Need help bad...

[737jet]

Hi guys, I got a bit of a situation here.....

My 98 EXP has a tad wheel alignment problem. It's nothing major, it just pulls a bit to the right. You just have to hold the wheel to the left a touch as you drive.

It's fine in the city. When I get out onto the freeway, things change a bit. Regardless of RPM or bumps or wich way I'm steering, my wheel overcompensates like crazy.

I'm pulling the wheel a touch Left as I already explained. Next thing I know the wheel drops left hard and I'm headed towards the median.

Funny thing is it's only apparent on the freeway. I took it to a front end shop and they said all your joints are okay. They said they doubt it's the steering box either.

They pointed out some slop in the steering column though. Not the universal joints but in the rubber boot where it can shrink and grow. The rubber thingy in the firewall that the steering shaft goes through is showing a bit of wear too. If I turn the wheel side to side at a stop you can hear and feel a minor click in the wheel and under the hood you can feel it in the rubber boot.

I've driven vehicles with far worst play in the steering shaft and I never had the thing overcompensate like that on me ever. Do you guys think that's what it is?

I personally don't think it is so I'm going to ford tommorow morning to see what they can find.

 

[toocivil]

I had a similar situation on my 99 f-150. I had just replaced the tires at a local tire shop. I had them check the alignment and adjust it if needed. They re-aligned the vehicle and in the process threw the entire thing out of alignment. Which they would have noticed if they had taken it for a test drive when they were done. Then they tried to get me to purchase some shim kit to correct the problem, because they could not fix their own screw up. When shops other than a ford dealer do your alignment they usually only adjust the toe in on the alignment. They forget to do the caster and camber. When I noticed it, I took it to my local ford dealer and they corrected the problem. I then went back to the tire shop and got my money back for the screwed up alignment. In short there are some things the chain shops do ok like LOF and change tires. Other than that I would have the Ford dealer in you area fix it. They know your vehicle a lot better.

 

[737jet]

I just got back from Ford right now. No offence but these guys suck. I scheduled an appointment for 10 am. At 12 noon I asked them why they haven't so much as looked at it yet? So they send a guy to come on a test drive with me. He wasn't a front end guy so after the test drive he says yeah, there is something wrong.

How dumb could he be? Why the hell else did I come there? The point is to figure out WHAT is wrong. As he had no clue what was wrong he said one of the front end guys need to see it.

Fine, so the deal was that I'd leave it with them so they could look at it and that I would take a taxi home. After waiting an hour for a cab to show up, I called it quits.

Here I am at home and all the FORD dealerships are booked for the day. Now I get to drive this death trap to work for the next 3 days while trying not to kill myself and people around me, all because some losers at FORD have better things to do then help out the average joe shmo.

Oh yeah, Happy Newyear everyone!

 

[737jet]

Man this sucks. An hour goes by and my post is filled with ***** links. By the way, I had a different Ford dealership look at it. The front right ball joint is worn (slightly) and the powersteering box gear is worn.

The part brand new is $370 from a local parts store. Ford wants just over $700. The funniest thing is the greedy wrecking guys. They want $300 for a used one. Apparently an F-150 box won't work in an EXP. They seem to think this makes the part "rare".

I tried to explain to them that I could get a new one for $70 more with a warranty. Guess what they said.

Well, ours is a Ford part. What the hell? Yeah it is but it's worn too. Oh crap mine's a Ford part and it failed you tool! Hey, when my front driveshaft went do you think I was stupid enough to put Ford universal joints back in?

They cost more and that garbage didn't even come with grease nipples in the first place? At least the aftermarket ones do.

I tell you these wreckers really do think the trash that they pull is worth it's weight in gold. Dumb *****. I know I'm not supposed to swear on this site but some **********'s been putting **** on my post wich is just as bad so hey, What the **** right?

I hope this helps anyone else who has a mysterious wandering in there front end. The first thing I'm going to change is the Ball joint. After Wheel alignment, if it's still bad I'll let you guys know and change out the box.

Thanks for all your help guy's!

Except the **** **** freaks....

 

[toocivil]

First 737 let me say I'm sorry to hear the Ford dealer in your area is not very good to say the least. The one near me is pretty good. With regard to Ford parts sometimes they are more just because they say Ford on them. However don't think that the aftermarket parts are worse, most times there just as good as the ford parts at about half the cost. I currently have an 03 exp. Last year I had to replace the altenator when the vehicle had about 30k on it. From what I understand from some other people on this web site the thing crapped out on me because the vehicle had been stored in a garage for a few months and wasn't driven much in the last few months before I bought it. Anyway, I went with an autolite altenator and put it in myself because it was about 30 dollars less than a ford altenator and it came with a lifetime warranty. So shop around if you want, but watch the quality.

Hope things improve for you and that your exp is back running good soon.