Need some help with steering problems.
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New User
Joined: Sep 2007
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Need some help with steering problems.
I have a 2003 F-350, 7.3, 4x4, sw, cc, lb. The other day I pulled out in the morning first thing, turned left and the steering felt like it was in 4x4 on dry pavement. It has not been in 4x4 for months. It shook so bad I pulled over to check to see if the front wheel was falling off. Everything appeared to be tight. Took off again and something just didn't seem right. The steering wheel feels abnormally tight. The shaking stilll happens randomly when turning. Pretty much everything in the front end has been replaced in the last year. I took it to my mechanic yesterday and he checked everything and couldn't find anything loose. He flushed the power steering out and put Lucas additive in it. It still does the same thing. He says he is at a loss right now. The most simple way I can describe the problem is it just feels like 4x4 on dry pavement, VERY irritating. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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New User
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The u joints aren't turning because the transfer case is disenganged and the hubs are in the free mode. I checked to make sure yesterday and even went from engaged to not engaged just to make sure everything was working normally.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
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I just fought a very similar problem on my 02 F250 7.3. Ended up being the front U-joints. It was difficult to diagnose because the joints didn't have any play and were seizing up intermittently. I had the same thought as you - these shouldn't be turning because the hubs are out and the transfer case is in 2wd.
Pull the U-joints out of the truck and give them a thorough inspection.
Pull the U-joints out of the truck and give them a thorough inspection.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2010
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the axles may not be turning, but the u-joints have to bend every time you turn your steering... So they can still be the culprit.
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THANK YOU!!!
I doubted that the u joints were the problem. I am a believer today, as is my mechanic. The left font u joint on my truck was the problem. It was free to turn by hand when the wheel was straight, but when you turned the wheel it was half frozen. This created such a problem it had gotten almost impossible to drive. The odd thing was it still had grease in it and was not dry. I will be replacing the other side very soon. Again thank you for your help.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
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I am starting to think of these trucks like a giant puzzle, like a Rubik's Cube. Glad you solved this one quick.
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I doubted that the u joints were the problem. I am a believer today, as is my mechanic. The left font u joint on my truck was the problem. It was free to turn by hand when the wheel was straight, but when you turned the wheel it was half frozen. This created such a problem it had gotten almost impossible to drive. The odd thing was it still had grease in it and was not dry. I will be replacing the other side very soon. Again thank you for your help.
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