I've got a 2005 F350 that i recently did balljoints, tierods and shocks/stabilizer on. Just stating that because i don't believe anything could be binding up to cause this.

If i am to take a left turn, more than 45 degrees, the truck will seem to lose power assist on the return to center and be very stiff when i return it by force until i jerk the wheel past center and let it come back the other direction and it seems to regain power assist.
Also, the steering is just generally bump. I have not driven a better condition 2005 to tell the difference but i'm sure this isn't the way it's supposed to be


I am not having any issue with braking force, as of yet.

The first winter i got the truck i blew a power steering line that goes from the gear to the cooler, in which direction i don't know. It's been a year and a half since then so not sure that caused any failure.

Before this symptom the pump would whine when on left turns only, no problem turning right if i feel like doing right turns the rest of my days

I guess what i'm getting at is, does this sound like a bad pump? Bad gear? Both?

 

How are the brakes,no issues?

 

One would think if it was hydro pump it would be noticeable turning left or right

This one should be interesting

Maybe a steering gear issue not letting fluid cycle properly when going right

 

Brakes are O.K. and steering is not affected unless taking a sharp left but is pretty bump steer-y
Right turns are O.K.

Left turns, upon trying to recenter the wheel, usually you have assist to center right? It's like the pump isn't working on a hard left and then once you recenter it without assist, it pulls real hard until you over turn to the right, and then center and all assist comes back

 

How are the u joints? maybe one or both binding up and holding the wheel?

 

They're old, but not loose enough to cause any binding. You'd think i would feel/heard something from that happening aswell other than the heavyness of the steering

 

How were the ball joints installed? If you did not step the torque
and work the joints between that could be the problem.

I would jack it up and check each side for any play in the ball joints.

Also while the front wheels are in the air turn the steering wheel
stop to stop and see how it feels. You can do that running or not.



Sean <BR>

6.0L Tech Folder

 

Ball-joints were installed by a certified big rig shop a year or so ago, the rest of the tie-rods, shocks etc i did myself over a month ago and this issue popped up a few days ago. I will try and get the front end jacked up inbetween the rainfall today

 

How many miles are on it?

My bet is the steering gear. They do some strange things when they fail, and are a high fail part on these trucks.

.

 

230,000km or just under 150k miles.


I lifted the front end up, pumped everything full of grease and turned lock to lock a bunch of times and didn't feel any binding, all u-joints looked okay.
Only thing that i noticed was the growling of the pump when cranking left, always at the same point of the wheel aswell.

I don't want to throw parts at it, but really all i have left in the front end is the pump and gear, right? Is there anything else that could even attribute?

I do find it weird that this is happening so shortly after i did all the tie rods but that is probably coincidence

 

How old are your tires? I had a very similar issue a couple of months ago and it turned out to be tread separation on the left front tire. I also had a pull to the right when driving. After the new tires were installed the steering went back to normal.

 

Admittedly, pretty old and cracked. I don't hear any highway noise for separation but was hoping to get through the summer on these

I have pulling to the left, pretty light normally.

I read a few posts, and some people call them "Hard spots" and it sounds exactly like what is happening but i seen that both the gear and the pump could cause it.

The only thing different, is having to steer past center on a return to get the steering to lighten up..

 

But you had the noise and feeling with the front end jacked up off the ground?
That would sort of lean to not being the tires. One easy check to do is rotate
rear to front. If the problem goes away.

150K miles in a year or is that total miles on the truck?



Sean <BR>

6.0L Tech Folder

 

Total miles. I do not get the hard spots when the front end is jacked up, only a pump growl on a left that is a good point

 

It sounds like the steering box is broken inside with the valving from the pump. Jacked up you should not have the pump growl or the stiff spots turning left. When was the last time you changed the power steering fluid, do you have a in line filter in the to return line that is restricting power steering fluid flow? If your not having issues turning both ways it's not the pump, if your not having brake assist, it's not the booster. These systems are integrated so I think this is my conclusion. What happens without the power steering pump on, can you turn the wheel both ways jacked up? This might corroborate the issue is the steering box.

Now, I am assuming your tie rod ends, ball joints and front u joints are good. Again, u joints or ball joints binding on that left turn could still be an issue. One bad front u joint even with unlocked up hubs can really mess things up, so have a look at those u joints before you buy and replace the steering box.

Hope this helps.
Mike