Steering? Hard-Easy-Hard-Easy while Turning

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Apr 11, 2004 | 12:32 AM

furstford

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Steering? Hard-Easy-Hard-Easy while Turning

Just got a ford 1976 f250 highboy 4x4 from my buddy and it had some serious steering issues while driving home. While turning it goes from goes from easy to hard and back again about 5 times while taking a easy 90 turn. I replaced the pump and it is still going on. I am sure it is a hydralic issue and not a tie rod or rag joint issue. My question is....is it the control box or it is the actual power steering piston. both are about 250 at the store so i dont want to be wrong.

Thanks

Apr 11, 2004 | 12:45 AM

76hiboy

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Joined: Oct 2003

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I had the same problem on my 1976 F-250 4x4 and I wanted to rebuilt the power assist control box but decided to swap out everything to a 79 power steering. I think its better to upgrade to this type of steering because if you spend $250 to fix the power assist it will still not be all that great.

Apr 11, 2004 | 01:05 AM

furstford

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I have been reading all of the 76 posts regarding the power steering problems and that seems to be the consensus. How expensive is it to do the swap?

Last edited by furstford; Apr 11, 2004 at 01:09 AM.

Apr 11, 2004 | 12:40 PM

supercab79

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Pa

With junk yard parts it's not that expensive. More time consuming than expensive. I've gotten all the parts out of a upull it and spent about $200.00. Plus 76highboy is right you will be very happy you made the switch. One finger smooth steering!!!!

Apr 12, 2004 | 04:39 PM

Purely Ford

Elder User

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 987

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From: East Bend, Carolina, U.S

Is it possible that if the cab mounts are rusted so as the cab has dropped down and this is putting the steering into a bind?

Apr 12, 2004 | 04:46 PM

ivanribic

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Joined: Jul 2003

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From: Spokane, WA

This is an entirely stupid comment but I want to say it anyway just in case. I was working on my truck a while ago and later noticed the same problem with steering. It didn't do it to me when parked but when moving it was hard to turn at various spots throughout the movement. I did all kinds of messing around with my steering and nothing helped. Found out a few days later that I'd set my parking brake while working and left it on. Somehow the binding of the rear axle was making it tough to steer. Popped the brake and it was smooth as could be. Sure, I felt like a friggin idiot but at least I didn't have to replace any other parts.

Just something to check on, though I'm highly doubtful that's your problem.

Apr 25, 2004 | 09:38 PM

Hyperactive460

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Joined: Jan 2003

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From: Ilion Herkimer

i have my truck parked for the winter at my father in-laws shop and had to move it so he could plow. when i tried to turn it was doing the same as yours , hard then easy then hard again. checked the fluid and even bleed it but still nothing. so i had my brother in-law turn the wheel while i looked under the hoo and noticed that the steering shaft was binding at the u-joint. a little wd-40 and all is well again.