2006 F-350 stiff steering while driving, dangerous...

[lawnbizzz]

Steering seems to be working OK at idle however, when cruising down the road it almost feels like the wheel is locked! When the road comes to a bend, all I need to do is turn the wheel and when I let my hand off the wheel, it stays in the turned position. Normally the wheel would go back straight ( like rack and pinion).

This makes the truck very difficult and dangerous to drive on expressway, corrections to my wheel take actual effort and its very tight.

Now, I have been through 3 steering pumps (OEM and Napa) in the last year. I can also hear my serpentine belt squeak in the AM and only until the truck gets hot. Is it possible that I have a bad pulley that is causing these pumps to die? I drive the truck like a normal person, no mudding etc., truck is bone stock.

Why are these pumps dying and I still cannot understand why the steering works at idle but not at higher speeds. The belt squeaking is bothersome as well. Please help!

Eddie

[DoubleDpsd]

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[Fosterslaw77]

Did you have your ball joints replaced recently. Does it feel like a ping pong ball between lanes on highway but not as bad on back roads. Kinda like you steer one way and have to steer it back cause it sticks then steer it back again to get it strait. Sometimes if cheap ball joints are used or not pressed in correctly as in to much, they can seize up and lock steering. I know this because I am/ just went thru it. There are ways to check with truck jacked up, I believe if you disconnect tie tod and leave wheel hanging it should move freely if not the joints are probably seized. Glad I have a good mechanic to help me with this stuff. Others will chime in to but it's my thought.

[powersmoker]

off the top of my head with that many bad pumps IF you have a ps cooler disconnect the lines blow through it with compressed air then clean it out with brake clean then another shot of air. see what that does for you simple take 5 minutes and cost less than five bucks. if it dont work your not out much

[F250power6]

Check your steering column for small u-joints. Spray lots of good penetrating lube on these and repeat couple times.

[F250power6]

I checked my steering column for the u joints and my 2006 F250 doesn't have em that I could see from the top.

[lawnbizzz]

Thank you very much guys... I will try everything you suggested.

FOSTERSLAW77- YES, just like you described going down the road like a DRUNK DRIVER! I can also come off a turn in an overpass and once the wheel is turned it stays in the same position without bouncing back to the straight position. The truck has original ball joints that were just recently diagnosed as being in need of replacement. However, this steering issue was not a gradual process as it happened from one day until the next.

We are currently replacing the upper and lower joints and should be finished today.

When we removed the tie rod, the wheel was VERY loose on the joint rather than tight... Now that the drivers side is replaced, the wheel seems to be much tighter and not as free moving as the old set.

I can best describe it as having NO power steering until the truck is stopped, then the steering works just fine. Help!! Thanks again

[lawnbizzz]

ew ball joints, new drag link, new tie rod bushing, new steering pump, new serpentine belt (not steering related) and NOTHING...

The problem still exists

The only thing I can think of is the hydro booster?

This is killing me, feedback please!

[lawnbizzz]

It turned out to be the gearbox, I replaced it and now it is fixed. However, after installing new steering pump (Motorcraft) I have shredded 2 belts! Seems like there is a problem because the first 1/4 inch of the belt is peeling off and flapping. How do I determine the right position for the steering pump pully? Seems like it needs to come OUT a little bit otherwise the belt is gonna keep shredding

[spoonfedblue]

Originally Posted by lawnbizzz

It turned out to be the gearbox, I replaced it and now it is fixed. However, after installing new steering pump (Motorcraft) I have shredded 2 belts! Seems like there is a problem because the first 1/4 inch of the belt is peeling off and flapping. How do I determine the right position for the steering pump pully? Seems like it needs to come OUT a little bit otherwise the belt is gonna keep shredding

The tool you use to press the pulley back on should have a washer that bottoms out on the shaft of the pump. If the shaft of the pump stick out beyond the face of the center of the pulley it's on too far, or it's on backwards. Any parts store should have the remover/installer tools for you to use.