Starting about a year ago, "sometimes" when I step on the brakes and am turning the steering wheel, I loose the power steering. I took it to Ford and they said that this is a a known issue but they didn't say what it would take to fix it. Because this problem is intermittant it is very hard to get this fixed unless the mechanic can experience and verify the problem for himself...

Has anyone else experienced this problem and if so, what was the fix? Everything seems normal.

I would just as soon fix this myself as take my truck to the Ford dealership for the usual runaround!!!

Regards, Jim

 

Sounds like some junk circulating in the steering system, put a filter on the return line going to the pump, there is a kit for about 15 dollars.

 

i have the same poroblem on both of my sd fell jerky sometimes doesnt matter if i have the plows on or not kinda of got use to it seems like the rpms arent high enough at idle but but they are i just got used to it i guess

 

i have the same poroblem on both of my sd fell jerky sometimes doesnt matter if i have the plows on or not kinda of got use to it seems like the rpms arent high enough at idle but but they are i just got used to it i guess

 

I have an appointment with the ford dealership for the first week in April. If I can get the problem fixed I will post the fix here. In the mean time I will post a complaint with the NHTSA ( http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...callsearch.cfm) and see if this a pervasive problem.

Regards, Jim

 

Just thinking, If the others that have had this problem would also post a complaint with the NHTSA we might get some attention to this "birth defect."

Jim

 

In case anyone else is having this same problem....

I took my truck up to the service department yesterday and did manage to get the steering to fail while the mechanic was driving. As it turns out the problem could have been caused by either the "hydo-boost unit" or the power steering pump and as it turns out it was the power steering pump.

Regards, Jim

 

well from experiance if it is warranty have them replace both the hydro boost and the power steering pump replacing one and not the both of them will not likley fix the problem i work at a ford dealership as a tech and we always replace both , i bet you noticed a growl at times also in the steering or a buzzing sensation when applying the brakes

 

my 04 is at the shop with the same problem at 5400 miles, they said that they are replacing the hydro boost lines and return lines and if that doesn't solve the problem Ford wants to replace the power steering pump as well

 

I think I am having the same problem. It seems that the power steering is not there when at a dead stop. I have to roll the tires just to get the tires to turn. Reminds me of driving an 84 Freightliner

Is there any way to test the hydro boost or steering pump, without taking it to a shop?

 

Mine too, I just thought it was a ford thing I have to have mine rolling or it won't turn for crap.

 

My story with the power steering problem:

I live in the mountains and put a lot of wear and tear on my steering/brakes. At about 25,000 miles on a new '04, my power steering started cutting out at random intervals. At first, it happened maybe once every two weeks. It eventually grew to three times in one day that almost caused two lower speed accidents. On the third trip to the dealer, I met a tech who saw this problem on one other Super Duty driven under similar high stress conditions.

The fix was laughably easy and cheap, assuming it continues to work (it has worked for 7,000 miles, no repeat of problem whatsoever).

1. Using no tools whatsoever, the tech pushed down on the steering/brake fluid resovoir tilting it roughly 30 degrees towards the engine. This also happens to be tilting it towards the lines that draw fluid from the resovoir.

2. He filled the resovoir higher than the recommended level until it was almost full (left about one inch from top of resovoir).

That got rid of the problem - air getting into the hoses. There's no baffle in the resovoir to prevent air from reaching the hoses when the fluid sloshed around. As the fluid degraded over time, it sloshed more than when new. The fix worked with the old fluid topped off with new (a test), so I changed the fluid at 30K (recommended) and haven't had the problem since. He recommended changing the fluid more often going forward (20-25K).

No corporate Ford engineer could help us with this problem and they had nothing on file (felt like getting a runaround). For further questions, I'd refer you to Courtesy Ford in Littleton, CO. The Service Manager (Dave Something or Other), a Service Rep (Heath), and a Technician (Robert) are aware of this problem, and did a great job helping me out.

Not sure this helps some of the problems listed above, but hopefully it helps at least one of you.

 

What is the steering/brake fluid resevoir and where is the hydroboost unit? Are these units only on certain trucks like a Diesel?

 

I'm having a similar issue to the one above. I figured I'd just bump this thread rather than starting a new one. i have a 2001 Excursion with 7.3l. Yesterday, I started getting an issue where my power steering cuts out when I'm on the brakes. Today, i've also noticed the brake pedal pulsing when I push the brakes hard. It's getting much worse today and I've been hearing a noise like a bad bearing coming from the front of the truck. I haven't had any of the traditional whine from the power steering pump. Any ideas on what could be wrong? New power steering pump needed? My power steering fluid level is good and it appears to be relatively clean.

 

Pulsing pedal while braking is a sign of a warped rotor.


You can try flushing the power steering system and replacing the fluid (check your manual - make sure you use the right stuff). Basically on your truck the brakes and steering get boost power from the steering pump, so it isn't uncommon for the steering wheel to be hard when trying to turn the wheel while sitting still. A fluid flush helped mine, but it will never be 100%. Just get used to rolling slightly while turning the wheel. Easier on the components that way.