Steering Problems Help!
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 78
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From: Asheville
Steering Problems Help!
I have a 96 F250 Auto while backing out of a parking place yesterday, it seemed like my steering wheel got stuck. Then it kinda of broke lose and was ok. The couple of miles I drove to get home, it did the same 3 or 4 more times. It seemed to be happening when I was in curves turning the wheel hard. I posted a couple months ago that when I turned to wheel I could feel and hear what seemed to be a (spring)?? I've had a new front end put under it about a 1 1/2 ago. Tires don't seem to be wearing funny. Power steering fluild levels were fine. I also had a new water pump about 1 1/2 years ago. It looks like the belt is turning ok. I can just turn the steering wheel when sitting still both ways and it seems free turning. Does anyone have any idea. Thanks
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 204
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From: U.P of Michigan
Do you have a tilt steering column? They can get loose and cause problems although you'd probably feel play in the wheel. The steering box could possibly cause those problems. I had to replace mine at about 90k but it was just getting sloppy and wandering on the road. Also check the shaft from the steering wheel to the steering box and make sure the u-joints are good and there's no binding. The only thing left would be front end parts, tie rods, ball joints etc. Oh, one more thing, If you have a bad steering stabilizer it could cause problems.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Asheville
Originally Posted by U.P. Builder
Do you have a tilt steering column? They can get loose and cause problems although you'd probably feel play in the wheel. The steering box could possibly cause those problems. I had to replace mine at about 90k but it was just getting sloppy and wandering on the road. Also check the shaft from the steering wheel to the steering box and make sure the u-joints are good and there's no binding. The only thing left would be front end parts, tie rods, ball joints etc. Oh, one more thing, If you have a bad steering stabilizer it could cause problems.
Thanks for the help
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
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From: Johnson City, TN.
Sounds like it could be gearbox. Or when they put the new front end on they may have something in there not just right and the angles are not right causing it to get in a bind.
Does it do it in forward and reverse?
Does do it at the same location of the steering wheel?
Does it do it at the stop position of the wheel, (all the way to left or right)?
Sounds dangerous keep us posted. I believe I remember your post, you were going on a trip, right? Did it do it during the trip? I hope the trip went fine.
Does it do it in forward and reverse?
Does do it at the same location of the steering wheel?
Does it do it at the stop position of the wheel, (all the way to left or right)?
Sounds dangerous keep us posted. I believe I remember your post, you were going on a trip, right? Did it do it during the trip? I hope the trip went fine.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Asheville
Yes, It does do it in reverse, I know once anyway. I was backing out of a parking spot when it did it the first time. And it does seem to be when I'm turning the wheel to the left.
Ok fellas can my power steering pump be going out.???
Ok fellas can my power steering pump be going out.???
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Is it 4WD? hub locked in with a bad axle joint? have you double checked the ball joints to make sure it not loose. I would be willing to be your year and half old ball joints are shot.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
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From: Johnson City, TN.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Asheville
I hope not,(ball joints) I probably haven't been a 2 or 3 thousand miles at the most since the font end was replaced. I'll get someone to help today and let you know.
Thanks again guys!
Thanks again guys!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
3k in a year and half! shame on you! your poor truck must feel abused sitting there in the driveway!
Well if thats all the miles you have on them I doubt they will be bad. Check them anyway just in case.
Well if thats all the miles you have on them I doubt they will be bad. Check them anyway just in case.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 221
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From: Carson, Washington
Does your truck have auto locking hubs? Mine did kind of the same thing last week. Found my right side auto hub was locking in on its own. I just changed them out for some shiny new Warn hubs. Its all good now
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Asheville
no, its not a 4x4. My brother got(not mechanic)got under it and said it looked like everything was turning ok. And under the hood looked like the belt was ok. I only got it to do it once in the driveway. He made me quit turning the wheel back and forth, said that was hard on it So I quess I need to figure out which kind of mechanic I need. Front end or motor. I swear its seems to drive ok as far as the front end goes. Just feels like its getting stuck and then breaks lose.
Thanks again fellas.
So I quess I need to figure out which kind of mechanic I need. Front end or motor. I swear its seems to drive ok as far as the front end goes. Just feels like its getting stuck and then breaks lose.Thanks again fellas.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: I-45, Texas
for what its worth, I had a truck do something similiar and then in a few thousand more miles it locked pulling into the barn lot and would not turn at all.............
Replaced the gear box.......
I doubt that its your PS pump.............
Does it make a "popping" sound that you can hear? If yes I bet the person that rebuilt the front end didn't get something just right and it took a small amount (1-2K miles) of driving for it to start acting up.
I have a '97 4wd w/ 111K and the gear box is leaking a little fluid, drives fine, but I am gonna replace it next week
good luck
ra
Replaced the gear box.......
I doubt that its your PS pump.............
Does it make a "popping" sound that you can hear? If yes I bet the person that rebuilt the front end didn't get something just right and it took a small amount (1-2K miles) of driving for it to start acting up.
I have a '97 4wd w/ 111K and the gear box is leaking a little fluid, drives fine, but I am gonna replace it next week
good luck
ra
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Junior User
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From: Asheville
Fixed finally
I finally got the truck fixed again. They replaced the shaft assembly it was wore out. The guy said that on that tilt steering people use it to get in and out of the truck and it wears them out. $425 was the price.
He says I need to keep the truck that I'm fixing stuff that was wore out and will have to start over. But again he made over $1000 a few months ago.
It does pull that 15000lbs. pretty good, so I guess I keep at it.
360,000+ miles so I guess I shouldn't complain.
If I would have just learned to wrench when I was younger it wouldn't be half as bad
He says I need to keep the truck that I'm fixing stuff that was wore out and will have to start over. But again he made over $1000 a few months ago.
It does pull that 15000lbs. pretty good, so I guess I keep at it.
360,000+ miles so I guess I shouldn't complain.
If I would have just learned to wrench when I was younger it wouldn't be half as bad