I need some help. I have a 02 F-250 4WD V-10. I just replaced the right inner and outer tie rod, the left outer tie rod, the left inner (or called center link to pitman arm) I also replaced the steering damper and did the front and rear shocks. I got everything replace and now when I drive it feels like its slipping right to left. I was driving and let go of the steering wheel and and after a coulpe of seconds it slipped to the left. Also feels like to you have to help the steering wheel back after you turn. Bot if anyone has any ideas or questions for me I will try to explain more the best i can.

 

You need to get it aligned no matter what.

But, was it doing this before the work at all?

 

This sounds like a classic bad axle u-joint. Or both. When they get bad they will clunk and get sloppy. They can also go the other way and virtually become gaulded. When you steer they will be tight but then let loose ....and just go back and forth like that all the time. It creates very annoying feedback in the steering feel. From smooth to hard to smooth again all in the same steering wheel turn at times. Most likely this is your problem. Unfortunately the only real way to check them is pulling the axles. Not a bad job. Do not try to determine the u joint quality whilst installed.
Once the axles are out you should be able to move the axles and if the u joints are ok it will feel firm but smooth. If they are gaulded it will be almost impossible to move the outer shaft with your hands only.

A couple other things if the u joints check out...

What brand stabilizer?

Pitman arm wore out? Yes they can and will get worn. Thankfully those splines are softer than the steering box splines.
I ask about pitman arm because now everything is right and tight again the other weak things will show up now. Before it was all sloppy so it was hard to pinpoint one thing.
Lay under and watch as someone steers left and right slowly. If there is any play in the Pitman arm splines it will show right then. Watch other things too and see if movement is going on in anything else.

The stabilizer .....
I ask this because Bilstein (pronounced Bill Stine) has a pressurized stabilizer and if you are running under a 35 inch tire you will get push pull sensation. That is fact. It has to do with the angle of ball joints the 99-04 have. (Apologies as I didn't see your year.)
The rest I wrote does apply to all years so crawl under and have a helper steer.

Good luck...

I'm confident you will find bad u-joints
as the problem.

 

Thank you for taking a ton of your time to explain everything. I have ball joints that I just didn't have time to put in, plus it didn't really feel like it needed them, they were tight. I am now going to do both the U joints and Ball joints, and the get it aliened when that's done.

 

That's why I asked if it did it before. U-joints. If it wasn't doing this before you did the work though, start with the alignment. Also on the ball joints, to check them you should get the front wheel off the ground just a little bit and use a pry bar to rock the tire. Often ball joints aren't loose by hand, but are with a bit more leverage...

A good way to test for a seized u-joint is to lock the hub and then try to turn the wheels left and right. Have to try it in two positions. Get the u-joint positioned so that it has two nubs facing straight up and down and try to turn, then rotate it so the other two nubs are facing straight up and down. If at one position you cannot turn the wheel you know they are seized.

 

I just had the ujoint problem..replace with spicer life joints. don't think there is a better joint. I think the orig problem is alignment. I do my own and shoot for about 1/16 toe in to straight ahead. Put line in center of tires by spinning them and measure equal distance up from ground on front and back. front measurement 1/16 less and it should ride nice.