strange steering
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strange steering
I've visited this form for over a year and have gotten alot of good info on maintaining my truck, but this has me stumped. I got a 93 F350 7.3 turbo that is starting to bug me with the steering. Whenever I come out of a turn about when the wheels would go straight the steering feels like it is binding. I have to turn the steering wheel a bit harder till it kicks past that point and then it seems like a wheel was trying to catch up with the other. After I'm going straight it seems fine. It does it whether I'm turning right or left. I got under it plenty of times to look at the tie rod ends and everything is tight. It has been getting worse and I noticed the other day that the drivers tire was starting to wear funny on the inside so I took it in to get aligned and had them check the front end. They didn't find anything wrong with it either but it still does it. The truck has over 300,000 miles on it. Could the steering gear box be wearing out?
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Wilkeson, Washington
The only way to check for wear is to take the weight off the front end. Jack up the front end then check for anything loose or sloppy. If you have an Les Scwab tire center near you the will do it for free, fishing for anything to repair. If something is wrong the'll find it.
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I had a toyota cressida, pre Lexus vehicle. It had a similar problem. It only happened on one stretch of road where you made a sweeping downhill left curve and then curved to the right. The steering would bind for a second, you would have to pull on the wheel a little harder, and then it would click or pop loose and be fine.
Several front end shops and the dealer could not ID the problem. Finally one mechanic told me it had to be the steering box. Turned out to be the steering box!
Sticking steering can be a bad day. My money says you have a bad steering box.
Several front end shops and the dealer could not ID the problem. Finally one mechanic told me it had to be the steering box. Turned out to be the steering box!
Sticking steering can be a bad day. My money says you have a bad steering box.
Last edited by cetane anyone ??; Mar 8, 2005 at 02:22 PM.
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Cool. I didn't want to be replacing the steering box if it wasn't the cause. I had it aligned at Big O Tires and they fished for alot of other repairs but they didn't find anything wrong or worn out on the steering linkage. Anyone know how had it is to replace?
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Not hard on the cressida. Just disocated my knee cap crawling under the POS.
Knee still hurts 15 years later.
You need a tie rod separator. Get a box from the junk yard if you can with the pitman arm still on it. If you get a reman. etc., remember you will then need a pitman arm puller to remove your original pitman, then replace it on the new box. It has a mondo size nut on it. Not sure of the torque---125lbs? Somebody help me on that. You don't want to (edite) around with steering stuff. You can rent/loan those tools from auto zone. Air ratchets are nice when it comes to pitman arms!
Knee still hurts 15 years later.
You need a tie rod separator. Get a box from the junk yard if you can with the pitman arm still on it. If you get a reman. etc., remember you will then need a pitman arm puller to remove your original pitman, then replace it on the new box. It has a mondo size nut on it. Not sure of the torque---125lbs? Somebody help me on that. You don't want to (edite) around with steering stuff. You can rent/loan those tools from auto zone. Air ratchets are nice when it comes to pitman arms!
Originally Posted by goodie350
Cool. I didn't want to be replacing the steering box if it wasn't the cause. I had it aligned at Big O Tires and they fished for alot of other repairs but they didn't find anything wrong or worn out on the steering linkage. Anyone know how had it is to replace?
Last edited by cetane anyone ??; Mar 8, 2005 at 02:59 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Southern New England
I had the same problem with my 1989 F250, 7.3. It was the left front U-joint that went south. When it (the u-joint) got in the right position it would make the steering bind (like someone was holding the wheel so I couldn't turn it), even though I was in 2wd at the time.
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goodie350, is your truck 2x4, or 4x4? Guess it might make a diff. with what 2Fords1Jeep had to say about his 4x4. That sounded even more unusual esp. in 2wd than a steering box problem. But worth rulling out. 300,000 miles is getting up there for a lot of parts and pieces depending how it has been driven and maintaned.
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It is a 4X4. I haven't checked the u-joints for a few months. Last I checked them was before winter was coming. I never would have even considered that could be a culprit especially with the hubs unlocked but stranger things have happened. I'll try to look at them tonight to see. I looks like it will be a nice weekend so hopefully I'll be able to get it fixed.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Duluth, Mn.
I'd suspect the Box, @ 300K miles, it's prolly long over due for a replacement. I'm not sure of what the 93's have as far as a Rag Joint, but if there's one on there, make sure you deal with that too. Prolly one of the biggest culprits of sloppy steering, on 80's Ford steering.
The pitman arm is torqued to 175-200 lb ft. It takes some tools and effort to get it R&R'd
The pitman arm is torqued to 175-200 lb ft. It takes some tools and effort to get it R&R'd
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From: newfoundland canada
I had the same prob,it also turned out to be a bad u-joint on the pass sideaxle binding.The joints to check for this are the ones joining the stub axle to the main axle shaft(behind the backing plates).
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I guess strange things are happening. I was able to check the u-joints last night. At first both turned freely and didn't have any play in them. Turned the wheels and for whatever reason the pass side bound up and I couldn't even get it to turn even after I straighten the wheel out. I decided to see if it would make any difference if I locked that hub to keeped the joint turning while I was driving. Wouldn't you know it, I don't have that steering problem any more. It actually drove pretty good except for slow, sharp turns I could tell that joint didn't really want to cooperate too much. Looks like I'll leave the steering box alone for right now and just get that joint replaced.
Thanks 2Fords1Jeep and pnose for that tip. I don't think I would of ever considered u-joints as a problem and would have drove myself mad replacing part after part on the steering.
Thanks 2Fords1Jeep and pnose for that tip. I don't think I would of ever considered u-joints as a problem and would have drove myself mad replacing part after part on the steering.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Southern New England
I would not continue to lock that hub. The way I discovered the problem was the bound-up U-joint took out my locking hub...stripping the inner splines.
Glad to be of help. While you have things apart, it would be a good time to inspect or replace the inner and outer front wheel bearings.
Glad to be of help. While you have things apart, it would be a good time to inspect or replace the inner and outer front wheel bearings.