help!!! steering problem
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Freeville Ny
help!!! steering problem
Hey guys. I have come across something new for me today. I have an 01 f250sd 4x4 5.4l. this morning when I was on my way to work I turned out of the driveway and found that my truck wasn't steering properly. it turns fine, but when your done with your turn you have to pull the wheels straight again. I turned around a corner and let go of the wheel to see what it would do and it returns about half way and then stays. after you pull it back it tries to pull once or twice and then smooths out until the next corner. I have already checked steering fluid, and tire pressure. but this is new I usually have to contend with a truck not wanting to turn instead of not wanting to stop turning. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
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From: Texas
Does it do this on both left and right turns? The truck moving forward is what helps the steering return to center. You might try jacking up the front end and turning the wheel lock to lock (engine on) to see if you feel a slight bind anywhere.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Freeville Ny
ok so here is the update/problem. I jacked the truck up on saturday. shook it all down. only thing that was loose was the drag link. but after thinking about it for a while decided to drop the tie rods and check to see if I could turn the wheels one at a time by myself. just what I feared took two of us to turn either tire. $1000 later the truck is mostly fixed (ran out of money). anyway drivers side ball joints had siezed, passenger side u-joint in the steering knuckle was binding, tie rods are getting stiff, and while I was in there I found that the outer axle shaft seal on the ds was missing ps was deteriorated beyond recognition. so I replaced upper and lower ball joints left and right both u joints and the seals. waiting to recoup to do the two tie rod ends and the drag link. all I can say is I wish I could meet the guy that owned this thing before me so I could show him what a grease gun is.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Thanks for coming back and telling us what you found. I was hoping by jacking the front end up you could isolate the part that was bad and not find the "all of the above" answer in your multiple choice of options.
At least it's better to fix things in your driveway before you ended up getting stranded somewhere. Remember it could always be worse. Just think what a dealer would have charged for those repairs.
At least it's better to fix things in your driveway before you ended up getting stranded somewhere. Remember it could always be worse. Just think what a dealer would have charged for those repairs.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Freeville Ny
there were on everything except the u joints. when I did my first oil change on the truck I had a bad feeling when I used an entire tube of grease to lube all the points in the truck everything was dry
Last edited by ayden2004; Apr 16, 2008 at 08:11 PM. Reason: accidentally hit post before finishing my sentence
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274
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From: Freeville Ny
actually due to a lack of tools I ended up using a local garage for all the install. I also figured better safe than sorry when I found I was gonna have to pull the axle apart. don't even want to play around with that.
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