Help! Steering problems after new steering gear
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Help! Steering problems after new steering gear
I have an early 99 f350 4x4 with a 4" lift on 35's. This weekend I replaced my steering gear box (old one was sloppy and wondering every where) along with that I replaced the pitman arm, center link and track bar. I drained and flushed my p/s fluid with valvoline synthetic mercon LV ATF.
I could not get my track bar to bolt up, it was about 1.5" short of the bolt hole in the top mount (stock track bar and I'm sure it is the stock mount too, I bought the truck already lifted)
In order for me to get the bolt through the track bar I had a friend start the truck and turn wheels to the left (with the truck and tires on ground) until I had just enough hole to drive the bolt through. My friend had no problem turning the steering wheel while I was bolting up the track bar and now I cant even get out of my driveway, it takes everything I have to turn the wheel.
I could not get my track bar to bolt up, it was about 1.5" short of the bolt hole in the top mount (stock track bar and I'm sure it is the stock mount too, I bought the truck already lifted)
In order for me to get the bolt through the track bar I had a friend start the truck and turn wheels to the left (with the truck and tires on ground) until I had just enough hole to drive the bolt through. My friend had no problem turning the steering wheel while I was bolting up the track bar and now I cant even get out of my driveway, it takes everything I have to turn the wheel.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Colorado Springs
When you flushed the system did you lift the front end and turn full lock several times with the power steering reservoir cap off? Do you see fluid cavitation with the truck running and cap reservoir cap off, what about when you have someone slowly turn the steering wheel?
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So the way I got my track bar lined up is normal? I just thought that since I got the symptoms showed up after bolting it up. Thats where I screwed up. I can jack it up tomorrow and keep going from lock to lock and see if it helps
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Colorado Springs
Basically you used the power steering pump to torque aka move the truck/axle to line up, not really what the pump was designed to do but unlikely to cause damage. As I’ve mentioned twice, check to see if you have cavitation in the power steering reservoir with the truck running. If you don’t have help tape your phone to stick and line it up with the reservoir so you can review the recording. You have to determine if there’s movement of the fluid. Did you secure the steering wheel before you disconnected the box and during the installation? The pitman are stayed centered during installation?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2012
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That’s what I had to do to get my trac bar to line up and that was with a drop bracket, and done that on a few other trucks as well that didn’t hurt any thing. The biggest probem I see is you put the WRONG fluid in it it takes Mercon V, it originally took Mercon, Mercon V superseded Mercon. Mercon V and Mercon LV are not interchangeable. This may not be your problem at the moment but will cause you one eventually.
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Ok so I think it's my p/s pump. We jacked the front end up, started the truck and I couldn't see any fluid movement. Had my buddy turn the wheel from lock to lock no fluid movement and there was no noise coming from the pump wheel held at full lock
Diverdude
Joined: May 2017
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From: Tennessee
I've always run Napa Type F transmission fluid in my '99 F350 power steering pump. Should I switch to Mercon V? I just swapped to a redhead gear box, but haven't finished everything yet so this would be a good time to switch...
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