Truck Steering Randomly Pulling
 

Ok so I just took my truck out for a drive to the auto store and I left the parking lot turning right onto the road. Once I got on the road the truck kept wanting to pull to the right the entire time I was driving. I pulled over into another parking lot and when I turned left into the lot it then started to pull the wheel to the left. So I parked the truck to check if I could see anything obvious causing an issue. There was no obvious obstructions so I hopped back in the truck and turned the wheel left to right, it felt like something was holding it up when I did this and it felt as if it all of a sudden let loose. So I decided to just baby it home and when I got back on the road the truck felt normal again with no pull. Steering pump was a low so I filled that up, and I guess next I should just check out the suspension. I plan on replacing the front suspension but wanted to wait until summer :( Any ideas what the problem may be are greatly appreciated :-X22

Is it 4X4? If so check for frozen u-joints in front axle...


More details on the truck would help...

It's a 95 F150 4x4 I6 5spd, and thanks I'll be sure to check the ujoints I saw someone mention that in a post I read

Also, check your steering column intermediate shaft and the lower rag joint for any play.

Your steering shaft, ball-joints, tie-rod ends, track bar, and drag link ends would be what I would look at considering it changes which way it pulls. Track bar would usually make it track sideways also. If you don't find anything wrong sometimes cross rotating your front tires (swapping side to side) will fix a pull without an alignment. Worst case scenario in my mind would be that your steering gear may have some play in it whether it be where the pitman arm connects to it (nuts do come loose especially on lifted trucks) or internally it is starting fail.

^ That was my first thought since it wanted to stick in whatever direction you turned.

My 95 F250 is doing the same. If it sits for a week or so the steering pulls left or right. Mostly right. What I don't get is why it resovles itself the more I drive it. The steering isn"t tight by any means but after a few days driving it feels normal again.

Dried out U-joints is the likely cause IMO, if they are greasable try to force some lube in there, if not they are original and well past their due date... time for replacements.

OK, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that I'm going to change the axle ujoints and ball joints both sides. Should I do the outer tie rods while I'm in there? This will break my budget anyway because I'm not doing the work myself...