Loose steering on 04 Ford Explorer XLT 4.6 V8

[Ak907]

Hi all! I have followed this site for awhile, it has helped me out a lot on fixing my Explorer. Has anyone had a issue with steering play that wont come out on the 04 Ford Explorer? We put a new steering box in, new intermediate steering shaft, new tie rods ends, new upper control arms and ball joints on the front, full alignment and the play won't go away. All of these parts have been changed in the last 100 miles. This is just the front end work we have done on it in the last 3 months. We have tried to adjust the play on the steering box, but it did nothing. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ak907]

Hi all! I have followed this site for awhile, it has helped me out a lot on fixing my Explorer. Has anyone had a issue with steering play that wont come out on the 04 Ford Explorer? We put a new steering box in, new intermediate steering shaft, new tie rod ends, new upper control arms and ball joints on the front, full alignment and the play won't go away. All of these parts have been changed in the last 100 miles. This is just the front end work we have done on it in the last 3 months. We have tried to adjust the play on the steering box, but it did nothing. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

It is the XLT 4.6 V8

 

[Gmctyphoon]

You can’t adjust the steering box on an 03 four door explorer. It is a rack and pinion.

 

[ABC1]

It is usually a rack and pinion with wear. You can take it out and tighten it up - but I found it easier to suck it up and install a rebuilt rack (that way you don't get to take it out again when its leaking PS Fluid.

 

[Davies0202]

Hi all! I have followed this site for awhile, it has helped me out a lot on fixing my Explorer. Has anyone had a issue with steering play that wont come out on the 04 Ford Explorer? We put a new steering box in, new intermediate steering shaft, new tie rods ends, new upper control arms and ball joints on the front, full alignment and the play won't go away. All of these parts have been changed in the last 100 miles. This is just the front end work we have done on it in the last 3 months. We have tried to adjust the play on the steering box, but it did nothing. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I don’t know if this applies to your explorer but on my moms Pacifica I replaced everything I could for a loose steering wheel but didn’t check right under the dashboard. there’s a joint the connects the wheel to another steering shaft piece that goes through the fire wall you can tighten it came loose in my case not sure how so I threw some lock tite on it. Not sure if this is the case with your explorer but I noticed my 02 mountaineer has the same looking joint that you could most likely tighten. This is only if it feels loose when in park and feels like there’s play very close to the top of the wheel

 

[Davies0202]

Hi all! I have followed this site for awhile, it has helped me out a lot on fixing my Explorer. Has anyone had a issue with steering play that wont come out on the 04 Ford Explorer? We put a new steering box in, new intermediate steering shaft, new tie rods ends, new upper control arms and ball joints on the front, full alignment and the play won't go away. All of these parts have been changed in the last 100 miles. This is just the front end work we have done on it in the last 3 months. We have tried to adjust the play on the steering box, but it did nothing. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Sorry if I described that absolutely terribly but just turn your head upside down look up under your driver dash and move the wheel and see if it both pieces of the shaft move together or if there is play