83 F250, with a 460, 2wd. Replaced the power steering gear, tie rod ends and connecting tie rods. 113K (afaik) on the engine. I had it aligned.

So anyways, today on my way into work I had to stop and get gas. And as I was pulling into the gas station, the steering got real hard (like it does when your car stalls, or your run out of gas). I assumed I was lower on fuel then I thought.

But after I put in some gas, I backed out of the gas station and noticed it was INCREDIBLY hard to steer. And all the way into work, the steering was funky. My truck over corrects (well, I over correct), but now it was really over correcting (or tracking).

It kind of stopped once I got to work, and it wasn't that bad when I drove home.

The fluid level was ok, and the belts weren't loose.

Could it be a bad pump not getting enough pressure to the steering gear box?

Could it be the ball joints?

A clogged line to or from the pump (to the reservoir)?

The pump does the Ford "whine", and does have an unusual noise issue. Hopefully it's not something I HAVE to replace right away, as I'm currently replacing the clutch, transmission mounts, rear main seal and removing the engine and transmission from my other car, so I'm forced to drive the truck for a while.

Thanks!

 

Given that your pump has an "unusual noise" I'm guessing it is the pump. I doubt a line is plugged or that a ball joint would do that. Not even a tie-rod end. However, do the test of jacking it up and checking for a bad ball joint or tie-rod end just to make sure.

 

The "professional" test would be to put a pressure gauge on the output side of the pump and see what pressure it can produce.

But I have no idea where to get one of those things.

But I'd be looking for mechanical issues, too, especially because you describe the steering as "funky" and, correct me if I'm wrong, but did this problem start after you replaced those parts?

 

the steering was always a little off (over correcting, or not tracking accurately), but the most recent issues were after I had replaced the parts AND driven a couple hundred miles.

 

My first thought in these kinds of situations is:

What was recently changed that could cause this problem?

Historically, most failures are the result of something having changed, this is why I always try to have a way to un-do a change (change it back) when I can.

I realize that's hard to do here (virtually impossible) but it at least gives you an area to be looking.

For example, say you replace your intake manifold & carb with a fancy, aftermarket 4V setup.

And you start it up, and it's belching black smoke all over and won't idle.

It is NOT likely that the ignition system is causing the problem, and replacing cap & rotor & wires & ignition module in an attempt to fix it is generally the wrong direction to be focused.

Back to your problem, the steering & tracking sounds to me like wheel alignment, I would want to take it back and ask them to verify it's correct (and have them SHOW YOU the components in the front end).

About the power steering, see if THIS THREAD in the 73-79 forum helps you any....

 

So I bought a new PS Pump today, and asked the guy what kind of fluid I need.

He said (according to their computer), ATF.

BUT I don't remember if it was ATF type F, or if thats the same thing.

If it's ATF Type F, I'm very happy, as thats what my Volvo uses too.

 

My 1981 Owner's Manual specifies that Automatic Transmission Fluid Type F is OK to use, I'd imagine - but am not certain - that 1983 would be the same.

 

I'll dig through the collection of information that came with the truck (when I bought it)...if I can remember where I put it.

Thanks for the information.

 

you probably hit an air pocket through the pump. Pumps can whine for a long time but it's probably on the way out. good luck!