Truck steers itself

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Apr 5, 2008 | 12:48 PM

superdutyjoe

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From: Midland

Truck steers itself

I have a 2001 F250 SD, 5.4, 4x4, 128K. While driving it seems to have developed a mind of it's own, it will pull hard one direction, then stop. It may drive fine for 10 miles, maybe not then will pull hard one way or the other, and then stop again. All front end components are tight, it pulls both directions, sometimes rapidly on and off, sometimes it will pull one direction for a mile or more. I don't know what is causing it, or how to stop it. It does it with the hubs lock in and unlocked. Any help is much appreciated.

Apr 5, 2008 | 01:27 PM

995.4SD

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little more info about the truck, any lift? oversized tires? if so do you have a steering stabilizer?

Apr 5, 2008 | 02:07 PM

superdutyjoe

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From: Midland

No lift, 265/75-16 tires, all stock one end to the other. No steering stabilizer, never had one from the factory so I didn't figure it needed it.

Apr 5, 2008 | 03:57 PM

high ho silver

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From: Georgia

Take it off auto pilot and put both hands on the wheel. It is probably just sensing a Chevy or Dodge off the road down in the woods stuck and wants to go help. LOL. Really though, you may want to look into a stabilizer even though it didn't have one on it when you got it.

Apr 5, 2008 | 04:05 PM

baydog225

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From: Heart of the Finger Lakes

My guess would be a caliper hanging up, or uneven brake pads. A steering stabilizer wouldn'd hurt either, just mt .02.

Apr 5, 2008 | 04:59 PM

high ho silver

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From: Georgia

I did some more research here on FTE and found that the symptom you described also happened to those having wheel bearing failure. Some as soon as 50K miles on their truck. Jack it up and see if you have any play at all in the bearings.

Apr 5, 2008 | 05:26 PM

84deisel

here sometimes

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From: Algona ,IOWA

double check your ball joints also as they can cause memory steer when they wear and stick in their socket, just replaced all on my truck and one of the company trucks and the steering dramaticly improved.If your ball joints are still original, this might cause it and is easily overlooked as they seem tight but might be stuck in their sockets.

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Apr 6, 2008 | 10:18 AM

MuddyAxles

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Joined: Nov 2006

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Do these trucks have...

That little-bitty universal joint way up under the vacuum booster like the Crown Vics have?

If so, that will make for some irratic handling when it gets dry and hangs up in one position. Regular penetrating oil and a longer-lasting lube well worked-in helps solve that problem...no need to replace it so far (11 years old).

Just a thought.