i posted a thread a few days ago reguarding my power steering on my 2000 v10 crew cab long bed 4X4. the problem is when i am at a stand still the steering wont turn. it's like its locked up. i had it to the dealer and the put a new ps pump on it and check ball joints and all steering components and they said everything was working find and still the problem pesists. they couldn't figure out what was causing this. has anyone else had this problem. i know that the powerstroke have a vacuum assist running off the power steering pump. let me know what you think
thanks

 

1. How big of a tire are you running?

2. Do you have any additional steering stabilizers, other than the single stock stabilizer?

3. Have they (or you) tried to adjust the gears in the steering box?

-If the p/s pump has been changed and the problem persists, the problem is obviously not the steering pump.

-If your tires are larger (37's for example) and you try to cycle the steering wheel at an idle, it will be tough on the system. If you have a dual steering stabilizer and big tires and try to cycle the wheel at an idle, it ain't gonna happen.

-I don't feel like looking for your old post, so give us an idea of what setup you have.

 

my truck is factory. no extra's. i personally havent adjusted the steering box may be original owners did, i can't tell.

 

That is odd. When you say "feels locked up" does that mean it turns freely when you are driving, or are you experiencing turning issues while moving forward as well?

 

its just when its sitting. if you move slowly forward or back just a little bit and steer at the same time it will "unlock". its the weirdest thing.

 

Unless I felt it for myself, it sounds like the system is working properly. You have to remember one thing.....you are trying to move alot of ***** up front (with a small hydraulic pump meant to assist, not overpower). The drag link, common link, spindles/rotors/tires and not to mention the resistance of the tires on the asphalt/concrete. I would venture to say you don't have a problem, other than overwhelming the sytem at an idle.

If you rev it to let's say 2500RPM and try to cycle the wheel, will it move the tires? Will it move the tires at an idle in the "DIRT?"

I don't know if this is help

 

there is a lot of wieght up there to move. i just think its a little strange that ford would make a pump that wouldnt turn the tires while stopped. im going to see if it will turn the wheels in gravel tonight. also it doesnt matter if i rev up the engine they are still locked up.

 

Did you chk the front u-joints in the axle shafts?
don't rely on dealers !

simple task raise the truck safely on jack stands ,turn the wheel ,find the bind

Rich

 

My 2000 5.4L does the same thing at no particular time. I too have checked all up front components. The only thing that I have found to help is to jack front end up so tires are off the ground and move steering wheel from lock to lock position real slow and it will bleed the air out of the system. It will do fine for a while and then start up again so just repeat above when it does.

 

Of course you should be able to turn your wheels when stopped. With stock tires on payment....If not then you have a problem pure and simple..Do what Rich said about the front axle u joints. If they are bad that will lock you up tight but only when the axle is in a certain position so jack it up and turn the axle different positions to see if the steering wheel binds. While jacked up you should be able to grab the tire and move it by hand. If all is well the only thing left is the steering gear!!

 

This actually has to do with it being a straight axle truck and the angle of the pumpkin. if you look at a car/truck with independent front susp. when you turn the wheel with the tires toe in/out depending on the side, the issue wth the sd is that when you try to turn the wheel with the brakes on the wheels want to rotate a bit to toe in/out but with the breaks on they cant. its problably why ford changed the front suspension in 2005

 

You might want to try backing of the adjustment on the steering box a quarter turn to see if it has any affect. If someone tried tightening the box to correct a wandering problem, it might be too tight. If there is no change, put it back where it was.

 

This problem has to do with the fact that that the wheels want to rotate a bit when you turn the wheels left or right not the stearing box adjustment. sit parked with feet off the breaks and turn the wheel, no problem. now step on the breaks and turn the wheel, you now have a problem, you cant turn the wheel. the breaks are doing exactly what they are intednded to do, stop the wheel from spinning. to prove this make a verticle mark 90 degrees to the pavement on the tire, now turn your wheel you will notice that the verticle mark is not at 90 degrees to the pavement anymore.
the wheel rotated a few degrees.
its a solid axle truck and this is how it is, hench the new front susspension in 05

 

Joe cool does have a valid point, but my '01 did it when in park and no brakes applied also. To make this short(er) and sweet, my money is on the gearbox and probably also the draglink binding at the pitman arm. If your steering wheel self centers well coming out of a turn your gearbox is probably adjusted okay. Bear in mind though, most of these gearboxes are well out of adjustment from the start, and most of the Ford techs ( not all of them ) don't seem to take the time, or don't even know how to adjust them properly. Most importantly get those tires off the ground when you adjust it and inspect it so the linkage can move freely. High Ho Silver and 99f350sd said it right. In my case after I adjusted the gearbox correctly all was good in the air, but when under load on the ground the draglink at the pitman arm was binding. Not because it was bad ( it is now ) but it wasn't aligned properly with the other ball and stud where at the passenger side tie rod. With the steering straight ahead make sure the ball and studs on both ends of the draglink are in the middle of their movement capabilities. In my case the draglink end at the pass. side was okay, but the link at the pitman arm was almost at it's limit, so when turned right, it would bind bad. I had to loosen the adjustment sleeve, even it all up and tighten it back. All was well then.
I hope that makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't and I'll try to be more clear. Sorry for the novel but I didn't quite know how else to explain it. Must be from all that clean living in my youth.

Austin

 

My '00 does it and it is stock also! The theory of the monobeam axle causing the problem doesn't wash. I have owned several straight axle Fords and monobeam 4x4's and this is the first one I have had do it. I know other people with late model SD's with diesels yet (even more weight) that don't have this problem. The '05 still has a monobeam front axle just went to coil springs and radius arms. As for the brakes holding the wheels from rotating, that would apply to anything and again this is the only vehicle I have owned that does it. I haven't heard of any BIG trucks doing this and I'm sure a KW or Pete has more weight on much larger tires along with super grabbing air brakes.