Hello everyone, I have been on this forum several times while working on my 05 King Ranch Diesel and it has been by far a huge help in solving the many problems I have had. Now I have a steering problem I need assistance with.

My truck out of the blue started wondering all over the road and when you make a LEFT turn it likes to stay to the left, you have to bring it back to the right and its very jerky. Driving straight down the highway it goes all over and you have to over correct to get it back straight. When you steer to the LEFT it will start that way and then jerks quickly to the left, like the tires are catching up with the steering wheel. I am also fighting the "death wobble".

I'm thinking the steering box is bad, but I would like some input from others before I shell out the cash and swap it out. I've already sank a bunch of money and time in this truck, it's getting old.

Replaced parts- FICM, Injector, EGR delete, ball joints, calipers, rear pinion seal, front inner differential seals, lock outs, and I'm not done replacing parts yet. Shift motor on the transfer case is bad, brakes are going in the rear and I need an oil change and air filter... I'm a die hard Ford man and I won't give up on this truck.

 

Check the ujoints in the steering knuckles. They start to bind and cause what you are describing.......even in 2wd.

 

I concur with checking the u-joints on the front axle. Even with your hubs unlocked, the u-joints still articulate whenever the front wheels are turned. I had the same case and in 1 u-joint it was frozen on both planes and in the other one on 1 plane. On a side note, in 2005 Ford put grease zerk on the front u-joints which I didn't know as I was told there were none and never greased them. Fortunately it all happened at a time when I needed to replace my ball joints.

2005 Ford F20 Crew Cab 5.4l 3 valve

 

So today I put my truck up on jack stands and looked at the front end. It appears that the U-joints are bad. The wheel will turn freely with the front drive shaft in one position, turn the shaft a quarter turn and the wheel will not turn at all. I am going to replace the U-joints as soon as my new set of snap ring pliers arrive and pray that that is my only issue. Not having to purchase a steering box will give me room to replace the front shocks and do the rear brakes.

Thanks for your input guys!! Saved me a ton of cash!

Dave