steering

[Okie Hick]

The steering on the Ranger seems loosey-goosey...has some play while the truck is moving. The wheels respond to the steering wheel when still...no play. All the linkages are tight.

Is this normal for a 4x4? It's been like this since I bought it over 3 years ago. Just wondering...my wife gripes about it. I'm used to it and don't really notice it.

[metalmacguyver]

my 2wd was like that. turned out to be the ball joints. i couldnt figure it out because i never had someone there to help me. i replaced them and it improved alot. it was even better after i replaced the cooked wheel bearings too.

[Okie Hick]

I took the truck in for new tires last month and was sold on new FW bearings at that time...was told they were disintegrating. My tire guy is one of those who will look for excuses to charge more...gotta watch the guy! I'm positive that he would, in the blinking of an eye, tell me that I need new ball joints. So I'm not too concerned about that.

I'm inclined to think that the "dead" spot in the steering is in the gear box....probably not worth the expense to fix it at this point in time.

Thanks for the reply...