Excessing Steerin Gear Box damage in Ford F150

Subject – Excessive Steering Gear Box repair of 1997 F-150.

Greetings! I bought my son a new 4 x 2 extended cab F150 on 4/24/97 as
a college
going present. The mileage is 130,000 [One hundred thirty thousand
miles] in six and half years.
The following repairs had been performed up till now regarding
steering gear box:-



Date Mileage Cost
12/22/1999 Steering wheel repair $ 327.05
6/17/1999 Lower ball joints $ 414.83
9/21/2000 Axle Bearings $ 874.93
2/13/2003 Upper Ball joint $ 679.50
2/13/2003 Steering Gear Box $ 404.00

12/07/03 Total up to today >>> $ 2,700.31

Now the truck is slightly veering to right again. My son needs to fix
the steering gear box again. Is there any
systemic defect in 1997 Ford truck reported before anywhere? Does
these repairs seems abnormal to you?
I am completely ignorant about mechanical things. I would like opinion
from people who drive trucks. With thanks.

[email protected] (zxcvar) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Subject ? Excessive Steering Gear Box repair of 1997 F-150.
>
> Greetings! I bought my son a new 4 x 2 extended cab F150 on 4/24/97 as
> a college
> going present. The mileage is 130,000 [One hundred thirty thousand
> miles] in six and half years.
> The following repairs had been performed up till now regarding
> steering gear box:-
>
>
>
> Date Mileage Cost
> 12/22/1999 Steering wheel repair $ 327.05
> 6/17/1999 Lower ball joints $ 414.83
> 9/21/2000 Axle Bearings $ 874.93
> 2/13/2003 Upper Ball joint $ 679.50
> 2/13/2003 Steering Gear Box $ 404.00
>
> 12/07/03 Total up to today >>> $ 2,700.31
>
> Now the truck is slightly veering to right again. My son needs to fix
> the steering gear box again. Is there any
> systemic defect in 1997 Ford truck reported before anywhere? Does
> these repairs seems abnormal to you?
> I am completely ignorant about mechanical things. I would like opinion
> from people who drive trucks. With thanks.

Two things:
1) Wow, I got a '97 Dak as a college present and only have 90k miles
on it.
2) Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

I didn't see any tsb's or recalls related. If I were you I would
chalk it up to the wonders of the big three. For that matter I feel
similar about my Dodge, since '97:

New steering gear box 400
New passenger and driver lower ball joints 480
New fuel pump 300
Needs new bushings 700
Fixing to need new boots in the front 200
2080

God Bless American quality... I just hope my next vehicle isn't this
bad. Someone please tell me new Jeeps aren't failure prone or at
least that they are easy to work on?

Jason Kavanaugh

"Jason Kavanaugh" <[email protected]> wrote

If I were you I would
> chalk it up to the wonders of the big three. For that matter I feel
> similar about my Dodge, since '97:

Shoulda got an Isuzu Trooper back then, Jap quality control, backed with
full GM parts and service.

rhys