Hey guys I am having some problems with my steering and I need a little help.

The problem is the steering won't return to center after making a turn. It's a 97 F350, 7.3 PSD, Xcab, Long bed, 2wd, Auto, Dually W/factory steering stablizer.

About 5/6 months ago the steering would kinda ratchet at times. I thought it was the drivers side steering link because the grease retainer was leaking bad. After I greased it the problem would go away for awhile. Well I decided to replace the link. It was the link from the main drag link to the drivers side wheel. Not the spindle joint, closer to the pitman arm.

Anyway after replacing it I needed an alignment and there seems to be only one shop in Vegas that can do a dually, other than the dealership. Well they wouldn't align it because they said I needed all 4 ball joints, steering box and the steering staberlizer.

So I had to try adjusting it the best I could. After I replaced the joint and I would make a full trun it felt like the tire was folding over. So I adjusted the toe in just a bit and that seemed to smooth everything up.

About a week or so ago I strated getting a spring sound in my steering wheel when turning and the wheel feels kind of heavy when i turn. So I pulled the steering wheel this past weekend to have a look and didn't see anything. I cleaned the grease from the contact ring and applied some white lithiumn grease. Reinstlled the wheel and it still makes the spring sound.

So today I thought I would check the ball Joints. I jacked the front and tried pulling and pushing on the tire and didn't see or feel anything. I thought everything looked good.

While the truck was on jackstands I turned the wheel with my hand and it went pretty smooth, it was a little hard to do but it felt smooth so I disconnected the staberlizer and it felt the same so I reinstalled the stablier and down jacked truck. When I said it was a little hard to do I meant it took a bit of pressure to turn the wheels. not just 1 hand leaning on it.

I should mentoin that I also turned the wheels with the steering wheel and I thought I might have felt some binding in the column, It may have been the spring sound that i was feeling.

Anyway on to my questions: If the ball joints are bad would I have seen or felt something? If I had a bad steering box what should I look for or how should I check it? Could the problem be in the steering column? I have been driving for over 30 years and never see a coulmn go bad, that don't mean they can't just never seen it.

Any help would be appreicated!!

Thanks

 

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

A spring sound, boy I got no idea what that could be, turn signal?. Try disconnecting the column at the gear box, then turn the steering wheel looking for your spring sound. I just put in a steering box the other day, the old one was leaking at the pitman. I noticed on the rebuild that I could easily turn it the four revolutions with two fingers at the column connection, and the old one I could not. I suppose that you could disconect each end and try the same thing, and feel for binding.. Replace it if needed, replace the ball joints if sloppy feel to them, always mark the threads of the various connections with whiteout or paint. Count the revolutions to disassemble and make notes of that for the re installation. Get a service manual as a guide for any major job if unfamiliar...best of luck

 

pulling on pushing on tire will not give your the proper diagnosis of a bad balljoint it will only tell you that it is completely wiped. you should check your balljoints with a large prybar or crowbar. with the front axle jacked up and supported place the pry-bar between the knuckle and the axle housing and check for vertical and horizontal movement. Sometimes you will only get the vertical play.And while your there check your ujoints as those can cause steering issues as well.

 

Funny, I have a similar problem.
I think it's bad u-joints on the front axle, that wouldn't apply to you however being 2wd...I'll keep you poster if I find another problem.

 

The spring sound you hear in the steering column could be a bad Clock Spring. It's purpose is to maintain the electrical circuit used by the air bag, and cruise control if you have it, while the steering wheel is rotated.

Do the front tires have normal looking tread wear?

Here's a picture of what one looks like. Inside the Clock Spring is a rolled up ribbon coil that winds and unwinds.

Why don't you take the truck back to the shop that said you needed ball joints, steering gear etc.. and ask them to show you why they need replacement?

 

Thanks for the replies.

I think I'll disconnect the gear box from the steering column and check for binding in the steering column.

Then I'll recheck the ball joints with a prybar.

If all seems OK, then I guess I'll have to take it back and retry the alignment and see if they still have the same opinion they had a few months ago.

I'll post what I find and let everyone know.

Thanks again for the help!!

 

if you havent changed the steering box and shimmy shock i sujest doing that cuse my truck was steering real stiff and i changed the box and it was like new as well as the shimmy shock