I have an f250 super duty crew cab 5.4 Triton V8 4X4. A month or two ago, I made a left turn and drove through a pot hole. The steering wheel jerked violently to the left and, as I pulled it back straight, it jerked to the right. It felt like the tires were tilting from side to side. I pulled over and got out to inspect what I expected to be very visible and obvious damage/mechanical failure, and found nothing out of the ordinary. I got in and started driving again and it drove as smooth as ever. A few weeks later it happened again, this time I drove through it and it corrected itself in a few hundred feet. It has happened several times since and I have inspected it several times as well. All grease fittings are full, all stabilizers and ball joints seem solid. The only possible explanation I have is that it might have a bad set of hubs. Recently I have also noticed a metal on metal rubbing sound that is accompanied by a braking sensation. This leads me to believe that I have a brake problem too, but I get the feeling the two problems are connected somehow. The brakes and rotors were replaced about 5 months ago.

Any ideas???

 

I'd start with the simple first i.e. re-torqueing the wheels, taking off and checking stabilizer shock(s), etc. Hard to say at this point but seein as you were in a turn when it happened I'd be looking at checking out the tie rod ends at some point, specifically the outer's, which do connect right close to the brake rotor. Seein as you have a grinding/brake issue. I'm sure some of the other guys here who are more in-tune with steering issues will chime in and offer some help. Good luck!

 

I took the front tires off today and inspected the brakes and the tie rods, even the universal joints of the front end differential. I took the hub locks apart and noticed there is significant play in the passenger side axle through the hub assembly. It seems to me this is probably the Hub? Could there be another reason for the axle to be so loose?

 

Not that I know of! Sounds like you have a shot hub bearing and that'd be your problem. According to many here on the boards one has to buy the entire unit/hub vs "trying" to press in a new bearing. Check the sponsors here to see what the cost would be for an aftermarket vs OEM. In fact, there's a recent thread here about OEM vs aftermarket hubs. Also check out this thread https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7593063 for greasing your hub's. Good luck!

 

I think you can get the bearing at Napa.

 

Oreilly has em for around $300 for the whole assembly here in south IL.