Whats happening fellas? I'm sure Im gonna get rave reviews for this thread, but I need some help with one of our Ford work trucks.

It's a '01 F250 with the Powerstroke in it. We are working out of town, and I was following the other guys behind the Furd, and noticed that it was riding down the road.....crooked. Looks like the azzend is trying to walk around it, on the right side. I had to drive it today, and that whole truck is f*cked up, as far as alignment and whatnot. But this particular problem seems a little more severe. When I change lanes to the left, all is good. When I go back to the right, the azzend acts like it wants to fishtail a little, and it has to be "taken under control", so to speak.

Any ideas on what could be causing this? I've climbed under there and looked for any common things: broken/missing leafs, broken shockmounts, etc. I made sure all the lugs were tight (for the hell of it), PSI in the tires is @ 65, max is 80, so that shouldn't be the issue. I know ya'll guys are the shiznits, so I thought I'd throw it on here, even though it is a Furd.

BTW, to make it somewhat relevant to this site, the truck does have some nice 285/75/16 Terra Graps!

Thanks for reading guys, and anything ya'll can come up with is greatly appreciated!

 

the problem is circled on the hood . look their.

 

On older trucks especially higher mileage ones the U bolts on the axles stretch and the axle can shift forwards or backwards ever so slightly on the leaf spring. This small deflection will give quite a pronounced rear steering effect to the *** end so yeah I would start there. Might not kill to have the front end freshened up as those old SFA fords really like to eat replaceable joints like ball joints and tie rod ends.

 

Lol RH, Welcome back brotha!! I missed that oh so noticeable smartassery!! BTW, wheels look killer on there, don't think I remember you having'em last time I "seen" ya.

Good info Hemiguy. This truck has been used and abused. I just started with the company last week, but Ive known the owner, and the truck, for 5-6 years. Its hasn't exactly been living the glory life, lol. It constantly tows equipment trailers with skidsteers, excavaters and whatnot. The road to the shop is littered with potholes, so Im sure its been rattled to hell on those, hence the alignment issues. It might be on its last leg @ 179k on the clock, but I'd say after some extensive maintaince techniques, it should last a good long time (even if it is an oval-truck).

 

Oh hell just get a good bunch of preventative maintenance on her (all fluids t case, diffs, engine oil, trans and rad) then some of the alignment stuff and it will be new again. Sorta.

 

either it's what hemiguy is saying or I've also seen this symptom in a truck that has a frame that's bent. If your frame is bent and one side is more forward/backward than the other it will ride kinda sideways. A body shop with the right tools if this is the case will be the only way to tell if the frame is still true.

 

one of our inmate transport vans at my department is like that. the *** end steps out to one side as you go down the road. its a blue circled turd as well.

 

Sounds 'bout right. My guess is it's been wrecked.

 

How about a leaf spring mount (front, @ the frame) has an oval shaped hole now? How about a broken leaf spring center pin?

Frame shift (a drag racing term) is feasible but unlikely felt or seen on a truck with stock (i.e. lots of wiggle room-sloppy) suspension.

When the truck is stopped have someone put in drive/reverse back and forth and go to the back and see if you can see the rear end moving.

 

sounds feasible that the frame isnt true