hey guys,
I was sitting in a parking lot one day and turned the wheel while sitting still and I started hearing a clicking/clunking noise. it doesn't do it while driving and turning and it doesn't do it when braking either. the only thing is sometimes when I take a right or left turn the truck doesn't seem like it wants to go back straight like a pull until I give the wheel a slight jerk. after that it seems to go away after a little bit. it doesn't happen all the time just sometimes. I recently just switched my automatics lock outs to warn manual lock outs and had I slight problem with them grabbing then letting go real quickly while in the free position. I switched the hub assemblies to opposite sides and the problem was cured. today I had somebody turn the wheel on flat ground not moving and followed the clicking where it seemed like it might be coming from the steering box but its very hard to tell. btw I have 1996 f250 extended cab long bed with the stock ttb if that is important. any help is very appreciated

Thanks!,
Brendan

 

One simple check is the steering fluid level.
I had a growl in mine when I got near the end of the range and found the fluid box almost empty. Took almost all the 12 oz bottle.

 

Is your truck lifted? Mine used to do that too. A redhead gear box and a d60 later and it fixed it.

 

I was thinking whilst reading your post...probably has an F-250. It sounds to me like worn (pivot) bushings or ball joints in the front axle. IDK how much of that is normal with the D50 (TTB) axle, but that is my WAG anyway.

 

ive been looking things up about it and have been told a clicking/popping noise could be ball joints and also possibly wheel bearings? I know the power steering fluid is fine but ill double check it because it cant hurt. is it possible that when I put in the new lock out hubs and followed the directions exact that they could be the culprit. I mean I did check to see if there was any unusual wear or chips or anything but theres nothing out of the ordinary. when I did the changeover I did have to change the wheel bearing lock nut to spindle nut and torqued everything to spec so I don't think anything was wrong but I cant rule it out because this started happening after I did the change out. my dad also thinks the clicking/popping noise is coming from the power steering gear box. are these known to go bad? would a bad one cause it to not want to pull itself back to straight?

thanks guys!

 

When you changed you hubs from autos to manuals, did you change the spindle nuts to these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Warn-Spindle-Nut-Washer-Kit-Pickup-F150-Truck-F250-Blazer-Full-Size-32720-/130839515204?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item1e76a49044

 

yes that's the part 4 wheel parts told me I needed to be able to switch the autos to manuals.

 

Mine is lifted to when it was doing it. Im not sure what exactly fixed it cause i replaced every thing.

 

I had a similar issue where the truck didn't want to straighten up after a turn to either direction and I still don't know what fixed it. ...maybe a variety of things.

my left front shackle was completely cocked, so thinking that was the issue, I pulled that out to find that the shackle was fine, but the bushings were completely shot. so, I replaced all 8 of my TTB D50 bushings with polyurethane ones, had it professionally aligned and the problem got better for a while. but then it came back. then, all the ***** fell out of the upper bearing on my steering column and the problem has gone away completely. though now I have a steering column to fix.

right before they fell out, it started clicking and groaning pretty loudly in the column, so have a listen there maybe?

 

Try upper and lower ball joints mine are going out in mine when the driver side tire gets elevated mine pops a little bit