Weird Power Steering Issue
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 82
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From: Rural Kansas
Weird Power Steering Issue
I just got the old 75 F250 I've been building since last august running and driving last weekend. Having a weird issue with the power steering I can not figure out yet though.
Driving down the road or just parked it will steer easily one minute and the next it's all I can do to turn it like there is no power steering at all.
It has both pressure and return lines and cooler that are all new along with fresh clean power steering fluid and a new tight drive belt on the pump. The tie rod ends are all new and smooth. Rag joint is in good shape.
After filling the system I jacked the front tires up off the ground and slowly turned the wheels lock to lock while it was running in order to bleed the system.
The gearbox had a little play so I adjusted it about 1/2 a turn on the adjustment screw.
One last thing the pump had a whine when I first started it and then quieted up after bleeding the system.
Any ideas on what to try next? I have another gearbox but really don't wanna swap it until I know that's what is bad and the truck is 2wd if anyone needs to know.
Driving down the road or just parked it will steer easily one minute and the next it's all I can do to turn it like there is no power steering at all.
It has both pressure and return lines and cooler that are all new along with fresh clean power steering fluid and a new tight drive belt on the pump. The tie rod ends are all new and smooth. Rag joint is in good shape.
After filling the system I jacked the front tires up off the ground and slowly turned the wheels lock to lock while it was running in order to bleed the system.
The gearbox had a little play so I adjusted it about 1/2 a turn on the adjustment screw.
One last thing the pump had a whine when I first started it and then quieted up after bleeding the system.
Any ideas on what to try next? I have another gearbox but really don't wanna swap it until I know that's what is bad and the truck is 2wd if anyone needs to know.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 82
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From: Rural Kansas
The pump is full and I've drove it about 10 miles still the same deal it works when it wants. I double checked the belt and fluid after driving it and haven't saw any improvement yet.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rural Kansas
I don't have that shaft at all, my box sits right below the brake booster and the column hooks to it through a rubber joint
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 82
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From: Rural Kansas
I tried to back off the adjustment but can barely get it to move, it does always turn right harder than left so I'm gonna say it's safe to bet the box is faulty.
I have a 76 F350 box but it also has play I might be better off waiting a couple week's and getting a new one instead, as hard as the lines are to get to I didn't wanna change it unless I had to.
I have a 76 F350 box but it also has play I might be better off waiting a couple week's and getting a new one instead, as hard as the lines are to get to I didn't wanna change it unless I had to.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 475
Likes: 34
From: Vermont
If a steering box adjusting bolt is over tightened it will generally only show up as a too hard to turn or a "tightness" right at top dead center of the steering wheel. Or... when the wheels are exactly straight ahead ,vehicle jacked up, the steering wheel will have a tightness or a noticible catch as it is turned from left to right , as it goes by that straight ahead/center spot. It
SHOULD feel like a very slight
drag" as it is turned back and forth thru' that center spot.
Steering box adjustment should not come and go" like I think you are describing. Gary
SHOULD feel like a very slight
drag" as it is turned back and forth thru' that center spot.
Steering box adjustment should not come and go" like I think you are describing. Gary
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 475
Likes: 34
From: Vermont
If it turns THAT hard to even get it to budge when binding;I would take a guess that the actual steering box is the culprit. A lot of stuff in there that can bind/lock up if bearings etc.are sloppy/worn/broken. my 2 cents. Gary