2008 F350 Diesel Steering problems

[sevenmalards]

Originally Posted by NLR

Well my wife went to the dealership we purchased it from today. 5 test drives with 5 different people and they all said they cant feel anything wrong. My wife was in the cab when I was on the phone with her and she was asking the guy why hes moving his hands so much..LOL!...

Anyways..the main service guy calls a engineer at ford and tells him the problem. The engineer was already aware of it as it seems to be effecting some e350 vans and some others. The senior tech guy asked why there is no tsb issued and the answer is they are writing it up...so its coming!!

Engineer approved a different alignment and loosen up steering box? Recenter steering wheel and then tighten up box?

I am assuming they are increasing the tow in of the front wheels. They are doing it as I type and she will drive it afterwards to confirm . They told her to drive it for a few days once this is done to see if it works. I told her youll drive it once they finish it and youll know then if it fixed it.

Ill let you guys know!

That make a bit of sense. If the box is too tight the steering gears won't flow as smooth, maybe that is the source of the problem. Almost like a ring and pinion that doesn't have the required shims and the gears are meshing too deeply.
Let us know, I've been following this.

[NLR]

drove it for about 300 miles and its still the same. New part ordered and being replaced. I think its a new box.

[astig00]

OK, got the truck back and it seems to be fine for now. They replaced my left front hub assembly which was bad. I'm just kinda afraid to take the truck on a long trip for fear of it happening again.

[Paulliewog]

I'm having same problem on my '05 F-350 dually. It just started recently, and is, intermittent!! I have checked the front end and everything is ok ,not loose, not too tight.
I flushed out power steering system and put in new fluid, and not any better. Sometimes turning around corner, I have to pull the wheel back myself, it does not return to center like it should. Left or right turns, doesn't matter. Trying to go in a straight line can be difficult at times too. Once again, this is intermittent, and temperature is not an issue. These problems can happen cold or hot.
Any help, greatly appreciated.

[astig00]

Originally Posted by Paulliewog

I'm having same problem on my '05 F-350 dually. It just started recently, and is, intermittent!! I have checked the front end and everything is ok ,not loose, not too tight.
I flushed out power steering system and put in new fluid, and not any better. Sometimes turning around corner, I have to pull the wheel back myself, it does not return to center like it should. Left or right turns, doesn't matter. Trying to go in a straight line can be difficult at times too. Once again, this is intermittent, and temperature is not an issue. These problems can happen cold or hot.
Any help, greatly appreciated.

As of right now, they have replaced 3 steering boxes, flushed the fluid and replaced the left front hub assembly. No problems have come about after the last fix. Maybe that fixed it.....

[Paulliewog]

I figured out my problem!! put in 4x4 and steering wheel began shaking left and right.
front u-joints at wheels seized up.
After a few sharp turns in 4x4, the problem went away.
I guess its time to tear front end apart and replace u-joints and get my truck ready for next winter.

[BossTurbo]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I had the same problem as the OP, my steering wouldn't fully return to center making highway driving very annoying. \

We adjusted my steering box, loosened the hex bolt by a little over half a turn, now it works much better! It was a bit annoying to get to the adjustment, we had to take out the air filter, battery and battery pan, there really wasn't enough room from the bottom for us (maybe someone is more ninja than I am?).

Hope this helps in some little way for someone.

[HANK THE BEAR]

I have a 2008 F350...6.4L deisel with the same problem. The steering wheel does not come back to center after turning it, and like you say you will just go in a circle if you let go. The steering wheel is tight (Meaning hard to turn) * as well. Now here is where it starts to get interesting. I purchased the truck used w/41 thousand miles on it, at my local Chev dealer as the Ford dealer did not have any used vehicles that I was looking for. At the time I bought an extended warranty for bumper to bumper good to 100,000 miles. I have to take it to the Chevy dealer first, then if they cannot diagnose and repair or do not have the tool, etc., to do the job, they send it to the Ford dealer.

I took it to the Chev dealer for "warranty" for hard steering and steering wheel not returning to center. They diagnose a "seized" steering dampner and replaced it. DID
NOT FIX THE PROBLEM... So, a few days and 1200 mile later, back to the Chev dealer, they take it to the Ford dealer, and they diagnose faulty steering box. Now, waiting to see if FORD WARRANTY will cover it or CHEV WARRANTY, if either. I and waiting somewhat patiently for one of the dealers to reply. I will let you know what happens..

*as to the statement of the salesman who said "it's a big truck, you need two hands...LOL..I have over 2 million miles of driving truck (IHC 9670 Eagle, KENWORTH Canadiana, FREIGHTLINER and FORD LOUISVILLE). and the only one I ever needed more than a couple of fingers to steer with was an ARMSTRONG STEERING IHC TANDEM TANKER>>>549 V8 gas job -13 speed (Yeah I know, a real classy truck..hahahaha)....Somebody should put that sales man in a truck like that and show him what a big truck without power steering is all about. He probably wouldn't make it around the block before he started complaining. Even my 1954 International R110 has lighter steering than my new 08 F350. (as long as the old IHC isn't sitting still that is.) So the tight steering is NOT NORMAL****In the last couple of weeks I have test driven 2 - 2008 F350 6.4's, a 7.3 Crewcab and a 6.0 crewcab...NONE OF THEM WERE HARD TO STEER....I let the owner of one of the 2008
F350...6.4's drive my truck....his comment..."How the h*** do you drive this thing?" Its hard to keep centered on the highway and even worse when you are towing 10 thousand pounds behind you.

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Last edited by HANK THE BEAR : 10-28-2009 at 05:23 PM. Reason: spelling correction

[wontonrunner]

There is a tsb I think regarding hard steering due to a poor run of pumps (low pressure/flow). Unfortunately it only is covered in the bumper to bumper warranty. After that its out of your pocket.

After switching dealerships I finally have one that listens to me. Unfortunately I am out of bumper to bumper so it will run me about $700 to fix it...so I am just going to drive it as it is. Mine is fine with the rpm's up but a challenge when sitting still.

[HANK THE BEAR]

Originally Posted by wontonrunner

There is a tsb I think regarding hard steering due to a poor run of pumps (low pressure/flow). Unfortunately it only is covered in the bumper to bumper warranty. After that its out of your pocket.

After switching dealerships I finally have one that listens to me. Unfortunately I am out of bumper to bumper so it will run me about $700 to fix it...so I am just going to drive it as it is. Mine is fine with the rpm's up but a challenge when sitting still.

I had my truck in for diagnosis a week and a half ago. Just had to wait for my extended warranty coverage to be verified, my truck is booked in for tomorrow morning. I had originally thought it was my p/s pump as is was turning hard even when reved up, and had to be two handed when sitting still, along with I not returning to center, I thought there was a pressure centering valve not working or something, but Ford dealer says it is the steering gear that is problem, so I guess I will find out tomorrow. I will let you know what happens.

On another subject, I see you live in Regina. Nice truck you have. I often pass through there on my way to visit my daughter, son in law and grand daughter. They live in Parkman, Sk. which is south of Wawota, or about 20 minutes east of the water slides at Kenose Lake. Some times we take #48 through Kipling, other times #1 to Whitewood and then south on #9 or often take #'s 39 & 6 from Moose Jaw, to Weyburn, then #13 through Carlyle, the North on # 601. It depends a lot on the weather and whether or not I am pulling the quads behind me or not. Perhaps someday we shall cross paths. I will post some pics some time so you know my truck. I have not seen another with the same decals yet.
Cheers....Barry AKA Hank The Bear