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Steering issues.

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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 07:14 AM
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Steering issues.

Hey guys been having problems with my steering being all over the place. I noticed it at first when braking. It would pull to both sides. At a stop light holding the brakes my steering would randomly pull. I replaced the power steering pump. It didn't fix it.

Now just driving it pulls all over. I was thinking steering box? I heard redhead is good but before I just throw $400 at it and hope it fixes it. I was hoping for some input. Thanks in advance!
 
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 07:24 AM
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I would check to usual suspects first. Ball joints and tie rod ends. If you have not lubed the front end in a while, try that first and see if it tightens up your steering. You will be amazed if all it takes is a little grease.

Ted
 
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 01:02 PM
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Originally Posted by twg1966
I would check to usual suspects first. Ball joints and tie rod ends. If you have not lubed the front end in a while, try that first and see if it tightens up your steering. You will be amazed if all it takes is a little grease.

Ted

I just replaced ball joints and tire rods a couple months ago.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 01:29 PM
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Remove the slide pins from the callers and grease them up.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 07:18 PM
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Check the u joints in the front end turn the wheel to lock and try to turn the axle shafts with a pry bar they should turn with ease. I had a pulling steering problem and chased my tail all around and a fellow members mentioned this and it solved my problem bad u joint just something else to check. Also check your your track bar bracket make sure it's not broke I broke one before and talk about a death wobble.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2016 | 11:42 PM
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Sounds like brakes to me. Pulling one side then the other. Now just pulls one way. Caliber stuck on one side or the other. Tim hit it right I think slide pins.
 
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Old Oct 26, 2016 | 01:12 PM
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I chased wandering steering for some time. Virtually rebuilt the whole front end with OEM parts and a "new/rebuilt" steering box with little improvement. Redhead box saved the day for me. Just a side note the shop that did most all of the work had to "bench test" over a dozen parts store "rebuilt" boxes befoer they foud one that they would even install, and it was from Ford. That was a "no go" as well.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2016 | 04:11 PM
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I'll check the brakes out. I just drove it around braking and getting a feel for what's going on. When I brake it pulls to the left which would make me think left caliper problem. But when I'm driving and let go of the steering wheel it pulls pretty hard to the right.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2016 | 06:46 PM
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At a stop light holding the brakes my steering would randomly pull.

if your not moving and the wheel is pulling I doubt that symptom is related to brakes/ ujoints or any suspension component. For that particular symptom a new steering box is the fix.

I dont think I would spend the money on a redhead, a cardone rebuild for 1/2 the price works just as well these days and can be found on the shelf at any parts house.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2016 | 07:05 PM
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Don't forget to check and lube the rear caliper slide pins as well. If one is stuck, it will make your truck pull to the left or the right also. If your truck has been pulling to the left upon braking for some time, you might want to check you right rr pads also, front brake issues will make your rear pads wear prematurely..
 
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Old Nov 2, 2016 | 06:52 AM
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Update. One of the pistons on the passenger caliper compressed a little then stopped. I bought a new caliper pads and rotors. Due to the inside pad being destroyed and messing up the rotor.
 
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Old Nov 21, 2016 | 06:53 AM
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I replaced the passenger caliper. Both rotors and brakes. The truck doesn't have any steering problems now. BUT 2 weeks later I have a vibration at 50-65 mph it feels like it's coming from the same wheel. Also when I let off the throttle at those speeds it has a slight thud then it seems to deaccelrate very fast.
 
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Old Nov 21, 2016 | 08:06 AM
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I replaced the passenger caliper. Both rotors and brakes. The truck doesn't have any steering problems now. BUT 2 weeks later I have a vibration at 50-65 mph it feels like it's coming from the same wheel. Also when I let off the throttle at those speeds it has a slight thud then it seems to deaccelrate very fast.
 
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Old Nov 21, 2016 | 01:06 PM
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Did you recheck to see if something came loose? That would be a first thing to do.
 
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Old Nov 21, 2016 | 01:41 PM
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50-65 mph vibration tends to be drive line related (u-joints, center carrier bearing, etc.). The thud could easily be the drive shaft slip yoke, but the slip yoke issue is typically felt on takeoff from a stop. Since your thud is when you decelerate, I expect you have a pretty bad u-joint and it thuds when you decelerate because of the sudden drop-off on load which lets the joint slop around inside the loose cup bearings.
 
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