The Ford F-150 was introduced in 1975. The 1994 Ford F-150 four-wheel drive (4x4) featured a 4.9-liter V-6 in the base model. A 5.0-liter and 5.8-liter V-8 engine were both optional engines. The 1994 F-150 4x4 has only one set of tie rod ends. The inner and outer tie rods are on the driver's side of the truck. The passenger side steering is controlled by a drag link bar and drag link ball stud. The drag link ball stud is similar to the outer tie rod end.
Instructions
- 1
Turn the wheels straight forward on the F-150, and remove the key from the ignition to lock the steering wheel in place. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the front of the truck with a jack. Place jack stands beneath both ends of the front axle housing. Place the stands as far apart as possible to increase stability. Lower the truck onto the stands. Remove both front sets of lug nuts, then remove the front wheels from the truck.
2Make a straight line from the drag link bar to the outer head of the Pitman arm, with a white paint marker or crayon. This mark will be essential for alignment of the drag link during installation. Remove the drag link bar mounting nut from the Pitman arm, with a ratchet and socket. Remove the drag link bar from the Pitman arm with a pry bar or three-jaw puller.
3Remove the inner tie rod end nut from the forward facing part of the drag link shaft, using a ratchet and socket. Separate the drag link from the inner tie rod with a pry bar or three-jaw puller.
4Remove the cotter pin from the castle nut on the driver's side outer tie rod end stud. Remove the tie rod end nut with a ratchet and socket. Remove the outer tie rod downward from the steering knuckle with a pry bar. Remove the cotter pin from the passenger side drag link ball stud. Remove the ball stud nut with a ratchet and socket, then remove the drag link ball stud from the steering knuckle with a pry bar. Remove the drag link assembly, and the driver's side tie rod assembly from the truck completely.
5Set the drag link assembly and the tie rod assembly on the tailgate of the truck or a workbench. Make a white mark where the drag link bar meets the drag link adjuster sleeve. Loosen the adjuster sleeve tie down bolts with a ratchet and socket. Hold the adjuster sleeve with a set of locking pliers. Turn the drag link bar out of the adjuster sleeve, and count the turns you make during removal.
6Insert the drag link into a new adjuster sleeve, using the number of turns you made during removal. Tighten the hold-down bolt on the drag link bar end of the adjuster sleeve, snug with a ratchet and socket. Count the exposed threads from the old drag link ball stud to the old adjuster sleeve. Install the new drag link ball stud into the adjuster sleeve and turn it until you match the exposed thread count exactly. Tighten the hold-down nut on the ball stud end of the adjuster sleeve, snug with a ratchet and socket.
7Install the new outer tie rod into a new adjuster sleeve. Match the number of exposed threads on the new tie rod end, with those between the old tie rod end and adjuster sleeve. Tighten the hold-down bolt snug on the tie rod end side of the adjuster sleeve. Install the inner tie rod into the new adjuster sleeve in the same manner, matching the amount of exposed threads. Tighten the inner tie rod end of the adjuster sleeve snug, with a ratchet and socket.
8Line up the inner end of the drag link bar with the Pitman arm, using the white mark you made earlier. Install the drag link bar onto the Pitman arm, and snug the mounting nut with a ratchet and socket. Install the drag link ball stud upward through the steering knuckle. Install and tighten the ball stud castle nut to 70 foot-pound with a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and socket. Tighten the drag link bar nut to the Pitman arm at 70 foot-pounds, once you have the ball stud secured.
9Install the inner tie rod stud through the drag link bar from rear to front. Install the inner tie rod nut, and snug it with a ratchet and socket. Install the outer tie rod end upward through the steering knuckle. Install the tie rod castle nut and tighten it to 70 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and a socket. Tighten the inner tie rod nut to 70 foot-pounds when you have the outer tie rod secured. Install cotter pins through the outer tie rod stud, inner tie rod stud, and drag link ball stud. Bend the pins with pliers.
10Torque the adjuster sleeve hold-down bolts on both sides of the truck to 40 foot-pounds with your torque wrench and a socket. Install the front wheels onto the truck and tighten the lug nuts snug, with a tire iron. Raise the truck off of the jack stands, and remove the stands. Lower the truck to the ground gently. Tighten the front wheel lug nuts to 120 foot-pounds, with the torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.
11Take the truck to a professional shop that offers laser-guided alignments. Do not depend on your backyard alignment to be safe or road worthy. Laser guided alignments are accurate within 0.001 degrees.
