power steering failing???

[fabb0429]

hey guys, just bought my first powerstroke a bit ago, its an 03 6.0L, my question is regarding steering. I bought my rig with a lift and tires already on it, and it is almost impossible to turn the wheels while truck is stationary. 3 point turns in parking lots have become a work out. someone told me that it was a design flaw in the geometery of the steering, but have also heard it could be my lift. anyways, i can deal with it for now, but i'm worried what is gonna happen when i'm towing my 5.0 and need to make a turn in place in a parking lot and can not do so. any help or advice or info would be greatly apprecited. THaNKS!!!

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by fabb0429

hey guys, just bought my first powerstroke a bit ago, its an 03 6.0L, my question is regarding steering. I bought my rig with a lift and tires already on it, and it is almost impossible to turn the wheels while truck is stationary. 3 point turns in parking lots have become a work out. someone told me that it was a design flaw in the geometery of the steering, but have also heard it could be my lift. anyways, i can deal with it for now, but i'm worried what is gonna happen when i'm towing my 5.0 and need to make a turn in place in a parking lot and can not do so. any help or advice or info would be greatly apprecited. THaNKS!!!

It is a design flaw in the geometry. When you are stopped with your foot on the brake and you try to turn the wheel, you are trying to scoot the wheel around the ball joints instead of the wheel pivoting. The knuckle sits about 4-6 inches out from the ball joints. If you have to make a real tight turn while stopped, either leave the truck in park w/o your foot on the brake, put the truck in neutral w/o your foot on the brake or don't apply the brakes as hard. It will help but you will still have some resistance. It actually might be a little easier pulling the trailer because you are taking some weight off the front end. Sorry for the long post. Hope this helps you out.

[fabb0429]

got it. thank you so much for the info. greatly appreciated

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by fabb0429

got it. thank you so much for the info. greatly appreciated

No problem, glad it cleared some stuff up for you.