Maybe this is going to sound off the wall, but it happened on my truck so I'll toss it out there. Check your ball joints. Usually - but not always - when ball joints go bad they get loose and sloppy, but they can also get tighter as they wear. Slowly over time my ball joints got tight enough that it really started to affect low speed steering. New ball joints that you can grease (unlike stock sealed ball joints) at 118,000 miles and the problem was solved.

 

If your pump has a lot of miles on it I would start there because it is a cheap and easy fix. I agree that the b-joints can be dry and tight but wouldn't start there. Do your turn test on dry pavement with the foot off the brake. The steering geometry requires that the wheels move back and forth when going through the cycle and the brake will hamper that action.

 

Hey Walt,
never thought about the ball joints, ya got a point there! Well I will begin with the fluid change, if that doesnt work I ll prolly move on to the pump like EXv10 says. If that dont do it I'll look into the ball joints. Is there any easy way to check if ball joints are bad? ((excess up/down ((Slop)) wheel movement perhaps with the frame on jack stands???)

We have 117000 on the Ex so I imagine she has some wear and tear all over.

Thanks for he replies
Robb

 

I have a 2005 4wd Ex....have had no issues with the steering being too tight at low speeds...did the whole front end at 70,000 miles...everything works great!!.....EXCEPT....towing!!....going to put in a redhead steering box so the darn thing stops wandering!!

 

My steering loosened up quite a bit after I did the fluid flush with merc 5 and installed missing grease zerks in the ball joints and greased them.

 

Was it hard to put those zerks in?

 

It was easy because the holes were already there but one zerk was broke off and a couple were missing.

If they didn't have the holes it would be impossible to drill the upper one for a zerk but the lower wouldn't be hard.

 

ok gonna give it try. I bought some new fluid and a bottle of lucas. whats the best way to drain out the old fluid? can i just pull off the return line and run it dry or will that damage the pump?

 

There is a write up on here that I followed involving taking off the brake booster line and putting it in a bucket. Then fill with new fluid as someone pumps the brakes and turns the wheel back and forth with the truck running.

 

i changed mine with a turkey baster (much to the wifes dismay lol), I went lock to lock and just kept refilling and emptying for a while , also put a small can of slick 50 steering fluid in there to make sure its all lubricated fine. my problem which was similar to yours only comes back every now & then now. it used to be almost every drive out , my arms were built like a brick S***house before i changed the fluid.

mine had never been changed before, it came out black , nowdays its still running a nice clear red color, although not 100% of the fluid was changed , it must have loosened something up inside.

 

Wait... I havent looked at it yet but, this thing is connected to the brakes? why is nothing ever simple....

 

Wow! brake booster? really? wow!
I just di a f150 and I used very low air pressure, problem is it does not get the fluid out of the gear box, just the hoses.
I imagine if you could pump fluid through the return hose and watch it as it flows out the pressure hose until it runs "clean". 'course this may still leave residual fluid in the gear box.
If anyone does the fluid change and it helps let me know, I ll tackle the cold (well now we're flooding in Ohio) to get my power steering back.

 

You don't need to get 100% of it out.

 

It is actually very simple. My wife did the brakes and turning while I filled. Takes about 3 quarts to flush the whole system.

It is possible that the brake booster being powered by the power steering is only a diesel thing. I am just assuming it is the same for all super duties.

Ford Super Duty Power Steering Flush | Superdutypsd.com

 

Yes, it's just a diesel thing.