I have a 1989 F250, 4x4, 7.3L, 5spd. I have an odd steering issue. Hopefully you cans can help me diagnose it.

While driving in a straight line the truck will start to pull to the right. It will gradually pull more & more. Then all of a sudden it releases and I actually jerk to the left due to trying to keep the truck straight. It almost feels lIke a brake is aplying pressure on its own then releasing. I have tried turning the wheel to see if that will stop the pulling but it doesn't. I haven't noticed any odd wearing of the tires. Ball joints are all good and tight. Steering gear box has been replaced in the last year with a rebuilt unit. The only "odd" thing I can find is the conection at the pit man arm to the drag link bar. If the passenger tire is lifted off the ground and I push the wheel like it's making a left turn that "joint" will pop a little. No major play in it, nor does it feel loose.

The other day I made a left turn and it felt like something was binding when I straightened out the wheels. Then it drove fine and I couldn't duplicate it. The power steering is easy to turn while sitting still. I can go from full left to right without any issues.

It would seem that I may need to replace the drag link bar, but I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything. No one ever wants to replace parts and hope to fix the issue.

Thank you for any help or ideas you guys can offer.

 

ujoint seizing up at the balljoints.
might need torringtons/inner spindle bearings serviced too.

 

Truck isn't in 4x4 when it does this. It has manual lock outs and the are in the free position. Wheel is solid and has no play, not ruling out bearings. Hub doesn't get warm after a trip and when free spinning it while in the air it's quite. Thanks for the input, I'll still check those areas out better.

 

if you have ujoint seizing up , can be running in 2wd and vibration on the road can move the shafts a little and bind when turning. this can be worse if torringtons haven't been sercived regularly and are dry.


I had a brand new 96 F250 4x4 with factory front posi and auto hubs, in a tight turn in 2wd if Ujoints were off just a bit from balljoint's axis point, shaft would turn enough to grab the posi> turn the opposite shaft and lock the front hub> straighten out the wheels and the posi would make the opposite hub lock and voila I was running in 4wd .


basically just like all the new 4wd without locking hubs, technically fulltime 4wd. oops that's another issue/beef with newer trucks


you need to tear that front end down and service it.

 

I've had hubs lock and won't come unlocked so I've been kind of paranoid so don't trust that they're unlocking