I have an '01 F250 SD 4x4 w/ 5.4l motor. Just recently, I have noticed that when stopped, with the brake depressed, I can't turn the steering wheel. If I let up on the brake, the wheel will turn, but not if with the brake depressed. I did a forum topic search, and apparently this has happened to alot of other folks. I got the truck with 34,117 miles on it, and now have 37,067 miles. The 99 day / 3,000 miles warranty is almost up, so I made an appointment with the dealer to drop the truck off this afternoon. Basically, I have read reasons such as "that's the way it is supposed to work"(BS) to "power steering pump failing"(??) to "bad ball joints."(??) I am counting on the dealer to fix the problem (with me only incurring the $50 deductible charge), but since it is not a Ford dealer, I want to be smart going in there. Since other people have had this problem, has there been a decisive solution presented as of yet? Also, so I don't get the run-around, please let me know if there is anything else I should be looking out for with regards to the steering?

 

does the engine use the same system to run power brakes as it does to run the power steering? most use vacuum to run the power brakes, but I beleive some of them use the steering system. Is the wheel impossible to turn, or is it just difficult? If they are the same system, it could be the pump doesn't have enough to run them both, or maybe a valve or something is sticking. Might be worth at least checking to see if the systems are tied in together. Could also be ball joints as pressure will be put on them as the truck will try to turn them when it slows the wheels. This will put a lot of force sideways on the joint, and if there is a lot of friction in them, it could bind. You can check ball joints by raising the front of the truck, and try to move the tire by hand. It shouldn't move in any way other than rotate. If you can wiggle it back and forth, the joints are bad. you can put a pry bar underneath the tire and pry upwards to get more leverage, that makes it easier to see the motion as well, because you don't have to work as hard physically. Is the steering difficult normally? A frozen or stuck joint will resist turning. Try with the truck jacked up turning the wheels. If everything is working as it should, you shouldn't even be able to tell there is anything connected to the steering wheel. Do this test with the engine off, as it will give you a better picture of how much resistance there actually is. Hope some of this helps. -Jeff

 

With the truck on a lift and steering wheel not locked you should be able to grab both sides of the front wheel and turn it. You may have seized ball joints,has happened, so you may not be able to turn wheels as above. Steering damper may be locked.
And of course pump may be shot. Check fluid for burning smell.


Dick

 

My '01 4x4 did this from day one. I assumed it was normal. Something about the steering geometry, the wheels need to turn to be able to "turn", so to speak.

I have no problems with steering, did the inner needle bearing on the right side, multiple times I turned the entire steering system by hand from the spindle, no binding, nothing.

I think it's normal. But I could be wrong.

I have the Dana 50 front-end.

art k.

 

I don't have any trouble turning even with 800lbs of plow on the front and foot on the brake. Stock size tires.

 

Maybe the pressure-relief in my pump opens way too early.

Now I gotta go take a drive and check it out - darn you people!!!

 

Does the truck display the same symptoms if it is at a stop as it does when it is moving? And if so, does it turn harder when you are pressing the brake than when you aren't? If it doesn't do it at a standstill without the brake, but it does it at a standstill with the brake, then ball joints would be ruled out. Does it actually make it impossible, or just very difficult, as if there is no power steering? If the two systems are tied together, I would think it is a shot pump if it steers fine at a stop without the brake but doesn't with the brake. Try that and let us know what happens. It might help to have the truck up on jackstands when you try it, so you will be able to tell easier differences in the resistance.

 

Okay, took it back to the dealer that I bought it from (not a Ford dealer). Tech checked it out and tried to give me the "due to the suspension and steering geometry..blah, blah, blah... it's normal." To which I calmly replied BS! If it were normal, and due to the suspension and steering geometry, then everyone here would have the same problem! Service Manager agreed to let me take it to a Ford dealer and have them check it out. If there is something wrong, they pay; if not, then I pay the "check-out" fee. Fair enough. Now, as for the questions above. Truck only does this when stopped with the brake on. Let up on the brake and it turns lock to lock. Tried giving it a little gas (to increase the RPMs on the power steering pump), but made no difference. Again, it does not have any of these symptoms when moving, just stop with the brake depressed. Strange part is that I just noticed it happening. I am pretty observant and would think that if it were happening all along, I would have noticed it sooner. As far as being impossible to turn.. yeah, you can turn it just enough to take the play out, then it binds (again, only stopped with the brake on). Unfortunately, I don't have the time (as the warranty is about to expire) to check too many things, and I'm not sure if the systems (brake and steering) are tied together. Just as FYI, the truck is bone stock ('01 F250 4x4, 4.10 LS, no steering damper, PS fluid is good). Desperately need some help, as I defintely want to get this fixed on the dealers buck. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

I guess that is an inconvenience not being able to turn the wheel with it stopped. At least it is not something that happens while moving, because if you couldn't hit the brake and steer that would be very dangerous. It sounds like the two systems are interconnected, it doesn't make any sense that it would be the steering geometry. The geometry doesn't change at all when the brakes are pressed! The only thing it might be is that the wheels need to roll a little bit to turn them while the truck is sitting still. Try putting it up on jackstands, and then turn the wheels with no brakes, and compare that with turning the wheel with brakes. Also try it on a soft surface or something and see if you can turn it then. It could just be that you are trying to slide the tires across pavement, if the wheels stick out a little bit away from their pivot point. Could also be a low pressure pump, because the wheels are generally much much more difficult to turn when the vehicle isn't rolling at least a little bit.

 

Oh, and to check if the systems are related, look on the brake master cylinder. If there is a hose running from the intake manifold to the brake system on the firewall, then the power brakes are run off vacuum. Almost all cars/trucks use vacuum for the power brakes, but I know some use the same system. On a gasoline engine the vacuum created by the intake manifold is used to run the power brakes, so there should be a hose running from the intake manifold to the brake system. Hope that helps.

 

Again, my '01 has done this since BRAND NEW. And, I've been over the steering/suspension and there is no binding.

I never thought it was a problem.

I've heard of others with the same thing, too...

 

Come on guy's the truck is a 5.4L the brake booster is vacuum operated and the brakes and steering are not tied together. I can't believe you can't steer with the brake on. I would find out why in a hurry this is 2006 not model T times. Plus if my 99 doesn't do it why should a newer truck.
The diesels are the one's that had most of the problems with steering.

Dick

 

'99 front bearings/hubs were different than later, something about the face of the hub being a different spacing, so the caster/camber lines and where the wheel meets the surface of the road are probably different.

I always thought this was normal, since mine has been doing it since day 1 ... now I have to go check it out (hopefully later today) and see if it's the pump bypassing too soon.

 

Mine does it. 02 250 5.4. Brake on or no brake at a dead stop. Not fun getting into a parking stall. I have to have the tires roll to turn the wheel. As long as the tires are moving a smidge, the wheel will turn. I also have 12.5 BFG's with a lot bigger contact patch than the stock tires.

This has been addressed on here before with some suggestions being: the power steering pump isn't getting enough fluid, the pump is failing, or some bolt on the pump needing to be adjusted (can't remember which or where).

One guy said he bent his resevoir down so the pump lines sat lower than normal and wouldn't suck air. Fixed his problem. Another made a bigger resevoir. My resevoir being plastic, bending it is not an option. Thought about replacing the pump, but don't want to spend the money on something if it is not broke.

It also does it more frequently in cold weather than warmer. So I am still looking for a solution, but not too worried about it.

I am sure a lot of you can attest, bigger tires come with bigger problems.

 

Now I'm getting REAL curious. Gotta see if it's the front brakes holding it back... One of you guys with the problem: Come to a complete stop, put the parking brake on, and try to turn the steering wheel. Do the wheels move?

I hear no obvious signs of my power steering sucking air or anything else related to not enough fluid.

I had 235/85R16's stock (did it) and now have 265/75R16's, and still does it.