I wonder if it could be like defective brake line hoses. The internal part of the hose might be collapsing which would cause a pulsing condition in the steering? I would think about changing the hoses first before the pump and steering box. Just a thought

 

This is a great thread, I am having the same problems. Just got the alignment done, rotated tires, and it went right back to jerking the wheel 5 miles down the road. Doesn't do it much at speeds below 50, but very prominent jerking on the highway. I have a 40 mile commute each day, one way, and it is starting to happen just about every day. I'm going to change out the fluid today and see if it helps. I will also check the bracket mentioned by geoc.

 

Well,
I talked to a retired Ford tech and he said to change the vacuum pump. I didn't really think this was going to help but one thing that I didn't mention was that sometimes my defrosters would go on and after awhile would return to the selected position.

I found a vacuum pump for $70.00 on the net. It arrived today, very simple to install and guess what, all the jerking of the steering wheel is gone! I took it on a little 100 mile trip and not once did I have any problem. I did also notice that my auto door locks locked quicker, don't know if this has anything to do with anything. I'm just for now really happy. I will keep all updated.

 

I don't see the connection between the vacuum pump and the steering but I will dwell on it for a while. It still does it but not every day. I can stop, jerk the wheel back and forth a few times and it usually goes away. I is pretty violent when it does it and not so bad a higher speeds.

 

I did change the ATF (It smelled burnt) and the problem is less frequent now. I can't afford to throw a new steering gear in right now.

 

I can hear a hydraulic whine and there is a little resistance in the wheel before it does it.

 

Thanks, I will try to purge the air from the system. I am leaning more towards the valve in the steering box now. You can purge the box by loosening the line fittings also. All those posts about worn suspension parts are probably wrong because it is a timed pull. One second to the left, one second to the right etc. It's like someone is grabbing the wheel and pulling on it, and it doesn't happen all the time like a worn suspension part.

 

When they rebuilt the box maybe they didn't replace the "valve" in there. If I replace the box I will probably just put a used one in there. I wonder how hard it is to get the Pitman arm off.

 

My husband had our 2004 f250 super duty truck looked at for steering looseness and a bit of play and not strong return of the wheel. He had:
Wheel alignment
Sway bar bushings
Shocks
Mook ball joints
Brakes
All done. He was driving slowly and his truck steering wheel began to jerk back and forth with no steering control. It seemed to pull forward as well. He was lucky that he was near a parking lot so he put the gas on a bit and went in to the lot to park. He took to Ford and they replaced the ball joints with Ford ones, sway bar bushing, steering box we think and other parts that have only part numbers not names on them. He is very upset about this and was physically sick, as if this happens on the highway he could get in to an accident and die or someone else could die too. It happened again today. He is not going to drive the truck but we paid a lot for this truck and need it for work. Disgusting that a vehicle can do this and that no one knows why. I have been searching on the internet for answers to this, as three shops have no answer, including Ford. I saw this post here and it sounds kind of similar to what my husband is describing. It is not the death wobble, as my sister had this on her old jeep. Any answers would be appreciated or other stories that drivers have experienced or heard of on this on how to solve. It has not happened to him before in one year of owning the truck with lots of travelling. Only after the above work. I was thinking something happened during the fix.

 

You should find your receipt or get one from Ford. Steering box I think and other parts? If you give all the details, the other people having this problem will find a solution easier. The sooner the problem is solved the sooner you get your answer too.

 

Did you say they replaced the steering box and it occured afterwards? And why would they replace brand name Moog ball joints that weren't worn out. I'm thinking it is a valve in the steering box. I would take someone to court it sounds like here. Moog suspensoin parts have been around since day one and are top of the line. Even if they didn't have zerk (grease) fittings they will still last many many miles. If you stop and turn the wheel back and forth and it goes away for a while it will be the same problem I have.

 

Hi there. It occured before the steering box was replaced. It occured after the above mentioned list of things that were done. We now have replaced at Ford:
1)Steering box
2)Main bar bushings- invoice said they were too small and "flopping" around
3)Ball joints- replaced because they said the Moog ones are suceptible to the truck "darting" from being torqued too tight. Only way to remedy is to replace and re-torque?
4)Power steering flush as it was black- I wondered if we should replace the PS pump?
They added that the test drive showed the vehicle "darting" left and right. I was wondering about tie rods?
They said they took whole front end apart and found and replaced etc the four points above.
The truck did this again today as I said after another $3500 worth of work and yes after steering box replacement. I feel this is ridiculous for a 2004 truck. It is not like it is 1974. I can understand one from 1974 running a bit rough or having problems.
We had the steering box replaced so I am assuming the valve you are referring would be part of this? Did this work for your vehicle? I did not think that it had.
Keep the info flowing..and yes we are considering our options legally. We were told that for "safety" we should have the original work done and now our truck is more unsafe than before.
Thanks

 

Can the shocks or anything around these be affecting the jerking back and forth?

 

I just got a new steering gear box put in so we'll see if it works, although it sounds like it might not based on the latest posts. We are taking a pretty long trip this coming week, so I'm hoping the new gear box and a flushed system will at least buy me a week of safe operation...

 

My husband is describing the front end as moving/swaying severly side-to-side, steering wheel too going, no steering control.
He said it just happened again and he said this time he heard a grinding noise and felt the grinding all the way up the steering column.
Suggestions?