Hard to steer please help!!
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 40
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Hard to steer please help!!
I have an 86 F150,4X4,302 fuel injected,my problem is the truck steers fine when driving but if when I am trying to turn the wheel to get out of a parking spot or start off it is very hard to turn.If I am sitting still and try to turn the wheel it barely wants to turn but as I start to move it gets easier.Any ideas what it could be? The power steering fluid is full,I am wondering if it is the steering gear box,please help.Thanks for any info in advance.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 67
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Could be the power steering pump, How does the belt look? Have someone turn the steering wheel all the way to the lock and watch to see if the pulley stops spinning on the pump, if it does you need either a new belt of the tension needs adjusting.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 871
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From: Coleman, Wisconsin
My steering went dead the other day and I thought it was a loose belt. Turns out the bracket busted off the front of the engine...Do you have oversized tires? Those will wear a pump out faster.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 684
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I dought it is the gear box, because from my understanding the pump is the actual power supply, and if it was the box, you would probably have more problems steering other than it just stiffening. away to check if the pump is even doing anything is to detach the lines from the gear box, and put them both in a small seperate buckets half less than half filled with fluid, then start the truck, have someone turn the wheel and see if the fluid from one bucket moves to the other. You could do this test by having one bucket of fluid, and another empty bucket, and try it with one line in the bucket of fluid and the other in the empty bucket and then switch the 2 if nothing happens but it may take longer. This test will only tell you if the pump is doing anything, it won't tell you if the pump has the right pressure, so if nothing happens, then you have a bad pump, if fluid moves than either you have another problem like a clogged line, or your pump is too weak.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
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i just had the same problem on a resent thread. pretty much same setup. go ahead and get someone to turn the wheel while you look at the pully. thats the only way I actually saw the problem i was having. outside of the pump being wore out, the belt was intirely to loose. even though i thought i tightened the $#!* out of it. the guys that helped me deserve thanks. i dont have the problem your haveing any more along with being able to keep a belt on track.just like your it drove fine. only when turning with out giving it gas or when i bared down on it in a turn is when i had probs.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Tyrone GA
You might also want to try bringing up the idle speed a little bit. This will turn the pump faster, giving you better pressure to the box. It'll also make your alternator charge better, and the water pump will flow more water ! Try bumping it up about 50-100 rpm and see what happens.
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Senior User
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From: Three oaks michigan
well since it is fuelinjected i wounder if it is one of fords great ideas with the adjustable rods in the steeringbox, i'm guessing it would be, if it is, take off the jam nut and adjust the rod, it helps w/ handleing and takes play outta the wheel, let me know if you want more info
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 326
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From: Merryland
I had a 79 F-150 4x4 once that had a problem something like that,it would turn to the left ok but,not to the right. After i rebuilt the box,new pump,and everything else turned out believe it or not the axle u-joints were froze tighter than he11! After i put those in i could steer it with one finger! 