The Ford Barn

Redhorse1947 · 11-20-2013, 08:52 PM

I have a 1969 F-100, V8, with manual steering. It was in mothballs for a few years and now I drive it daily. My problem is that when I drive straight ahead at 60 mph I have to steer slightly to the RIGHT to maintain my course. I thought that if all steering components were correct you should steer slightly to the LEFT to maintain a straight ahead direction. The pickup has had radials for the last 25 years and I never recall having to steer RIGHT to drive a straight course.

Yea, it has been several years since I drove the PU so maybe I forgot what manual steering is like. I have over 1,500 miles since I began to drive the PU again and no irregular tire wear can be seen.

My problem is: Me, and my memory or ?????????

craig · 11-20-2013, 09:30 PM

How much slack is in the steering gear box? Any slop in the tie rod ends? You might try swapping the front tires side to side

ford3 · 11-21-2013, 01:34 AM

alignment time

Rowdy · 11-21-2013, 01:39 AM

My thoughts also. Rod

Ole Don · 11-21-2013, 10:14 AM

Tire pressure? Wheel bearings (rear wheel bearings too!) If the radials have been sitting 25 years, maybe you shouldn't be driving 60 on them.

darrell · 11-21-2013, 11:22 AM

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theres nothing to set on these trucks except the toe.before radials were common it was a job to keep these trucks on your side of the road radials cured most of them.

cmbrucew · 11-21-2013, 03:19 PM

Red Horse
Earlier radial tires, pressure was critical.
2 or3 lbs difference on one tire could have you all over the road.
Good luck

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time

raceron1120 · 11-21-2013, 03:49 PM

For alignment, the I beams may require bending, as was done with them back in the days when the Twin I Beam suspension was standard on 4x2 Ford pickups. I think they were all done similarly on '65 up to around '79. I worked in small Ford garages for a few of those years, the service dept would sublet them out to a frame & body shop for alignment when required. There was some discussion about it on the HAMB awhile back. Link: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=472870

darrell · 11-21-2013, 09:26 PM

ford solved this problem in 82 when they went to ball joints which I think were offset.

Ole Don · 11-22-2013, 09:53 AM

The newer ones had an offset bushing to mount the ball joint in. Caster/camber bushing, color coded from the factory for tire size and options for each truck combination. I have seen unintentional mistakes made on the line.

11-20-2013, 08:52 PM	#1
Redhorse1947 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: near Ft Worth, Texas Posts: 63	69 F-100 Steering Issue I have a 1969 F-100, V8, with manual steering. It was in mothballs for a few years and now I drive it daily. My problem is that when I drive straight ahead at 60 mph I have to steer slightly to the RIGHT to maintain my course. I thought that if all steering components were correct you should steer slightly to the LEFT to maintain a straight ahead direction. The pickup has had radials for the last 25 years and I never recall having to steer RIGHT to drive a straight course. Yea, it has been several years since I drove the PU so maybe I forgot what manual steering is like. I have over 1,500 miles since I began to drive the PU again and no irregular tire wear can be seen. My problem is: Me, and my memory or ?????????

11-20-2013, 09:30 PM	#2
craig Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: The Inland Empire of Washington State Posts: 368	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue How much slack is in the steering gear box? Any slop in the tie rod ends? You might try swapping the front tires side to side

11-21-2013, 01:34 AM	#3
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue alignment time

11-21-2013, 01:39 AM	#4
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue My thoughts also. Rod __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

11-21-2013, 10:14 AM	#5
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue Tire pressure? Wheel bearings (rear wheel bearings too!) If the radials have been sitting 25 years, maybe you shouldn't be driving 60 on them.

11-21-2013, 11:22 AM	#6
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) theres nothing to set on these trucks except the toe.before radials were common it was a job to keep these trucks on your side of the road radials cured most of them.

11-21-2013, 03:19 PM	#7
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,064	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue Red Horse Earlier radial tires, pressure was critical. 2 or3 lbs difference on one tire could have you all over the road. Good luck Bruce Works good Lasts long time

11-21-2013, 03:49 PM	#8
raceron1120 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ellsworth Michigan Posts: 1,807	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue For alignment, the I beams may require bending, as was done with them back in the days when the Twin I Beam suspension was standard on 4x2 Ford pickups. I think they were all done similarly on '65 up to around '79. I worked in small Ford garages for a few of those years, the service dept would sublet them out to a frame & body shop for alignment when required. There was some discussion about it on the HAMB awhile back. Link: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=472870

11-21-2013, 09:26 PM	#9
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue ford solved this problem in 82 when they went to ball joints which I think were offset.

11-22-2013, 09:53 AM	#10
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: 69 F-100 Steering Issue The newer ones had an offset bushing to mount the ball joint in. Caster/camber bushing, color coded from the factory for tire size and options for each truck combination. I have seen unintentional mistakes made on the line.