My power steering has locked up. Has anyone ever had this happen and how did you correct the problem? All I did was grease the front end to try to get rid of an aggravating noise that happens only when I turn my wheels left or right. The noise did not appear to be a power steering problem. I only was working the steering left and right when the power steering failed. I turned it all the way to the left and started back to the right when the problem occurred. I have a '97 F-150.

 

Turning the wheels as you mentioned can cause air to be trapped in the steering system. To purge the air from the hydraulics, start the engine and turn the steering wheel left to right, all the way to the stops, several times. Don't turn the wheel too fast.

 

Is it okay to jack the front end off the ground to do this? As you probably know, it makes it much easier to turn the wheels. Thanks for the help.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 18-Mar-01 AT 07:42 PM (EST)[/font][p]Yes, you can raise the front wheels off the ground to do this.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 19-Mar-01 AT 10:58 AM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks for the help. I did try your suggestion. I am sure this works. As a matter of fact, a mechanic friend of mine suggested the same thing shortly after I got your note. I jacked the front end up and the wheels turned easily. I did this several times. To no avail. As soon as the wheels were on the groung, the same problem. I was told I would even see faom in the fluid resivore. Nothing...
I did end up sending it to the shop for repair. The shaft in the power steering pump had broken, so I was told. Probably the problem all along. I will see. Thanks again.