk me through this like i’m 5? Are we talking about the upper tube under the dash or by the firewall??
Can you provide a picture or video indicating this place/part please to crush steering tube? I'm not familiar. I want to understand what you are referring to.
Okay, I got myself a 1990 Ford Bronco and it has quite a bit of play. I will definitely try this. Thank you for a good and informative vedio.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
Cool idea and good video. I like listening to the old school telegraph guy sending messages somewhere in the garage.
THE EXTENTIONS🤣🤣
Yes, those steering shafts are pricey, the collapsible stering shaft is a safety feature. In the event of a wreck on the front end, it prevents the steering wheel from being shoved back into the driver position. I once bought a vehicle that someone had welded the shaft to fix the slop. I discovered the weld by accident when doing routine maintenance, I wasn't happy! Fortunately I was able to find a good replacement at a salvage yard.
Welding it? Thanks for the tip!
That's not the reason why slip yokes were incorporated into steering shafts. Heavy trucks use them in drive lines, PTO shafts, and steering shafts, because they prevent excessive wear and tear on drive line components, and pumps and PTO gears. On steering they prevent wear on components by absorbing variations in the steering shaft length due to movement between suspension and frame mounted gear box, and movement between cab and chassis. With slip yokes universal joints last much longer than they would if there was no slip in the shaft, as they are the weakest link to absorb the shock of a solid shaft.
Great fix. 100% did the trick for me!
Thanks for this video! I have not tried this yet but will definitely line this up for next weekends project. Hopefully this will fix the slop in my 1996 Bronco!
im pretty sure its all bad in my 89 ranger, but im definitely going to try this for a start. waiting on a rebuilt steering gear box but there is play in the shaft as well
I drilled a hole through both shafts, put a 7/16 bolt through it, tightened that sucker with a 1/2 inch impact, squished it together pretty nice. Could also tack weld it.
@Farmtractor you actually don't want to do that because if you get in a bad enough front end collision you will get impaled by the steering wheel. It's a slip shaft for a reason
Not bad, my 97 f250hd has crazy play. Prob needs ball joints tie rods gear box adjustment and steering shaft 😂
I seen another video were a guy put window adhesive on the shaft . That seems like a better solution because it's not going to move at all and with it being rubber it will absorb impact from bumps in the road. I got a 94 flarside f150, on the outside it is such a nice truck but it's old and I traded a 2012 Nissan versa that drove like a new car so it's very irritating to have all that play in the steering wheel .my dad always had old trucks so I'm used to it but this truck is scary fast with a 5.0 and when it kicks out from underneath you that is a scary feeling with all that play I have in the steering wheel lol.
It usually gets that bad on 4-wheel drives and it's just a symptom of what causes the problem.
The Kingpin that holds the independent front suspension on Ford four-wheel drives of that error wears out which causes excessive stress and where on the steering box and linkage in everything else.
Without fixing the problem everything else will just loosen up again within a couple months.
Do you have to replace the entire steering box?
Theirs a flat head screw in the same spot where your bolts at. Tighten that up a quarter of a turn and it should fix your steering wheel play
oooo, will look for this too!
Great tip! Im gonna do this on my 93, you really need to clean up your wiring hahaha XD
Thanks I'm probably gonna have to do this by next week. Might just buy the whole column. 287 thousand miles haha and this breaks. Haha
Mine was like that , got a junkyard shaft..not much better. after a couple of years its probly worse. Looked at it today , will be taking it off very soon.
Try the squeeze method (see other comment).
Thank you. 2001 ford f250 4×4
I feel like there could be a more professional way to shim this out but great video. I swapped ball joints, drag link, and tie rods a couple months ago and that tightened up my steering a bit but not as much as I hoped. Short of replacing the steering shaft I wasn't sure what to do next but I might try something like this.
I've heard of guys using a vice and squeezing the end of the shaft to make it tighter.
just pack the shaft with grease and then tack weld it together so it can t twist inside itself
@@soulmedicinesupposed to be collapsible so you don’t eat the shaft in an accident. I guess only tacking it might let it break still but if that were the case maybe ford would’ve done that. I’d rather pinch it together to have it bind a little more.
@@TheRedneckStigwhat shaft are we talking about ? the one he shimmed or somewhere else ?
@@bobtailsthecatyes. The shaft I shimmed is purposefully collapsible so the steering wheel is not pushed into you during a front end collision. Watch car crash dummy testing for 1960s era cars and you'll see what I'm talking about
I wonder if that 10mm bolt is what just broke on my E150? I can turn the steering wheel all day but the wheels won't turn and there was a bolt laying on the ground underneath van.
Once I pulled the steering shaft off of the steering box connector I could not get the lower steering shaft out of the upper steering shaft. However, I reached down and twisted the steering box connector pin (that the lower steering column shaft connects to) and I can wiggle it pretty good with my bare fingers. With that kind of play do you think I need to replace the steering box? I adjusted the steering box adjustment screw a quarter turn and will run that for a few days and make another adjustment but what are your thoughts?
Slip joint! Sounds like a old school wrapper (rapper)! Nice video.
I just found your channel watching the subwoofer install. I really appreciate the video about that. Ive had two old ford trucks, my ranger I completely rebuilt the front end and I wish i saw this tip. Sadly I wrecked that truck like a thousand miles later. I have a 91 f 150 now with the 4.9, ill be sure to check out your videos. I wanna do a 351 t5 swap one day
Consider turboing the 4.9!
Here's part 1 of my full performance build: th-cam.com/video/koLTt2H_-Bw/w-d-xo.html
I am also tinkering with the stock engine to prepare for low boost. More videos coming soon.
Thanks for the post..Checking ours today..95 Bronco EB 5.8...180K
Jacks Mail did you end up giving this a go? I have an 85 B2 with the same issue. If this tightens up my steering I will be so excited.
@@alanl2568 Never give up ! This ol Bronco (95) is kinda a hobby horse. Have resolved many other issues but the steering box is the source of the wandering..
Is on my todo list...Hobby Horse is running great tho and fun to drive.
Have learned one new trick lately..some aftermarket plug wires have rather thin casings; so, experimented with some Temflex Rubber Splicing tape..Wrapped some plug wires with this rubber tape especially where the wires overlap or come very near hot metal surfaces..Also did this in the 05 buick lesabre..Wow..what a difference..Every bit helps. Hope u have a good virus - free day. Over and out..
Subscribed when I read your name 😂
It’s only temporary unless it works
Temporarily permanent
can't you just pack the shaft full of grease and then tack weld it ?
It's a collapsible shaft so if the vehicle is in a front end collision it doesn't push the steering wheel into your chest
A tack weld should still break in a crash and allow it to collapse the shaft I'd think ?
@@TheRedneckStig ⬆️
@@soulmedicine with how easy the repair shown in the video is I wouldn't risk it
It'll be nice if you youtubers would mention what year make and model you're working on in the thumbnail!
This fix is applicable for many years and models of Ford trucks and vans
Great video
We have the same 3 foot extension. 😂
I have an 87 F150 with the same problem. I noticed that ur truck did Not have a rubber boot on the U-Joint connecting the rod to steering column. My truck does n it's cracked n dry. Would that add to the "play" issue? Thanks Again. Mechanic wants to charge me $500 to replace the gearbox. I'll try the $5 fix first.
Try the squeeze method (see other comment).
thank you so much for posting
Nice and thanks.
Thanks for the video. I wanted to see the shaft removal process that your video does. Just curious if the rag joint was checked on this. Isn't it just on the lower end of the shaft? I've replaced the ball joints in my 96 Ranger but it still has lots of play - was told a worn rag joint could cause the same issue.
Mine's a 97 ranger and I paid big bucks for inner/outer tie rod replacement when I brought truck to shop for extreme steering drift. Not happy with failure of mechanic to check the rest of the steering components for an actual fix. The drift is scary; but still better than when I first got truck back from mechanic who 'claims' my axle bolt backed out after his repair which had truck feel like it was "hitting a rail" at every curve before throwing throw the truck in a straight trajectory - steering was completely over ridden. Mechanic made good to tighten axle bolt (never said if threads were compromised; and never apologized for the threat to my life!) Needless to say, won't go back there and why I am here still trying to resolve the original steering drift!
Nice, thx for the posting...
i have a03 f250 with a wandering issue an that part looks tight what would you look at next thanks
tie rod maybe. If it were mine I'd jack up the front end and start trying to see if you can wiggle any of the steering stuff around or if it moves with a pair of channellocks
Check tie rods ,ball joints ,radius arm bushings and i beam pivot bushings . Also turn steering gear adjustment srew one round ,to do so loosen lock nut snd turn adjustmet with screwdriver,
@@randallcarney1216 That will not remove any play. Tightening that set screw will just make the steering wheel harder to turn. Been there. It just applies a little tension.
If your front end is tight try getting it aligned and add more caster (6 degrees each side) to the alignment
Would this cause a truck to wander? My bronco has this wandering issue that really pisses me off
Nick David This could be your problem. Or it may be the pitman arm, idle arm or tie rod ends.
Doubt it. My Bronco drives straight but has the same play in steering. First thing I would check is ball joints and tie rods. Gwt the front end off the ground. Try and shake the wheel top-bottum and side-side. Top-bottom play is ball joints. Side-side is your tie rods. If it's tight, grease them while your down there. You just eliminated them as cause. Pitman arms, a windy day, and bumos can throw a Bronco all over the place. It's just a Bronco thing. Short wheel base, tall = top heavy and a lot of over steer. Bump steer can be caused by bushings going out. This vudep covers steering whell play, which will not make your truck wander. It'll just make it harder to correct.
Wandering is usually too much toe out
They make an aftermarket steering shaft for these trucks that is much beefier than oem!
Send a link
Borgeson heavy duty steering shaft. It also has no rubber rag joint . U joints at both ends. Also A company called redhead makes a precision rebuilt power steering gear box ,no play as long as your ball joints and tie rods are in good shape.
Genius!
good goin' !!!
Throw some jb weld inside that shaft and let it harden up. Zero play. Itll still collapse in a front end collision, and flex with cab mounts.
There is a steering wheel adjustment screw on the gearbox lol completely missed that screw
That takes the play out of the gearbox not the shaft
Nice
I'll try that, mine does the same . Ummm, what is that damn clicking noise?
Clicking is from the camera's video stabilization. Forgot to turn it off.
Upper baring is going out
Thought for sure that you were going to shim it with duct tape...
Not old enough....looking for help on a 1950. Good fix though.
KOOL NAT VAD
9 out of 10 people bitching about steering play have worn out steer tires.
If your steering wheel locks, it’s not an old Ford.
Lmao what plastic, all I got was a handful of metal shaving
I should open a channel on how to chop firewood and how to sweep the floor...
so I can be as famous as you,
Tucking ur wires would make ur truck look like a tweaker didn't do the work
Dude didn't fix shit.
I wouldn't exactly call it a fix
Well, it did fix it.
This guy didn’t fix anything just quite violently shaking the wheel after his no help fix