Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 6:03 pm
I was just reminded that I should post the followup to what happened here.
So, my initial thought when I had trouble steering after going to the alignment shop then on my trip was that the alignment was off.
When I went back to the shop I brought the alignment specs, thinking that it was possibly toed out causing the steering issues. They hooked it up to the alignment machine and i was told that the van was toed in. The alignment machine had one number highlighted, and the tech told me that was showing it was even toed-in a little extra... They then told me that I needed a new steering box. Luckily I asked for a printout of the alignment.
I ordered a steering box online, and when I got it took it to another shop to get it installed, since I had gotten a bad feeling about the alignment shop. There I was told that the steering was tight so they thought the gear box was fine, and that I really should take it to an off-road place that really knows suspensions to have it checked out.
Luckily there's a place "Action Van Suspensions" in San Clemente (about 20 minutes from me) that specializes in converting Ford Vans for off-road use. They told me they could check it out. The first thing the owner there did was ask to see the alignment printout. And he pointed out that A) the toe-in/toe-out was highlighted as not being in spec, and B) IT WAS out-of-spec TOED-OUT!
I had planned to have him replace the steering box, but the only issue was the alignment, so they fixed that, replaced a torn rubber boot (I forget the name right now), and repacked the bearings. I had also installed heavy-duty mudders that they recommended I replace with all terrain tires for a smoother ride, and told me to send the steering box back.
So that took care of it. The real issue was just the alignment(!). Luckily I could return the steering box and just had to pay shipping both ways.
So, my initial thought when I had trouble steering after going to the alignment shop then on my trip was that the alignment was off.
When I went back to the shop I brought the alignment specs, thinking that it was possibly toed out causing the steering issues. They hooked it up to the alignment machine and i was told that the van was toed in. The alignment machine had one number highlighted, and the tech told me that was showing it was even toed-in a little extra... They then told me that I needed a new steering box. Luckily I asked for a printout of the alignment.
I ordered a steering box online, and when I got it took it to another shop to get it installed, since I had gotten a bad feeling about the alignment shop. There I was told that the steering was tight so they thought the gear box was fine, and that I really should take it to an off-road place that really knows suspensions to have it checked out.
Luckily there's a place "Action Van Suspensions" in San Clemente (about 20 minutes from me) that specializes in converting Ford Vans for off-road use. They told me they could check it out. The first thing the owner there did was ask to see the alignment printout. And he pointed out that A) the toe-in/toe-out was highlighted as not being in spec, and B) IT WAS out-of-spec TOED-OUT!
I had planned to have him replace the steering box, but the only issue was the alignment, so they fixed that, replaced a torn rubber boot (I forget the name right now), and repacked the bearings. I had also installed heavy-duty mudders that they recommended I replace with all terrain tires for a smoother ride, and told me to send the steering box back.
So that took care of it. The real issue was just the alignment(!). Luckily I could return the steering box and just had to pay shipping both ways.
