Funky/Odd Power Steering

[SLC97SR5]

Returning home from a 1,000 mile trip with the family the Ford's steering wheel ****** to one side and as soon as I corrected, the steering felt overly sensitive for a moment, then returned to center.

It freaked me out as I thought I had a rod-end or ball joint letting loose. I got off the highway and thoroughly checked the front and rear end over.

Things checked:

PS fluid level
Belt tension
F&R U bolts
F&R lug nuts
Trackbar
Rod-ends
Ball-joints
Pitman arm
T-case in 2WD
Hubs unlocked

Everyhing appears normal, no slop, no leaks, no noise, nothing odd except for when travelling straight for several miles at a constant speed the steering wheel will abrubtly fall off center and remain cocked until I give adverse input.

I have an idea but I don't want to contaminate anyones opinion.

Any thoughts?

The Truck is in my Signature.

 

[Agnem]

Check your tie rod ends, and look and see if your tie rod and drag link isn't rotating forward and backward.

 

[SLC97SR5]

Mel,
The drag link and tie-rod rotate fore and aft when the steering wheel is turned.

I thought this was normal?

 

[Dieselcrawler]

mine always rotated. tell me the fix. lol

 

[Black dawg]

check your front axle u joints for rust/binding

 

[Agnem]

I suppose it depends on the truck. I have not seen many that do it, but appearantly yours do. Perhaps the brands of tie rod ends you are buying?

 

[Dieselcrawler]

i got moogs all the way around on mine. always flopped when i turned back and forth. i put a little pressure on it by rotating my stabilizer a little bit. seems to have slowed the flopping down a little. but still moves.

 

[oldblue05]

seems like I remember mine doing something of that manner once along time ago, never since...