99 F350 with the 7.3

This was occurring maybe once a day and now has been less frequent but I still get it here and there.

When steering and turning back to center, the wheel binds when you get to the center. If you get a little past it, it breaks free over to the other side. So it's a little award and unsafe because you go through a little period of back and forth that you can not stop. I few full and forceful turns to either side frees it up.

Of course it was fine when I took it to get looked at. The mechanic said it could perhaps be the gear box, drive it till it really breaks. So I said okay.

I'm new to these vehicles, so I was surprised to learn that the power steering fluid was tranny fluid. But okay, I wanted to flush it out. I got a tube, tranny fluid and got to it.

I pulled of the tube behind the res on the drivers side near the Master cylinder, put on my hose and draped it over the side to a drain pan. Turned it on and started turning the wheel and pumping the breaks to get the fluid out, but it didn't really come. I was able to get out roughly 3/4 of a quart based on what I had to put back in there.

So does anyone know about this steering gremlin and or why I couldn't get the fluid to come out of there?

 

Welcome to FTE. I'd suggest you start with a flush. Ford Super Duty Power Steering Flush | Superdutypsd.com

 

Thanks F-350-6

Thanks for the advice, but did you read about the flush I attempted? Any ideas on what I did wrong?

 

Hey fellow 7.3L Enthusiasts I just joined as well. I'm trying to soak up as much info on my truck as much as possible so I can get it where I want it to be.
First I wanted to say that I am having the same problem but only in 4x4 mode. When I lock the hubs and put it 4x4 gear, it bucks/binds. I was told from B&C off Road in Pasadena Texas that this is probably due to an issue with the power steering pump. Initially when I took it to them, I didn't realize that the problem was when I was only in 4x4 mode. I have not tried it with other variations of driving modes. I really would like to hear more about this problem as I want to get a smooth riding/steering dually and do not know a whole lot about them at the moment as far as suspension and steering. The steering symptom is at full steering **** and trying to turn. That is when the whole truck just seizes to go forward. It is horribly scary and I am not sure if that is normal.
I was thinking that the original poster may be having symptoms of the same issue but as I re-read his post it is an issue of the power steering fighting back during regular steering which seems odd. I am thinking that it might actually be the power steering pump. In my case I was told that it had to do with the return on the pump or something of that nature. But it would be nice to find out from fellow 7.3 owners some additional information we may be lacking about the 7.3 power steering.

 

So the mechanic told you to drive it until your steering gives out entirely huh? Sounds a little on the unsafe side. I would jack up the front end of the truck and see how much play you have in the ball joints. you would be surprised how much they affect your steering and if they seem tight then leave it on jack stands and have someone run the steering back and for with the engine of and see if there is any binding in the linkage or if you can here anything catching in the gearbox.

 

I was hoping the pictures in the link might help. The fluid doesn't come out too fast, and you really need to keep adding new fluid as you pump out the old stuff. You don't want to run the pump dry.

The next thing I would try is jack up the front end and turn the wheels side to side to see if you still have any binding or catches with no load on the wheels.

 

I had the same problem with my 350, it was the universals in the front axle. Took 2 months and about 10 gearheads to find what was causing it. I had them changed and no more random heart attacks driving around town.

 

What you are describing while driving sounds like an intermittently binding U jount, or possibly both of them. It isn't easy to diagnose. Turn the steering wheel to one side, and try to turn the U-joint by hand (with the truck in 2wd).

 

Yeah, I'm feeling like it's a U joint also. I have to recover from the UVCH repair I just paid for before I take this project on.