power steering fluid question
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5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
power steering fluid question
2005 sport trac has a leak in the power steering fluid. Can that cause it to have a severe wobble and how?
I have had many cars and trucks that lost all fluid and that never happened. I have bypassed the power steering pump in cars and never a wobble.
This truck wobbles so bad that I am afraid to travel more than a few miles.
I have changed the tie rod ends, gotten new tires, alignment and next is shocks, but can it be the leak?
I have had many cars and trucks that lost all fluid and that never happened. I have bypassed the power steering pump in cars and never a wobble.
This truck wobbles so bad that I am afraid to travel more than a few miles.
I have changed the tie rod ends, gotten new tires, alignment and next is shocks, but can it be the leak?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 83
From: Cedar Rapids, IA
I suppose if the fluid level is low enough that there is air in the system, and the pump is trying to compress and pump the air, it will have intermittent power assist and maybe the pressure differential could cause the steering rack to wander a bit. If you've properly checked all other suspension and steering components along with the tires (tread and inflation) and they all check out as okay, then alignment and fixing the known issue with the power steering system is the next logical step.
On my 1995 Bronco, I recently replaced the power steering pump because it was whining even though the fluid level was correct. It had the noise since I bought it so I'm not sure if the type was correct or not. Prior to replacing the noisy pump it was a bit sketchy to drive. I had assumed several of the bushings in the twin torque tube front suspension were in need of replacement, even though everything seemed tight. After installing and bleeding the new pump, the steering felt MUCH better, and is probably as good as it's going to get with slightly oversized tires.
-Rod
On my 1995 Bronco, I recently replaced the power steering pump because it was whining even though the fluid level was correct. It had the noise since I bought it so I'm not sure if the type was correct or not. Prior to replacing the noisy pump it was a bit sketchy to drive. I had assumed several of the bushings in the twin torque tube front suspension were in need of replacement, even though everything seemed tight. After installing and bleeding the new pump, the steering felt MUCH better, and is probably as good as it's going to get with slightly oversized tires.
-Rod
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 83
From: Cedar Rapids, IA
Possibly. On the Bronco it seemed to wander, and there was a lot of travel in the steering wheel to correct little imperfections in the road.
Are you contemplating whether or not to keep the truck or get rid of it because of the leak in the power steering? Do you know what part of the power steering system is leaking? If you plan to keep the truck, you should plan to fix the bad part. The longer you use the truck with a bad part and low fluid level, the more likely you are to do additional damage to the remainder of the power steering system.
-Rod
Are you contemplating whether or not to keep the truck or get rid of it because of the leak in the power steering? Do you know what part of the power steering system is leaking? If you plan to keep the truck, you should plan to fix the bad part. The longer you use the truck with a bad part and low fluid level, the more likely you are to do additional damage to the remainder of the power steering system.
-Rod
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,791
Likes: 2,426
That much play in the steering with everything else being good it is most likely slop in the steering gear.
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