Got a major problem...1985 f250w/6.9

Driving down the road and suddenly
my steering wheel developed major free play, problem proceeded to get worse as i drove
By time i limped it home i could not turn left at all
and the st wheel is actually 180 degrees off or upside down
from normal position.
With the truck off i can spin the st wheel freely
like a arcade racing game.
can someone help me out as to what needs to be replaced
and how to do the job??
Will just replacing the pump and steering box fix this problem.

Thank you all in advance for any/all help

Don

 

Sounds like you need either a steering box or the universals in the steering column shaft are gone.

Have someone turn the steering wheel while you look out under the hood. See where the steering column comes out of the firewall and follow it down to the steering box. You should have no free play in any of the column joints. If you follow it far enough you will find your problem before you get to the wheels.

 

dave, thanks for your reply to the steering problem.
i popped off the plastic dust boot that covers the universal at the steering box and discovered the problem..i think...
the bottom flange that slides over the spline on the steering box is broke all the way around, i loosened the 10 mm bolt that tightens the shaft onto the spline but have not removed the bolt at the top of the shaft will do that tommorow
by removing that top bolt,it appears to be 15mm im guessing
then i can remove the steering shaft then am i correct?or will i need to do something besides to remove??
Now,can you purchase that bottom universal or do i need to replace the whole shaft??

Also when i turn the steering shaft it spins freely and the
spline on the top of steering box will thread itself out and back down left turn out or towards the firewall ,,right turn back down or back into the steering box
is that normal or is the steering box shot too??

thankyou

 

Your steering box input shaft should not move in and out of the steering box. Sounds like the steering column was what was holding it tight.

You did good finding your problem and what caused it to happen.

That is not normal and you need a steering box. When you visit the salvage yard I would just go ahead and get the bottom section of steering column shaft as well.

 

ya Dave the st box is shot
but the lower section of the steering shaft is not broken
as i first thought just well used heck,the truck has over 380000
on her but as long as i have everything apart might as well
replace the lower half of the shaft
1980-1996 f250 use the same st box and should be no problem
finding that shaft might be a challenge but i know where there are a few trucks sitting at different grave yards maybe i will luck out and find one right away.
thanks for all your time and help
Don

 

i found stering boxes on ebay for 148.00 rebuilt hope this helps