Steering pulls
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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Steering pulls
Hard for me to explain. I have owned this 79 f150 4x4 for about 25 years so im pretty good at fixin it. The problem is only when its freezin cold out the steering sticks and pulls badly to the left. When driving straight the truck pulls left and will go strait with steering wheel about quarter turn to right, but turn wheel a little more to right and boom the pull stops but be ready to turn right. Again pulls left hard, steer right to go strait, turn little more right and boom your turning when tryin to go straight. Only happens when cold out, about 30 degrees or colder but problem will go away after about 10 mins of driving. Can sit and idle for 10 20 mins and makes no differance till drivin. Pump is newer and box was replaced from bronco grave yard about 4 yeats ago. Any ideas? Seems like the box is stickin and my "boom" is not noise just instant reaction
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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Doesn't feel or hear a belt slip. If the weathers not so cold it's fine. Started last winter but was fine all summer. Now it's freezing out and the problem is back. Maybe cause i got power steering oil in it instead of atf oil?
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,553
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Agree it sounds like a box issue. In general, reman boxes are a gamble. Cleaned up, re-sealed and re-painted. Some work OK, many not. I think you would have better luck with a higher end reman like a Redhead.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: San Jose, CA
First thing I would do is rotate the tires. Whether just left-to-right on the front, or go ahead and do the whole thing and get them over to the back of the truck.
Just thinking along these lines:
1. Cold weather can effect tires.
2. Older tires can be even more effected (how old are yours?)
3. Tires do wear anyway, and can cause pulling all on their own without the weather acting on it. But it doesn't get all that cold around here anyway, so I don't have that much experience on the subject. But how cold are we talking before you start to feel something?
4. The light pulling, then sharp jerk in the direction of steering is a classic worn tire issue as well.
Tires can have the usual wear and tear on the outside, but also start failing on the inside as well. Even new tires can have this. Hence the recommendation or rotating them to see if the direction or severity changes anything.
Good luck!
Paul
Just thinking along these lines:
1. Cold weather can effect tires.
2. Older tires can be even more effected (how old are yours?)
3. Tires do wear anyway, and can cause pulling all on their own without the weather acting on it. But it doesn't get all that cold around here anyway, so I don't have that much experience on the subject. But how cold are we talking before you start to feel something?
4. The light pulling, then sharp jerk in the direction of steering is a classic worn tire issue as well.
Tires can have the usual wear and tear on the outside, but also start failing on the inside as well. Even new tires can have this. Hence the recommendation or rotating them to see if the direction or severity changes anything.
Good luck!
Paul
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: San Jose, CA
Back to the issue of it possibly having something to do with the box...
Have you ever flushed the system? Are you using a high quality power steering specific fluid?
What about another flush and fill, with a more expensive synthetic that might handle temperature extremes better. Might be worth the time and extra money even if you have to waste a little of it when you go for the rebuild later.
But if it does change/help/fix it right off the bat, hey bonus!
Just thinking that some moisture could be present in the fluid. Not usually an issue when the trucks get driven more often and for longer distances, but if it's a short-haul truck mainly, moisture can get just about anywhere it wants.
Paul
Have you ever flushed the system? Are you using a high quality power steering specific fluid?
What about another flush and fill, with a more expensive synthetic that might handle temperature extremes better. Might be worth the time and extra money even if you have to waste a little of it when you go for the rebuild later.
But if it does change/help/fix it right off the bat, hey bonus!
Just thinking that some moisture could be present in the fluid. Not usually an issue when the trucks get driven more often and for longer distances, but if it's a short-haul truck mainly, moisture can get just about anywhere it wants.
Paul
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Junior User
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Running strait clean power steering fluid. I have read that maybe i should be running atf instead of the power steering oil. If i kick my wife out of the garage and keep it in .......... low 40 high 30 degrees in the garage it's fine. No pulling no jamming up, runs and drives fine for about the 40 min drive to work. Park at work where its high was about 16, all day, 9 hours, so it cooled well. Steering jams up leaving work. I can always steer thru it, its not locking up at all. That was today outside of Philadelphia
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 279
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My guess would be the sealing rings on the control/spool valve in the steering box, find somebody who can, or reseal it yourself, you will need the stretch and the shrink tools to install new rings, what's happening is the fluid is by-passing into the right side of the spool valve circuit when cold (greater clearance) a fluid change may help, if the torsion bar in the spool valve was broken it would pull to both sides, being only the right side is a indication of a pressure problem, you may try one of those additives, Lucas or whoever that will swell the seals and reduce the clearance, good luck, just my 2 cents, only worth a penny.
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Junior User
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front axle was completely rebuilt last year, all looks and feels good, figured out one thing tho. The truck always sits and idles for 5, 10 min before driving, so crank the steering wheel from lock to lock 5,6 times and have had no problem since. Steering not pulling or nuttin now when driven. Temporary fix
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2016
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I do not recommend rebuilding the steering box but I tore a two-wheel drive one down many years ago. I was not able to get the entire thing apart because I did not have the special tools. I was trying to replace the seals. Getting all of those little ***** back in right was a pain. It still leaked so I bought a new one a few months later. There is a procedure in the shop manuals. You might want to install a line filter first.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
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Since it's a 4x4 - does it seem to make any difference if the hubs are in or out? Stiff knuckle joints can do strange stuff, might be worth locking them and trying it, or even run a few tight circles in a parking lot to see if anything changes......
Also - have you tried adjusting your steering box a little? Endplay on the bearings can do similar things.
Also - have you tried adjusting your steering box a little? Endplay on the bearings can do similar things.