steering wheel gone crazy

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Feb 20, 2004 | 09:37 AM

kjswensen

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Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 62

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From: West Jordan, Utah

steering wheel gone crazy

when im driving on the freeway and i go over a fairly substancial bump. ya know the kind that shake your gut up and down. well my steering wheel turns to the right. It goes from the 9 and 3 position to more of a 11 and 5. It will also do this when i go over more rythmic bimps. as the front end goes up and down the steering moves right along with it.

My alignment is not too far off. certainly my truck drifts and wanders but dont they all? Mostly the steering wheel stays straight.

I did have my ball joints replaced a couple weeks ago. It was since that time that i started to notice this.

any ideas or advice is appreciated.

Thanks

Feb 20, 2004 | 10:23 AM

Yeti

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Joined: Apr 2002

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From: IN FRONT OF YOU

What type of truck? year, model?

Feb 20, 2004 | 12:21 PM

kjswensen

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Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 62

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From: West Jordan, Utah

duh sorry.

2001 F350 PSD super crew long bed. level kit, 35's

Feb 20, 2004 | 12:30 PM

99f350sd

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2003

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From: Lyndonville, Vermont

steering damper??

Feb 20, 2004 | 09:52 PM

mrwizard

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Joined: Jul 2002

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From: Vancouver WA

When you hit a bump and the steering wheel turns does the truck veer to that side, or does it seem to keep going straight?

Feb 21, 2004 | 08:45 AM

towboat

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Joined: Jul 2003

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It sounds like you are describing bumpsteer. When the suspension height is altered it can cause the problem you have. See these for a description...Bumpsteer
or...http://www.earlycj5.com/Tech/bumpSteer.htm
and...http://www.steeda.com/PR/Mustang/bum.../bumpsteer.htm

Last edited by towboat; Feb 21, 2004 at 08:53 AM.

Feb 21, 2004 | 10:42 AM

Hunter40

Tuned

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 305

Likes: 20

From: North Padre Island, TX

My truck EXACTLY. Here's what happened. I was on a dirt road and apparently struck a small object with my steering damper that hangs down under the front axle. I hit it so softly, I didn't even know I hit anything. All the way home, my truck acted exactly as you described. When I got home I looked underneath and saw the steering damper was ever so slightly bent. I removed it and am not able to move it by hand. Truck has no more problems now. Try taking off or replacing the damper and see if that helps.