F 350 4WD Pickup V8-351 5.8L VIN H EFI (1997)
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Tire pressure should be checked and adjusted, if necessary.
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On vehicles with automatic locking hubs, it is necessary to drive 6m (20 ft) forward and then 3m (10 ft) backward to unlock the hubs.
NOTE:
THIS TSB ARTICLE SHOULD BE READ COMPLETELY BEFORE PERFORMING DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS.
Diagnostic Procedure # 1 - Steering Gear Meshload
MESHLOAD CHECK/RESET
If the steering system exhibits on-center free play, or in general displays a vague on-center feel or lash, this may contribute to reduced straight-line
stability and a customer perception of drift or pull. In these cases, a fall-off in factory-set levels of steering gear meshload may be the cause. Setting
meshload too high may result in customer dissatisfaction with higher efforts and overall steering feel.
ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE
1.
Adjust the steering wheel to be at center position.
2.
Disconnect the battery.
3.
Raise the vehicle and disconnect the steering gear sector shaft arm from the steering gear sector shaft using Pitman Arm Puller T64P-3590-F.
4.
Lower the vehicle.
5.
Remove the steering wheel hub cover and air bag as required.
NOTE:
REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL, SECTION 11-04, FOR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE AIR BAG.
6.
Attach a pound-inch torque wrench to the steering wheel nut.
NOTE:
USE OF A DIAL-TYPE POUND-INCH TORQUE WRENCH IS RECOMMENDED. DO NOT USE A N.m (LB-FT) OR CLICKER-TYPE
TORQUE WRENCH.
a.
Determine the torque required to rotate the steering gear sector shaft back and forth across the center position (+/- 90°).
b.
Loosen the adjuster locknut and turn the sector shaft adjuster screw until the total on-center torque reading is 1.7-1.9 N.m (15-17 lb-in).
c.
Hold the sector shaft screw in place and tighten the locknut to 46-61 N.m (34-45 lb-ft).
7.
Recheck the steering gear on-center torque readings and reinstall the steering wheel hub cover and air bag as required.
NOTE:
REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL, SECTION 11-04, FOR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE AIR BAG.
8.
Raise the vehicle and reconnect the steering gear sector shaft arm.
9.
Lower the vehicle and reconnect the battery.
NOTE:
WHEN THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED, SOME ABNORMAL DRIVE SYMPTOMS MAY OCCUR
WHILE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) RELEARNS ITS ADAPTIVE STRATEGY. THE VEHICLE MAY NEED TO BE
DRIVEN 16 KM (10 MILES) OR MORE TO RELEARN THE STRATEGY.
10.
Perform road test, referring to Figure 1 for further procedures.
Diagnostic Procedure # 2 - Tires
1.
Spin the front tires to be sure the front hubs are unlocked.
2.
Set tire pressures to values listed on the certification label.
3.
Swap the front tires from side-to-side and road test. If the condition is not corrected, proceed with Step 4.
4.
Swap the rear tires from side-to-side and road test. If the condition is not corrected, continue with the next Procedure.
