Severe steering wander
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2009
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Severe steering wander
Hi I am posting again for more ideas about what can cause steering wander on the 2004 SD f250 4x4 gas trucks.
This site has a lot of posts on things going wrong on these trucks. We are trying to have truck repaired and hope to fix the steering problem.
This site has a lot of posts on things going wrong on these trucks. We are trying to have truck repaired and hope to fix the steering problem.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
had an old chevy with sloppy wondering front end, had to replse a ball joint and tie rod
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,860
From: Frederick, MD
need to put a better steering stabilizer on it. big tires bad air press are some of the most common issues.
Check out my album for my dual steering setup.https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...pictureid=5415
Check out my album for my dual steering setup.https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...pictureid=5415
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Suzanne,
Although you had this done or checked and may not be the issue it may be benificial for you to inquire more about the alignment you had done.
Improper caster settings can be the cause of this but how severe it can be i am not sure but If the caster is "equal" but "too negative", the steering will be light and the vehicle will wander and be difficult to keep in a straight line. Check with the alignment shop or your receipt/printout on what these settings were when checked.
Remember good alignment shops are few and far between regardless if you know the person. Many shops only check toe in/out. There can be many different checks when it comes to proper alignment.
Although you had this done or checked and may not be the issue it may be benificial for you to inquire more about the alignment you had done.
Improper caster settings can be the cause of this but how severe it can be i am not sure but If the caster is "equal" but "too negative", the steering will be light and the vehicle will wander and be difficult to keep in a straight line. Check with the alignment shop or your receipt/printout on what these settings were when checked.
Remember good alignment shops are few and far between regardless if you know the person. Many shops only check toe in/out. There can be many different checks when it comes to proper alignment.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 2
You didn't say if this truck has always been this way or if it just started doing this. But if this wandering is something that just started fairly recently under the same driving conditions as before, I'd check for worn parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends, idler and pittman arm, and wheel bearings. The ball joints tend to wear out at about 70K-100K miles, wheel bearings any where from 60K-up miles. Same can be said for the linkage. If all of these parts are good, it's possible for the steering gear to be bad. It could be a matter of adjustment or it could be a matter of valving problems causing it to change direction hydraulically. This problem would best be described as darting rather than wandering. Also check the rag joint on the steering shaft for looseness.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
Get the truck nice and warm, drive it for 20-30 minutes.
Jack up the front end so the front tires are off the ground.
Turn the steering wheel slowly back and forth, and keep doing it, while keeping an eye on the front tires.
At any point, do the front wheels jump to one side, or without moving the steering wheel do the wheels move by themselves?
Also, while doing this, check how much you have to turn the steering wheel before the front wheels start to move in the direction you're turning.
Jack up the front end so the front tires are off the ground.
Turn the steering wheel slowly back and forth, and keep doing it, while keeping an eye on the front tires.
At any point, do the front wheels jump to one side, or without moving the steering wheel do the wheels move by themselves?
Also, while doing this, check how much you have to turn the steering wheel before the front wheels start to move in the direction you're turning.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Midland, TX
I had a similar problem with my 05 F350 drw 2wd. Had the front end aligned and still did it. Drove it 2000 miles and went back in to alignment ship as I could stand it no more.
All components were good. The fix was to tighten or adjust the steering box. Don't know exactly what they did, but it worked. It stopped walking all over the road.
Hope this helps.
Robert
All components were good. The fix was to tighten or adjust the steering box. Don't know exactly what they did, but it worked. It stopped walking all over the road.
Hope this helps.
Robert
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
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From: Mt. Shasta California
Suzanne, You should list everything that has been done to zero in on it. Did you replace the power steering pump yet? I hate to harp on those new Moog ball joints they took out and threw away but they are set up tight from the factory and require some time to loosen up. They are (were) top quality joints. Also describe the problem precisely or this could go on for weeks. Mine only does it sometimes, it's better after it warms up, and most importantly; there is some resistance to the wheel during the return to straight that occurs before it goes into the tugging back and forth, darting, uncontrollable routine. Also; the nut holding the joints on can be torqued but it has no effect on the tightness of the ball joint. It's more of a timed darting. A second to the left etc. I have it narrowed down to the valve in the steering box or the pump, but you said the box was replaced.
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Freshman User
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Hi there Krewat. You did not say what it is if any of this happens. We ahve not replaced the power steering pump. Some feel this has nothing to do with a steering sudden drift and others do. Thoughts?
It seems if there is a sudden lack of pressure from the ps pump that there may be lack of steering too???
It seems if there is a sudden lack of pressure from the ps pump that there may be lack of steering too???
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
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From: Mt. Shasta California
So far I have seen reports of everything replaced except the PS pump and it hasn't cured the issue. You did experience a sudden lack of proper steering. I'm assuming this doesn't happen every day. Mine went 3 days until today. Mine isn't a sudden steering drift, it goes back and forth violently after making a sharp low speed turn.............sometimes.
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Hi there. Yes the Mechanic said not to replace pump. He has been driving the truckfor two days and it has not happened doing exactly what we were doing when this happens. It happened evry day once per day and never happened before we had some work done. I had another thought. We had Moog bal joints put on. After reading this they said they can be tight at first and cause some steering issues until they settle down. Now they took out the Moog ones (said they were torqued too tight by last mechanic) and put in Ford ones. I am wondering if these new ball joints may have been tight as well and need time to settle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Hi there. Yes the Mechanic said not to replace pump. He has been driving the truckfor two days and it has not happened doing exactly what we were doing when this happens. It happened evry day once per day and never happened before we had some work done. I had another thought. We had Moog bal joints put on. After reading this they said they can be tight at first and cause some steering issues until they settle down. Now they took out the Moog ones (said they were torqued too tight by last mechanic) and put in Ford ones. I am wondering if these new ball joints may have been tight as well and need time to settle.
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Freshman User
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HI Exv10. You have been helpful in answering my posts. The back and forth has been reduced completely and now is just the intermittent steering loss. Can this friction lead to possible steering problems?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
I doubt if the new ball joints are tight since Moog is the only one known for making their joints tight. They do this so they will break in well. I believe it is something they have learned in the 50 or so years they have been making them. Friction in any ball joint will eventually free up. It's like trying to turn something that is rubbing on something until it wears out (or in). Not a problem. Intermitant steering loss could be caused by the PS pump or slipping PS pully. Does it just get hard to steer sometimes? When I was a mechanic back in the sixties and seventies, those once in a while problems were by far the hardest to diagnose.