03 F250 steering question

[JDJ]

Hey,

I'm new the forum, and I figure this would be the best place to ask my question. I have a steering issue that I think it's the ball joints or the power steering pump. When I turn the wheel in either direction the wheel does not come back to center. I have to manually turn the wheel back. And there is a squeak in my belt which I'm pretty sure is coming from the power steering pump. I have tired to move the front tires for movement in the ball joints and I don't get any movement so I'm thinking PS. Your thoughts? Am I missing something else?

[Circle H Ranch]

My wife has an 04 f250 6.0 4x4 that I bought new. I took it to the dealer several times because I did not like the way it steered. I felt like I was always trying to get it to go straight. They swore it was fine. Once the warranty was up I adjusted the steering box. It made a world of difference. I wish I would have done it sooner.

[JDJ]

How hard is it to adjust the steering box. I'm having a hell of a time getting this power steering pump off. The high pressure hose nut to be exact. I can get to the bolts but the nut is in the worst place. Hard to get at.

How did you adjust the box

[Circle H Ranch]

The box is easy to adjust. Mine was over adjusted at the factory. I would assume you have a 6.0. 7.3s are similar I took the air filter out so I could see the top of the box there is a adjuster that has a allen hole in the center of a bolt with a lock nut around it. I loosened the nut, then with the steering unlocked, pointing straight ahead and engine off I loosened the bolt while having a friend turn the steering wheel side to side. I kept turning until I increased the free play in the wheel. Then I started tightening until the free play was gone, do not over tighten, and tightened the lock nut. I then put it back together and it drove like it should have when I bought it. I do not think the problem will be in your pump as it is just that, a pump. It supplies the needed pressure to assist the steering box. The belt noise is possibly just a worn belt or misaligned pulley. Let me know if this helps.

[JDJ]

That definitely helps for sure. Here is my problem though. It will go straight, but anytime I turn the wheel rather is a curve, or adjustment, it will not return to center. Ball joints are good, my steering box looks like it's covered with some fluid. I have pulled the air box and the radiator, and the fan so I can really get at that pulley. I need to pull the pulley to get to the high pressure line.

I don't know. It's my first diesel, my first really truck. It's an 03 6.0 king. I love it. But the steering not coming back to center is pissing me off.

[Circle H Ranch]

That is most likely in the steering box. It may be damaged. There is a puller to remove the pulley on the pump. Most auto parts stores will rent you one cheap. Once you get done with the pump loosen your steering box a bit and I would guess that it will return to center on it's own. If not replace it with a used or rebuilt one, best of luck. It's a great truck and well worth the effort.