2002 f250 SD 5.4L , 4x4 ,4.5" lift, 20inch rims with 35x12.5 toyo open country M/T.

I know that the tires are not the main issue but my steering is getting stiff. Power steering fluid is fine and I still have some pwr steering but the wheel dosnt come back to me when I turn it. Long hauls down are actually getting exausting. Anybody have ideas?

 

When was your truck last on an alignment rack?

 

About 3 weeks ago, also about 3months ago I did all new ball joints,bearings,tie rods, stabalizer arms

 

When did you notice the steering wasn't returning, after the front suspension rebuild or after the alignment?

 

Everything was fine when I did the rebuild, I had the bigger tires on and about a month after and noticed a small change so I acredited that to the tires, but then it slowly got worse and worse, no change from before the alignment to after..

 

Why were the ball joints,bearings (what bearings?) tie rods (I hope you meant tie rod ends) and stabilizer arms replaced?

As for you initial question a weak power steering pump would have to work harder if you installed a lift, bigger tires and wheels and new suspension parts (especially ball joints).

BUT

I'm not sure that would cause the steering to fail to return to center after steering around a corner. I'm thinking that this would be caused by a bad alignment (especially the camber angle) or a steering gear box that is turning itself to junk.

 

I did mean tie rod ends, and wheel bearings, everything that was replaced was done from wear and tear on the truck, it had about 200,000kms on it when I did those parts. I guess I could get the truck re aligned and start there, might have to put a camber kit in. As far as the steering gear box goes, assuming the only way to solve that mistery is to replace it?

 

The tie rod ends are the tie rods. There is no detachable end to these things.

I don't think alignment is your issue; typically something being much tighter than it should will cause this. Frozen balljoints or tie rod ends could cause this. I would suggest disconnecting the tie rod ends from the knuckles and seeing if you can turn the knuckles by hand. If so the problem is elsewhere, and then you would check the tie rod ends themselves as well as the drag link.

Fix that first, then if power steering is still an issue you can focus on that knowing that everything else is in order.

 

Yea I suppose ill re check all the ball joints, there all practically brand new