STEERING HARD
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New User
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Reno NV
STEERING HARD
I have spent the last 2 days searching this site for information and have found a lot of usefull stuff. 1 subject that I was unable to find on here is the problem I have with my steering being almost impossible when at a stop on asphalt. I have 35X12.50 tires which are not that big however Ford has told me that my steering is normal givent the size of the tires. A differnet dealership told me this same thing. But I mean I cannot turn to get out of a parking stall without moving which ends up requiring a 3 point turn. It is like I have no power assist at all. Fluid is full, no leaks, no noises or whining, and no change if the engine is revved up while trying to turn. I did not belive the dealer and had a shop replace the hydroboost and the PS pump. $1500 later it still is a bear to turn if not moving. Break pedal pushed or not. I replaced the steering gear box last weekend due to a small leak. I was just hoping it would solve the hard to steer problem I was having but no such luck. Does anyone else have this problem? This is on a 04 F350 6.0 P.S.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Kansas City/Breckenridge
normal given your tire size, and the reason you had to replace your hydroboost and ps pump was because you are trying to turn the wheel at a stop. Just roll a little bit. Price of having big tires.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Reno NV
I had a friend of a friend say, (you know how that goes), that the '04 just had that problem and by '06 it was corrected somehow. I could never swallow that my old Bronco could turn 37" tires with my pinky on the wheel however a big F350 could not. That is why I spent the money for the steering parts that turned out to not make a difference and probably were not needed. One of my neighbors has an '03 and his turns fine also.
I have resigned myself to the fact that a design change in 04 caused this problem and then Ford corrected it somehow. No recall of course.
Thanks for the heads up on the aftermarket assist. I have heard of that on some of the rock crawlers.
I have resigned myself to the fact that a design change in 04 caused this problem and then Ford corrected it somehow. No recall of course.
Thanks for the heads up on the aftermarket assist. I have heard of that on some of the rock crawlers.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: AZ
When my steering box went out, i shipped it to the boys at psc and they hooked it up for around a century note, mine is tapped with ram assist, need it for those 46"s
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Joined: Sep 2006
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I had the same problem and received the same story from the dealership. My tires were 35's on 20's and where just about toast. Once replaced it was fine after that but I expect it to come back once they wear down. I am going to go to hydraulic assist as another member mentioned when I get the money. It's not just the size in 35's that hurts us it's the width that ends up increasing the contact patch, which in turns means more pressure is required in my book to turn the wheels. I would venture to say our trucks have a hydraulic relief we are hitting designed to avoid damaging components. Can't prove it...just a guess..Makes sense if you think about it....
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 411
Likes: 13
From: Great northwest
Mine does this, and If I rev it a little it works ok, sometimes.
Pump going? Also the PS fluid has a red tinit to it like someone put ATF in it? How do I go about changing it all out? or will that help?
Thanks
Pump going? Also the PS fluid has a red tinit to it like someone put ATF in it? How do I go about changing it all out? or will that help?
Thanks
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2005
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Maybe a fix
I have a '05 PS, 52k miles. I've owned the truck for about 3 years and always had the same power steering problem. Sometimes it would just quit while trying to park or back a boat trailer in, etc. I also have 35s on it. Sometimes there is no problem. I can steer the truck with a reasonable amount of pressure on the wheel given the tire size and slow/no speed. However, other times, I can do pull ups on my wheel with the only effect being bigger lat muscles. i've read many of the posts on these trucks and hydroboost etc. One dealer told me it was just how fords are and they fixed it on later years, another time I was told it was my tire size and just live with it. I could buy that if it was like that all of the time but it isn't. Finally after a call to the Ford customer service number and a trip to another dealership, I'm told my steering box is binding and a new one has been installed. So far so good but time will tell. Hope this helps.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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i've got the same problem, my truck (new to me two months) when purchased had 245's on it which is smaller than stock looked like 10 speed bicycle tires on it when i bought it and had the same problem, i've got 305's/18's on it now and it's not any worse, i believe tire size has nothing to do with this problem, no pump whine, no leaks, servicing is correct,my truck is a '03 psd, 4x4,hydro boost, also looking for a fix