Im in the same boat you are Bassman. Ill have to watch this post. Mine seems to need to be held to the right side. I have to keep constant pressure towards the right to keep it straight. When I need to make a correction, it seems like I have to keep chasing it cause its so sloppy.

 

I'm sure it was previously mentioned, but if you have a 4x4, this sure does sound like worn out end links on your sway bar. Unfortunatley I'm in the same boat as you and new end links are $65 a pop from NAPA

 

My truck also wanders while going down the road. It also has a fair amount of play when the steering wheel is at "center".
I have also noticed some binding while trying to turn either direction when at a stop, but it turns fine if its moving. This might be attributed to my steering stabilizer though, I am not sure.
I was thinking of replaceing the ball joints but now I am curious about the steering box, I would REALLY REALLY hate to loose all steering functions at 70mph with an 8,000 lb truck!!!

 

It'll make a man outta ya As the infamous Joe Dirt once said "*****'ll buff out"

 

My '01 has done that, and it was discussed here at length when the Superduty was in it's first year or two of manufacture.

If you're stopped, with your foot on the brake, the steering is VERY hard, if not impossible, to turn.

The play in the wheel, that's something else - Another thing discussed at length way-back-when, the sloppy steering box - from the factory. Adjusting it helped. Not sure if that's your problem though

 

I brought a few threads back from the dead concerning the brake pedal and elimination steering capability... Is there any type of solution for this situation. It is hard enough trying to parrallel park the beast, and not being able to turn while stopped really compounds the inadequecy.

 

Upgraded power steering pump? There was one in another thread somewhere...

I've gotten to the point where I know exactly where the brake pedal is when the steering wheel won't move anymore... In other words, I've gotten used to the issue.

It is very possible that my '01 has something wrong with it - however, it's got such good highway manners I'm afraid to touch anything

 

I know we are all supposed to be very up to snuff on our preventative maintenance and all... but with these here fords My words of wisdom are as follows:

If my creak and groan, but until you can't drive, DONT MESS WITH IT!

Motto founded on a '66 Ford Bronco, proven on a '76 F100 and proven again on the '86 F350... lets hope these SD's are built ford tuff too!

 

I had this problem, but it was fixed by tightening the "set screw" on the top of the steering box a little bit. Now, I have to loosen it a little bit because it is a little to sensitive.

If you need sway bar end links; you can get them from O'Reily Auto Parts for $15 a pop for Moog ones. FYI.

 

Thanks for this post. I read this the other day and noticed my steering had similar play in it. I had to take it into the dealer to replace the front 2 hubs. I told them there was play in the steering and they checked it out and it was the shaft in the steering box had to much play. they replaced it under warranty and it drives like a totally different truck...
THANKS A MILLION GUYS
This Forum ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!

 

My 2000 f350 has 158,000, replaced steering box and made a huge difference. I read that the original steering boxes didn't have a good support for the main shaft in the box and it tends to get sloppy. Still need drag link replaced ( has play) but the box made a world of difference

 

It turns out all my steering issues were related to a steering damper shaped like this: V

and my sway bar bushing and end links... after fixing those drove like a dream... except my end links are bad again :/ o well, 10 degrees to the right with the steering wheel never hurt nothing but tires anyhow

 

Thanks for the reply. My Son and Son-in-law tightened my steering box with the adjustment on the box. I have had the opportunity to drive it under various loads since they did it 2 weeks ago. When empty it's a different truck. Drives like a dream and no "chasing" it all over the road. Towing the boat it's still 100% better. When I put the camper on this weekend, it wandered, but not as before. I don't want to tighten it any more for fear of the box will lock on a full left or right. I'll run it this way for a while and see what happens.

 

I too am ready to tighten the box - it's wandering a bit too much on the highway... been that way since stock, but I put on 285's last year and it's a bit too much now.

 

I am also having this same problem with my 2002 f250 4x4 crew cab. It has the play in the steering but has also started to actual have a wabble when I apply the brakes. It doesn't have this wabble all the time, it comes and goes not depending on how rough the terrain may be. I have checked the brake pads and they are fine, checked the rotors as well, just checked the pitman arm, but my steering dampner does have a dent in it think that is what is causing the shacking in the steering and the looseness. Any suggestions on whats going on?