bradley455
home
Full Member
Joined: 05/10/2010
View Profile
 Offline
|
we been towing with a 2000 1500 4 wd suburban for a couple of years and not really had any problems with it, i picked up a 1993 f 250 extend cab full box for a song and a dance( 2wd) (idi 7.3 non turbo) ( i know not much power)( 5 speed manual) it had a fifth wheel hitch in it at one time , i thought it would be nice to give the suburban a break once in awhile...the problem that we are having is when a semi that comes up along side of us ,the camper (a 33 foot springdale 7200 pounds or so )and truck seem to want to get pulled into the semi's lane like theres a vacuum of air , the suburban did not seem to have this issue? any suggestions would be nice. i have a wd hitch and adjusted it for that truck , maybe i will just go back to the suburban ? one more question can you tighten up the steering box on this old ford truck , the steering wheel has about 2 or 3 inches of play in it.( this is with or without the trailer being on)
|
OrangeTJ
El Dorado Hills
Full Member
Joined: 03/01/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I'm just guessing here, but the play in the steering could very well have an affect on the instability you're noticing. Also, do you have sway control on your hitch? Finally, did you adjust the hitch settings when you mounted up to the new truck?
|
SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/14/2003
View Profile
|
Before doing anything to the steering gear box, first verify that your tie rod ends and ball joints are tight.
If your steering box is indeed that loose, it needs to be rebuilt or replaced.
You can tighten up the gear mesh adjustment screw and it will be tight for a while, but it will further wear itself out after tightening it. Best solution is replace it or have it rebuilt.
If you do tighten it, do not over tighten it, as that will make it grind itself to a quick death.
05E350 6.0PSD
97F350DRW 7.3PSD 4x4 4.10 11' flatbed
98Ranger
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
Callen Camper
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
B&W TurnoverBall, Curt Magnum V
HD Springs Bilsteins,
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & LockRite rear
|
tbiker99
Eagle River, AK
Full Member
Joined: 09/27/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Also look at replacing tie rod ends, ball joints Shocks and other moving parts in the suspension. Those parts combined could cause a lot of play. And a 18 year old truck, is likely to have wore out parts. I've already had to replace all of the above parts in my 2003 F150 at 120K miles.
2006 Chevy 2500HD Duramax,4x4 Crew Cab, short bed
2011 Rockwood 8313SS
|
SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/14/2003
View Profile
|
I forgot to mention inspecting the axle pivot bushings and radius arm bushings for the Twin I Beam 2wd suspension.
|
|
|
Turtle n Peeps
California
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2008
View Profile
 Online
|
SoCalDesertRider wrote:Before doing anything to the steering gear box, first verify that your tie rod ends and ball joints are tight.
If your steering box is indeed that loose, it needs to be rebuilt or replaced.
You can tighten up the gear mesh adjustment screw and it will be tight for a while, but it will further wear itself out after tightening it. Best solution is replace it or have it rebuilt.
If you do tighten it, do not over tighten it, as that will make it grind itself to a quick death.
My guess is that is how he got it for a song. I bet that front end needs everything. 
Front ends can cost big bucks to rebuild. There is a lot of things that go up and down, back and forth, and round and round and when they wear out they cost $$$$$ to fix.
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~
"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"
|
bradley455
home
Full Member
Joined: 05/10/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
thanks guys , i will have the front end looked at here... will a sway bar prevent this swaying while a semi comes along side of you on a double lane highway?
|
imadtchmn
Macon, GA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/27/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I agree with others here. Front end repair first. Getting "sucked in" is also more noticable when the TT is higher in the front then the back. Make sure its either level or riding an inch lower in the front. This made a huge difference when we had a TT. After the adjustment, we didn't feel any sway and never had a sway bar added to the WD hitch.
Best solution I had? Bought a 5th wheel 
1998 Chevy 6.5 TB Dually
2001 Dutchmen ES33
DH George
DW Sherry
Dog Trinket
Rv with Style
|
mkirsch
Rochester, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2004
View Profile
|
bradley455 wrote:will a sway bar prevent this swaying while a semi comes along side of you on a double lane highway?
Nope.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
|
rjstractor
Auburn, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
I would consider finding a shop that is well experienced with the older Ford front ends. My dad had an '86 2wd that was very finicky. It drove fine until he replaced the tires with a different brand. He eventually found that it drove best with the traction tires on the front and the highway tires on the rear! It took a trip to a shop with lots of twin I beam experience to get it to drive good again.
1998 Gulfstream Ultra B/H Ford E450 V10
2005 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 w/ Maxidump insert
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
1998 Saturn SL2 toad
2012 VW Jetta S
|
|
|
