Greetings - I have a 2000 E-250 Quigley 4x4 conversion van that has the standard Ford loose steering/drifting problem. My concern is that when I am driving over any type of icy or snowy roads, especially when it is rutted, or if there is a mixture of pavement/ice, my van pulls and drifts significantly both directions.....to the point of it being unsafe as I am being pulled almost into the oncoming lane. This occurs in both 4 and 2 wheel drive. I replaced the tires, but to no avail. The problem seems to have gotten worse over time. Suggestions/ideas? Thanks in advance.
van drifting
- Thread starter sikday1
- Start date
matt s
Explorer
I can't speak to the Ford issue itself. But the first thing I would do is lift the front end and then try and rock the tires. If there is any play you have ball joint/bearing issues. The other thing to check is tie rod ends, any slop there and you will feel it.
If all that checks out I would look at the steering box and pitman arm assembly.
In my case it was all of the above and an expensive repair, but now it's a one finger driver. Previous to the repair my blazer drove just like you describe.
If all that checks out I would look at the steering box and pitman arm assembly.
In my case it was all of the above and an expensive repair, but now it's a one finger driver. Previous to the repair my blazer drove just like you describe.
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
When I saw this headline, I thought for sure it was going to be a link to a video like this:
http://jalopnik.com/377824/neither-fast-nor-furious-previa-drifting
/We now return you to your regularly scheduled technical thread.
http://jalopnik.com/377824/neither-fast-nor-furious-previa-drifting
/We now return you to your regularly scheduled technical thread.
Adventurerider
Adventurer
Sikday,
Matt is correct, check out the front end, (I did with mine when I got it) but I will also confirm your problems, I have a Quigley system on a 2006 E350. My van does the same thing, but hasn't gotten worse in snow or on ice. We've had ours now for two winters here in Utah with no issues. But I have to agree, its a little unnerving at first, you need to learn how to drive them correctly. So much so that on our way home from picking up our "new" van my wife was driving & I fallowing behind her, I ended up calling her to ask why she was all over the road, her reply was "the van is darting from side to side" "I'm doing my best but there has to be something wrong with the alinement or tires" so when we got home I check everything out. Then I changed the tires "same as you" then took it to several shops having them check it out, then even called Quigley (NO HELP), everyone said pretty much the same thing, everything is in good working order. So that was about a year ago and we have put on another 14000 miles since then an all I can tell you as we've learned to drive it the way it is... I've also learned that with the Quigley system, the rake will need to be changed and can be with some work which in theory should "calm" the steering down, this is compared to other systems that are out there. But I'm still working on that myself..
Let me know if you find something different out.. Best of luck
Matt is correct, check out the front end, (I did with mine when I got it) but I will also confirm your problems, I have a Quigley system on a 2006 E350. My van does the same thing, but hasn't gotten worse in snow or on ice. We've had ours now for two winters here in Utah with no issues. But I have to agree, its a little unnerving at first, you need to learn how to drive them correctly. So much so that on our way home from picking up our "new" van my wife was driving & I fallowing behind her, I ended up calling her to ask why she was all over the road, her reply was "the van is darting from side to side" "I'm doing my best but there has to be something wrong with the alinement or tires" so when we got home I check everything out. Then I changed the tires "same as you" then took it to several shops having them check it out, then even called Quigley (NO HELP), everyone said pretty much the same thing, everything is in good working order. So that was about a year ago and we have put on another 14000 miles since then an all I can tell you as we've learned to drive it the way it is... I've also learned that with the Quigley system, the rake will need to be changed and can be with some work which in theory should "calm" the steering down, this is compared to other systems that are out there. But I'm still working on that myself..
Let me know if you find something different out.. Best of luck
Adventurerider
Adventurer
Herbie, NICE!!!
Regcabguy
Oil eater.
The Sportsmobiles locally here universally seem to be fitted with 315-70-16 or 17 BFG KO's. These tires have a load rating of something like 3305# ea,which is adequate,but what scares me is 50psi max rating and the "D" designation. I believe the manufacturer provided "E" rated tires. I'd love to score a 7.3 Powerstroke SM,but would run E rated tires on them for a stiffer sidewall and far greater flat resistance. I don't know what the OP is running but this might be a factor. Solid axle setups inherently seem to wander more than IFS setups also.
Thanks for the input. Yea, I have had it for over 2 years now and have also "learned" how to drive it, although my wife hates it when I need a break on a long road trip. I did upgrade to "E" rated tires to see if that may help...to no avail. The steerign wheel does not shake at all when driving....just drifts. Tomorrow I will lift the front end and check things out. Planning on a road trip to Snowbird, UT this weekend so need to get on it!
RocKrawler
Supporting Sponsor
Photog
Explorer
Does your van have control arms, and a track bar/s, with coil springs?
If so, your control arm and track-bar bushings can be replaced with a stiffer material (urethane), to maintain better control of axle location, providing a more consistent drive/steering response.
The control arm bushings can be replaced with large Heim joints, but this tends to transmit drivetrain noise into the cabin.
If so, your control arm and track-bar bushings can be replaced with a stiffer material (urethane), to maintain better control of axle location, providing a more consistent drive/steering response.
The control arm bushings can be replaced with large Heim joints, but this tends to transmit drivetrain noise into the cabin.
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shawn_nj
Observer
What did you get done to it?
Swapping out the stock shocks to Bilsteins pretty much eliminated my bump steer, but there is definetly still room for improvment.
Bump steer has nothing to do with your shocks or the presence of a steering stabilizer. It is more an effect of bad design and poor steering geometry. A good alignment can help, but if you have significant bump steer issues, the only resolution involves some engineering and re-fabrication. Steering stabilizers (in my opinion) are a band aid for more serious issues.
The comments about worn out bushings are pertinent...replacing all of your front end bushings and making sure all tie rods and ball joints are in good order would be worth every second of your time and money.
The front end on my van fall under the "Piss Poor design from the start" category, and even though everything is very tight under there, I still get drifting and poor bump steering characteristics. I intend to completely rip out the front end before long and replace it with a more modern (and well engineered) system.
Best of luck.
The comments about worn out bushings are pertinent...replacing all of your front end bushings and making sure all tie rods and ball joints are in good order would be worth every second of your time and money.
The front end on my van fall under the "Piss Poor design from the start" category, and even though everything is very tight under there, I still get drifting and poor bump steering characteristics. I intend to completely rip out the front end before long and replace it with a more modern (and well engineered) system.
Best of luck.
