69 F-100 Steering Issue

Redhorse1947

Redhorse1947

Member
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 ?????????
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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/showthread.php?t=472870
 
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.
 
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