Steering issue
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 65
From: 'Pitlock, Maine
Steering issue
I have an 07 F350 and recently it has started to do strange things concerning steering.....It will start to pull to the left and when I counter that it will hold for a bit and then lose all resistance and dart to the right, I counter steer and the process starts all over. Sometimes it will only do this for a short time and sometimes it's a prolonged event (like 30 miles or more) The tires wear like iron and everything is in order under the front end. Has anyone else ever experienced this and if so found the cause/fix?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 65
From: 'Pitlock, Maine
Yikes! will do, Thanks for the reply.
Hawkerpilot05
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 180
Likes: 7
From: MN
Check front u-joints. That was my problem. Even though front hubs are unlocked you still need the front ujoints working. I had one side frozen on both planes and the other frozen on 1 plane. Only 100K miles but driven in MN with all the salt.
2005 F250.
2005 F250.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 65
From: 'Pitlock, Maine
Thanks for the input, I'll check both the ball joints and the ujoints when I get a chance to do so, My truck has 118,000 now and I'm in Mains so the winters have done their damage just like Minn. All good info and will give me a place to start looking. Thanks again.
Hawkerpilot05
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 180
Likes: 7
From: MN
Another thing to add is that my front u-joints had grease zerks installed. I guess when Ford changed the front end in 2005 they added them. I had always been told that there was no grease zerks to grease. I wish I would have known as I have always been told that the ones with grease zerks will wear out faster then the sealed ones. Maybe mine would have lasted longer. My new ones do and will be greased regularly.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 2
It could also be the track bar ball joint is worn or the steering gear itself is bad. I had an '88 F250 that did that. After replacing ball joints and checking axle shaft u-joints the problem was still there. The steering gear was the problem. Replaced the gear and problem solved.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
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Likes: 65
From: 'Pitlock, Maine
It could also be the track bar ball joint is worn or the steering gear itself is bad. I had an '88 F250 that did that. After replacing ball joints and checking axle shaft u-joints the problem was still there. The steering gear was the problem. Replaced the gear and problem solved.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 65
From: 'Pitlock, Maine
UPDATE!!!!! Ok, I had my truck fixed and the problem was the U-joints on the front axle shafts...specifically one u-joint was frozen and both where extremely dry and on there way out....long story short the truck now handles and drives like a new one, if your truck is acting like I described mine to be it is a good place to start looking. I hope this helps others. I was about to pull the trigger on a new Red Head gear box and although that would have been nice it wouldn't have fixed my problem.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 6
UPDATE!!!!! Ok, I had my truck fixed and the problem was the U-joints on the front axle shafts...specifically one u-joint was frozen and both where extremely dry and on there way out....long story short the truck now handles and drives like a new one, if your truck is acting like I described mine to be it is a good place to start looking. I hope this helps others. I was about to pull the trigger on a new Red Head gear box and although that would have been nice it wouldn't have fixed my problem.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,565
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I'm glad it's fixed. I'm going to thoroughly inspect all front suspension and steering parts on my '08 next spring. It's not a daily driver, so there is no sense of urgency. I have 68K miles, so I suspect axle shaft u-joints or steering box. Tie rods and drag link are good. I'll also check ball joints and track bar while I'm under it.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 65
From: 'Pitlock, Maine
Glad you got your problem fixed! My '08 F-350 w/ 150K is having the same issue. It starts around 15 MP/H or so and won't go away until I come to a complete stop. I'm suspecting it is the u-joints. Are there 2 in the front axle? This is my first diesel truck, so forgive my lack of knowledge on these rigs.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 65
From: 'Pitlock, Maine
I'm glad it's fixed. I'm going to thoroughly inspect all front suspension and steering parts on my '08 next spring. It's not a daily driver, so there is no sense of urgency. I have 68K miles, so I suspect axle shaft u-joints or steering box. Tie rods and drag link are good. I'll also check ball joints and track bar while I'm under it.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,565
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I'll certainly give that a try. But I do have some slop on the sector shaft by the pitman arm. I checked my friend's '03 and his sector shaft has no slop. I suspect I may have some wear on the sector shaft or the box wear the sector shaft goes thru. I only have 68K miles on the truck. So I'll be checking things over thoroughly in the next 1000 miles or so.
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