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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 02:32 PM
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Steering Problems

I have a 2005 F250 that all of the sudden when driving it will start to pull to the right then to the left, back and forth, then it will drive fine. This does not happen when hitting a hole, turning, or anything, just going down a smooth road. I have had it in two shops so far, one gave up, the other replaced the tack bar and it still had problems so they put the old one back on and gave me my money back and gave up. Has anyone else had the same problem? Any sugestions?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 02:44 PM
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Is it lifted?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 02:45 PM
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No lift, complete stock truck
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 03:01 PM
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You may have a bad ball joint, your alignment may be off or something is loose.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 03:07 PM
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Both shops said that the front end is solid. It's not a shake or constant pull to one side. It is a random pull to one side then the other then some times it drives fine. Could this be the steering box?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 05:48 PM
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steering stabilizer ceasing up ???

try taking it off and give the truck a quick drive down the same roads its been pulling on...

ur sure its just not a crowned road surface ur driving on rite ???
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 07:47 PM
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Actually, check the u-bolts on your rear axle. I've heard of this issue being caused by looseness in the rear axle before.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 07:50 PM
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Sounds like a seized front U joint, BUT we don't know if it's 2WD or 4WD. Same thing happened to me in my 79 Bronco, never could tell what it was going to do, U joint was frozen.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 07:53 PM
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Mine does the exact same thing, but it's lifted. It's a very odd feeling for sure.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 12:43 PM
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It definitely sounds like the steering box.

Jack up the front wheels off the ground, start the engine and move the steering wheel back and forth.

If the wheels start to move on their own, or jump, the spool valve in the steering box is leaking internally.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 01:45 PM
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I had somewhat of a simliar situation and it was the brake caliper. It would stick sometimes causing it to pull. Mine did not pull back and forth or pull one way then the other but i thought I would at least throw that out there.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2010 | 02:33 PM
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Did you find the problem? I am having the very same problem with my 02SD! The garage found a bad U-joint, but it didn't fix the problem. I suggested the spool valve in the steering box, but he said that wasn't possible. I am headed back to the shop for the 3rd time!
 
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Old Apr 12, 2010 | 05:22 PM
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If you're just going straight down the road and it starts doing it, it definitely sounds like the steering box (spool valve) but ... hard to figure out if that really is the problem without replacing the box.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2010 | 05:53 PM
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I'm wondering if it's the dreaded wondering that seems to be happening?
Mine does the same. You can be going along just fine, then it wonders left or right. You have to be carefull when you correct it, cause it's easy to over correct, then all is good for a while.
It's REALLY starting to get to me.
 
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Old Apr 13, 2010 | 09:16 PM
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I had the fluid in the pump / gearbox flushed. It was pretty bad. I didn't know you have to do this with the SD - it isn't in the recommended maintenance. Ford did publish a service bulletin about it. I am hoping this solves my problem.
 
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