1994 7.3 idi F350 4x4 Steering HELP

[19947.3idigogreen]

Hello everyone, My truck before I parked it (in process of engine build) would do a very strange thing that's got me all confused

Truck first had death wobble which was caused by a bad end link, fixed that. Then about a month later While I would be driving down the highway it would randomly jerk/pull hard to the left, then all of sudden a Lil while later it would jerk back straight. Scares the **** out of me while driving. I checked the entire front end and found nothing loose or bad. Only part I found was track bar bushing had lots of play. Ordered new bushing and installed them but haven't been able to test the fix yet ( no engine in truck).

What I'm wondering is if bad bushing in the track bar would cause this??

Thanks again everyone.

 

[79jasper]

It's possible.
When it would jerk, did the wheel move also?
I'm almost thinking severely worn gearbox.

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[19947.3idigogreen]

Steering wheel wouldn't really jerk but when it would happen the hole truck would jerk left and pull very hard to the left, would stay like that for a few miles sometimes. I would have to turn the truck hard right to keep it going straight. Then all of a sudden it would jerk back to normal and drive straight again.

 

[IDIoit]

in my unprofessional opinion, id say that death wobble killed the steering box.

 

[19947.3idigogreen]

Just wondering, possibly a stupid question, How would a gear box cause this?

 

[IDIoit]

a broken pinion gear in the box.
or really really loose shaft.
ive seen it on lifted dodges, but not on a ford.....

 

[79jasper]

^exactly.
Time for a red head. Lol

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[19947.3idigogreen]

Red head? The shaft seems tight and when I turn the steering wheel the wheels turn, no play. Also I turned the steering wheel fully both ways to see if anything was messed in the steering box and it doesn't skip or jump at any point.

Trucks stock height.

 

[dunk]

Sounds like stiff axle shaft ujoints to me.

 

[SLC97SR5]

Sounds like stiff axle shaft ujoints to me.

Bingo. I had the same symptoms.

Jack up the drivers front tire, lock the hub and give the tire a sharp spin. Does the front axle jerk? Repeat for the other side.

I tried a gear box, no difference. Swapped out the front u-joints, problem solved.

 

[79jasper]

But if driving in a straight line, why would it jerk/pull if it was the ujoint?

Red head is a better gear box.

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[19947.3idigogreen]

I was wondering that to. How would a front u joint cause it to jerk and pull hard "very hard" left? If I'm just driving straight. Also the hubs are unlocked as a side note. Does it with hubs locked and unlocked.

 

[IDIoit]

how are your tires?
i know my bias plys would catch every line on the ********* road....

 

[dunk]

I was wondering that to. How would a front u joint cause it to jerk and pull hard "very hard" left? If I'm just driving straight. Also the hubs are unlocked as a side note. Does it with hubs locked and unlocked.

Trust me, it does jerk and pull and it will cause it to pull hard. Still joints do all sorts of funky things to steering, maybe not want to turn, maybe not want to return to center. Even driving in a straight line you are making small corrections and if the ujoint is in the right position where it's stiff or binding it may pull. If it's pulling when you slow to a stop put your transfer case in 4hi and see if it changes or stops when you start moving, then back to 2hi and see if it settles the shafts in a more freely moving position. Even without hubs locked it'll get everything moving and help diagnosis.

I would bet money on it being axle shaft joints. They can be a pain to change, knock the rust off then heat and penetrant and be careful not to bend the yokes.

 

[19947.3idigogreen]

Tires are road adventure 33 inch tires. About half life left on them. I will look into the front u joints and c if that's my problem. Never really happens at lower speeds tho

Thanks everyone