Front End Issues
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Front End Issues
Hey guys. Got a 2003 F-250 fx4 6.0. For the paste 6 months now its had like a screeching type sound when I turn the wheel. Here within the past week its gotten alot worse and now noticing a slight shimmy in the wheel going down the highway. I pulled the steering stabalizer and thats not the issue although its got some wear on it so its getting replaced as well. What other components could cause this issue??? Could it be the tie rods? If thats what it is could someone give me a parts list of what I would need as well as part numbers because all these stores have so many different choices of parts and styles its not even funny. What ever happened to walking in with a list of what you needed with no questions being asked?? Thanks in advance
-John
-John
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Jefferson, Iowa
I would disconnect the tie rod from one side turn the steering wheel a little and see if it goes away. Reconnect and do the other side and see if it changes. It will eliminate ball joints any how.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Saratoga Springs,UT
Well could be Tie rods or Ball joints or steering gear or U-joints
SInce it makes that Noise at a STOP If I was you I would get someone to Turn the wheel Back n Forth while your at the front end and Listen for that Noise
Each front end component can be checked but has to be done in a specific way
Ball joints are easier to check with Tire off for Me, But I know some folks check them with tires on basically has to be checked in a certain way to see the movement
Is there any Abnormal tire wear??
BJ ever been changed??
Have you tried to Grease the Zerts??
SInce it makes that Noise at a STOP If I was you I would get someone to Turn the wheel Back n Forth while your at the front end and Listen for that Noise
Each front end component can be checked but has to be done in a specific way
Ball joints are easier to check with Tire off for Me, But I know some folks check them with tires on basically has to be checked in a certain way to see the movement
Is there any Abnormal tire wear??
BJ ever been changed??
Have you tried to Grease the Zerts??
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yea ps is fine. i just thought of the sound. the screeching is identical to the sound a skid loader bucket makes when its not greased. heres the delima. i grease my front end every 5k with tire rotation and oil and filter change. no abnormal tire wear either. tires are wearing great. nice and straight
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Saratoga Springs,UT
Ya probably wont see any abnormal tire wear when rotating tires that Often
Flush the Hydroboost as Mike says is a good Idea
Are the BJ you have OEM and Non Servicable??? and ever been changed???
With the Shimmy its probably going to be a BJ or Tie Rod or Drag Link
Its easiest to check a BJ for me with the tires Off thar way you Don't have to Overcome the weight of tires to check it. But I know some guys use a Big Bar to Manipulate the tire to check BJ.
The Balljoints Holds the Vertical Line so you would Push & Pull the Tire/Steering knuckle at the Top and Bottom to check for play
The Tie rods can just be checked by grabing it and trying to move it all ways to see if theres Slop in it. Some Firm Movement would be Normal but any Slop isnt
Flush the Hydroboost as Mike says is a good Idea
Are the BJ you have OEM and Non Servicable??? and ever been changed???
With the Shimmy its probably going to be a BJ or Tie Rod or Drag Link
Its easiest to check a BJ for me with the tires Off thar way you Don't have to Overcome the weight of tires to check it. But I know some guys use a Big Bar to Manipulate the tire to check BJ.
The Balljoints Holds the Vertical Line so you would Push & Pull the Tire/Steering knuckle at the Top and Bottom to check for play
The Tie rods can just be checked by grabing it and trying to move it all ways to see if theres Slop in it. Some Firm Movement would be Normal but any Slop isnt
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non serviceable as in no grease fittings? theres only one grease fitting on the bottom of the drivers side king pin. other than that the only fittings on the front end are on the tie rods. the truck has 106k on it now i bought it in July of 2012 with 76k. i havent put bj's in it but idk about the previous owner. eric the owner of innovative diesel owns it so im assuming everything was kept up to par
Hotshot
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From: Saratoga Springs,UT
Exactly
Serviceable means it will have a Grease Zert
So it sounds like at a minimum the Drivers side Ball Joint was Changed at some Point
Its probably time to do the rest of the Ball Joints Could be a pretty good chance the BJ is your problem
Maybe you could spray some penetrating Lube or White Lithum Grease or Some even take a Shot needle and put Grease or OIL into a Non Servicable BJ and see if the Sound goes away for a few if it does then you know
Just watch out for what you use Stuff Like WD-40 will Break Grease down and basically will dry out and Go Bad and you will be changing the BJ out
I think I would try a shot of Oil in it Honestly and do 1 part at a time so you know what one and the Oil Should be able to work its way down into BJ where the King pin and BJ Housing ride against one another
And Honestly if it has a Shimmy you should be able to Find a Part with SLOP in it
Serviceable means it will have a Grease Zert
theres only one grease fitting on the bottom of the drivers side king pin. other than that the only fittings on the front end are on the tie rods. the truck has 106k on it now i bought it in July of 2012 with 76k. i havent put bj's in it but idk about the previous owner. eric the owner of innovative diesel owns it so im assuming everything was kept up to par
Its probably time to do the rest of the Ball Joints Could be a pretty good chance the BJ is your problem
Maybe you could spray some penetrating Lube or White Lithum Grease or Some even take a Shot needle and put Grease or OIL into a Non Servicable BJ and see if the Sound goes away for a few if it does then you know
Just watch out for what you use Stuff Like WD-40 will Break Grease down and basically will dry out and Go Bad and you will be changing the BJ out
I think I would try a shot of Oil in it Honestly and do 1 part at a time so you know what one and the Oil Should be able to work its way down into BJ where the King pin and BJ Housing ride against one another
And Honestly if it has a Shimmy you should be able to Find a Part with SLOP in it
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slept off my bottle of vodka from last night and started off on the truck around lunch today. found that i need the passenger side upper and lower bj's replaced and the steering stabalizer is getting replaced as well. looks like ill have a busy weekend next week. put some rust penetrant on the bj's and the noise all but went away.
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yea figured that would penetrate better than oil or grease and we started doing one by one until we found the one that made the noise stop. just sucks working for the railroad sometimes cause i could have had it done tomorrow night. swing shift sucks lol. these kind of things will drive a man to drink!!!!!
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