Dangerous steering problem - Diesel Forum

christmascar20 · 09-05-2009, 09:34 AM

Guys, I need serious help, My f350 6 ltr started having a very dangerous steering issue. When your driving through town, the power steering seems to quite and the truck Darts one way and when you correct it, it will dart the otherway. If you go around a corner, sometimes it will keep steering in the direction you turned it. My thought was something was seezed, but it does not do it all the time and there is no warning when it will. I can reproduce it when stopped on pavement simply by turning back and forth a number of times and it will stop turning (no power), Does not seem to do it on the highway, but I won't go there, last place I want to be if it darts the wrong way. Anyway, I put a new pump on, new belt and new Fluid from the dealer, Next day same thing, nothing changed!
Anyone have a definite answer?

GrampyJim · 09-05-2009, 07:44 PM

Is this a 4WD? GAWD, I am getting tired of asking that.

christmascar20 · 09-06-2009, 06:47 AM

It is a 4wd, not sure what the other numonic is, but to update, I took it on the highway yesterday and , we I shouldn't have, could have killed someone, parked the truck and I left for home, worked perfect on the way home!

christmascar20 · 09-06-2009, 08:24 AM

Just happened on this, which might be most valuable in diagnosing, While at an Idle parked, you can turn the wheels relatively OK until you put your foot on the brake and then the steering locks up completly

GrampyJim · 09-06-2009, 11:51 AM

Raise the front wheels clear of the ground. Lock the front hubs manually. Turn the front wheels all the way to one side or the other and attempt to give them a spin.

I will bet near anything that you are about to feel a frozen axle u-joint.

christmascar20 · 09-07-2009, 07:10 PM

Thanks a bunch, tore the pass side apart and Ujoint seized solid, broke the warn hub as well. with both wheels of the ground , still took two hands to turn it. I had them checked in Feb by the local Ford dealer, They said they were perfectly loose. Imagine, totally seizing up in 7 months. The truck is on the road every day
Thanks again, hope this solves my problem, by the way, took the DR side apart as well, may as well replace both while im dirty

Wren · 09-07-2009, 08:58 PM

Sure wish I'd read this 6mo ago. $1500 later I now know that the barest hint of the symptoms you described were frozen u-joints.