Wierd Steering Issue
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,405
Likes: 4
Driving with one of the hubs locked in will not cause what you are experiencing. I drove like that for several days once before I found my daughter had not unlocked the passenger hub (prom night story - fodder for a different thread).
The whine is probably your PS pump straining against the frozen U-joint bearing. You will get to the point that fluid will puke out the breather hole in the cap.
From my experience, the problem will continue to get worse until you are afraid to drive the truck.
The whine is probably your PS pump straining against the frozen U-joint bearing. You will get to the point that fluid will puke out the breather hole in the cap.
From my experience, the problem will continue to get worse until you are afraid to drive the truck.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
Likes: 20
From: Tewksbury, MA
good to know, I already called the mechanic and I'm dropping it off tonight for the U-joints, i just wanted to check because i noticed the play in the hub **** and I have had plenty of hub related issues lol. Just didn't want to throw money at the front end like I have done before (4x4 ESOF issue... don't ask).
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
Likes: 20
From: Tewksbury, MA
Just an update, i got off the phone with my mechanic and he said that the u-joints are fine and that he could not get it to happen for him. I had stopped at a red light yesterday and it was yanking me around so i turned the wheel in place and it just went away so that's probably why. He did go on to say however that all 5 of my shocks (stablizer included) are shot and need replacing. He is also going to flush the power steering system to see if there was air in it or something. Also the shocks are the original OEM ones that came with the truck and have been beat on for 97,000 miles so they are definitely past due. Also i guess its extremely out of alignment lol which makes sense because i noticed it looks crooked in the driveway when i think i park it straight.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Just an update, i got off the phone with my mechanic and he said that the u-joints are fine and that he could not get it to happen for him. I had stopped at a red light yesterday and it was yanking me around so i turned the wheel in place and it just went away so that's probably why. He did go on to say however that all 5 of my shocks (stablizer included) are shot and need replacing. He is also going to flush the power steering system to see if there was air in it or something. Also the shocks are the original OEM ones that came with the truck and have been beat on for 97,000 miles so they are definitely past due. Also i guess its extremely out of alignment lol which makes sense because i noticed it looks crooked in the driveway when i think i park it straight.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,405
Likes: 4
If he didn't pull the U-joints out of the truck, he could only check for excessive play. If they are intermittently binding, the only way to check them is to pull them. I had a mechanic clear my U-joints THREE different times. On the fourth trip, I told him to pull them. That's when he found the bearings under the caps had partially disintegrated.
The worn shocks and poor alignment are issues that need fixed, but these are not going to solve your steering issue.
The worn shocks and poor alignment are issues that need fixed, but these are not going to solve your steering issue.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Yep, they have to really be shot to detect a defective one unless you see red rust dust in them especially on the front ones because they are subjected to much different usage. When I oiled mine they freed up and the jerking went away. Do you have zerks?, if not I can tell you an Oklahoma way of freeing them up.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Ok, I'm going to swing by this afternoon and talk to him. I'm assuming he took them out because he had the front tires off and everything to replace the shocks but that is only an assumption. I had him stop and put the stock shocks back on because i may lift the truck in the next few weeks. I ordered my new rims and tires a few days ago and I'm going to see how well they fit and how high i might want to go before i get an alignment and new shocks. How hard is it to remove the front U-joints? I do not have a press but i might buy one eventually and if it can be easily done then i will remove them myself.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
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From: Westfield, Indiana
Ok, I'm going to swing by this afternoon and talk to him. I'm assuming he took them out because he had the front tires off and everything to replace the shocks but that is only an assumption. I had him stop and put the stock shocks back on because i may lift the truck in the next few weeks. I ordered my new rims and tires a few days ago and I'm going to see how well they fit and how high i might want to go before i get an alignment and new shocks. How hard is it to remove the front U-joints? I do not have a press but i might buy one eventually and if it can be easily done then i will remove them myself.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...l#post13014341
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Ok, I'm going to swing by this afternoon and talk to him. I'm assuming he took them out because he had the front tires off and everything to replace the shocks but that is only an assumption. I had him stop and put the stock shocks back on because i may lift the truck in the next few weeks. I ordered my new rims and tires a few days ago and I'm going to see how well they fit and how high i might want to go before i get an alignment and new shocks. How hard is it to remove the front U-joints? I do not have a press but i might buy one eventually and if it can be easily done then i will remove them myself.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,654
Likes: 20
From: Tewksbury, MA
Not yet I just got my rims and tires I'm waiting on the stuff for my small lift. I'm going to see what happens after i have new everything before I have him just replace the u-joints. I honestly believe its the u-joints but he insists that its not and admits that he may be wrong he just doesn't want to take my money for something that it may not be. With the 35's on though it stopped just randomly jerking and until this week it has been fine. this week the wheel locked while trying to turn twice but it wasn't hard to force it to keep turning. I am assuming this is because the new tires are much heavier and wider, I have all my stuff minus the rear block, extended brake lines, and front sway bar links in so I'm just waiting on that hopefully by the beginning of next week ill have it and get it installed.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
I got my lift put in over the lift put is over the weekend and found out that one of my lower ball joints is completely shot. Thought that was strange because I thought I had the upper and lower ones replaced 2-3 years ago, could that potentially cause the issue as well?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Yes my old tires had a weird wavy pattern worn into them from back when my dad go them about 4-5 years ago. Long story short he went through 3 different sets and they were all replaced under warranty because they got bad wear patterns after a week. The most recent set didn't start to wear bad until a year after he bought them. My new set of tires hasn't had the issue except for the one time the steering wheel locked up and i forced it.