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Tracking / steering issues

My '11 Crown Vic has got 315k miles on it and I'm having some kind of tracking problem that I think is coming from the steering. If there's not much wind it drives straight down the road just fine up to about 60 mph. But if the winds up some, or if I take it up to 70, it's tracking characteristics start to get weird and unsettling. Rain seems to cause it to get worse as well. The feeling is not dissimilar to hydroplaning.

I got the wheels off the ground and pushed/pulled on all the tires..3 and 9 o'clock, 6 and 12. Back wheels were solid, and the fronts were ok when I did the 6 and 12, but on the 3 and 9 test the tires moved about 1/4". They didn't move easily say as if they were completely loose, but it didn't take all that much effort to get them rocking either. At each limit of movement there's a low grade thud that's coming from somewhere between the two wheels, pretty close to the center of the car I'd say. I don't know if the movement I'm seeing is normal, but the degree the steering seems to be unpredictable would seem to correlate to about the degree of movement I'm seeing with the 3 and 9 test.

Any ideas on where I go from here?
 
Sounds like a toe issue to me. I had that same issue on my 85 Foxbody and it turned out to be worn end links on the steering rack.

On a side note, I just picked up an 07 Vic with 72k miles and seeing that you have 315k miles makes me feel good about my purchase. [emoji106]
 

dustybumpers

don't play well w others
Best to lay under the front of the car, have someone shake the steering wheel back and forth and watch the steering links for wear.

I agree, It's probably outer tie rod ends.
 
Hi Bradley. My first post here but I can answer this. I have 2 Grand Marquis of the same generation. You need a new steering rack. They wear and get play after about 150k. Causes a loose feeling in a crosswind or road unevenness. Atlantic Steeriing products does a nice rebuild model.
 
Thanks for the good advice everybody and sorry it took so long to get back. Just got the car back from a front end inspection and they're saying my biggest problem is that both lower ball joints need to be replaced. I've done work similar to this before (using a pickle fork to separate joints and using a rented ball joint press) but they were advising it might be too tough of a job to do by myself in my driveway. I have a 1000lb impact wrench but only a really small compressor.

What do you guys think about attempting this job myself? Any advice?
 

BKW

Ford Parts Guru
2003 and later Crown Vics/Grand Marquis have rack and pinion steering.
 
Well I've decided I'm gonna give it a shot at doing this myself. 'Couple' questions...

- I know the lower BJ presses out, but does the top one press out as well?

- Does the sway bar link have to come off for better access?

- Anything else I should change out while I'm in there? So far I'm gonna be doing both upper and lower BJs and probably the tie rod ends.

- I've been told to use green loc tite. That would be used on the threads on the bottom of the BJs?

- Also been told to watch out for the spring shooting out at me but I believe I have a shock in spring, a strut? Is there any danger of this spring suddenly popping out after tension is eased? I don't plan on removing the spring at all.

- The Moog BJ I'm considering at Rockauto doesn't appear to have a grease boot. Am I looking at this picture wrong? Is that black part a boot that will expand when it's filled up?

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dustybumpers

don't play well w others
Do all 4 ball joints, and both outer tire rod ends


You will need a ball joint press
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Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
Considering the mileage I've decided to change out everything I can. Ordering 2 new top A-arm assemblies, 2 lower ball joints, 4 lower A-arm bushings, 2 new strut assemblies w/ springs, and 2 sway bar links. This only leaves the tie rod ends which there is a chance are not original. This car was part of a fleet that got regular maintenance so since I didn't see any movement at the outer tie rod ends when I was doing the 3 & 9 push test I'm thinking they may have already been replaced. I'll put in everything I've ordered and see how the steering is after that. Do you always do both inner and outer tie rod ends at the same time or is it common just to do the outer, or just the inner?

Found a decent set of ebay shock and spring, strut? assemblies for $150 but it's specified as fitting the interceptor model whereas mine is just the base model. Would they still work ok?
 

dustybumpers

don't play well w others
Tie rod ends will probably take a poo when you take them off the spindal. They usually do. For the $20 each, I'd do new ones.

Interceptor is probably just sprung a little stiffer.
 

dustybumpers

don't play well w others
You do know that you WILL need a front end alignment when you are finished, RIGHT?
 

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