Hey guys, any ideas as to why I'm having a hard time turning my 2005 F150 in both directions. could it be the steering box? its been going on for a month now and for a about a week it freed back up but is now stiff again. I noticed when I turn its hard but then for a quick second its free then gets hard again. other than the steering box I'm not to sure what it can be. Any suggestions would bee great. Thank you.

 

Chances are it will be the joint in the steering shaft from the column down. If you pop the hood you will see the joint, looks like a little universal joint, under the master cylinder. That joint gets dry and starts to get tight. Our fleet of trucks at work have had a lot of them go bad within a few years. Hope this helps

 

I have an 06 and was just searching for a fix.

Marty, How hard is it to replace the part and do you have a part number ? I have the tools and know just enough to be dangerous with them .

Rocky , have you had a chance to take a look ? Let me know how yours turns out. Have to check mine out tomorrow.

 

Why don't you support the front end on jack stands, have someone else start it up and turn the wheel while you look and listen and might see what the problem is.

 

Thanks Marty , dead on with the diagnosis !! I am a very dangerous man ,,,, with tools ! Soaked the u joints with WD 40 and seconds later it freed up. Will add some grease to it and get it to a mechanic for replacement when I can afford it, soon I hope,, Come on tax refund !

Thanks again.

 

Glad you found the problem. I don't think they're all that hard to replace if you have the tools to do it yourself. I've heard that they can be a bit of a bear to get off the steering shaft but other than that it's a straight forward fix