steering issues

[pedro_8149]

Hey guys, i have a weird problem..... When im sterring left or right sometimes it feels like it sticks one way and you have to steer a little bit the other way and its sorrta heavy feeling i dunno how to explain it really but it feels heavy when you go to turn the opposite way of which its pulling towards.... i have all new steering components and had an allignment done last summer and this just started to happen any ideass what this could be, its almost like the power steering pump gets stuck one way and wants to keep going one way. and i dunno but its kind of weird and hard to explain. help pleease hopefully its nothing to bad haha. i hope its as simple as getting an allignment done.

 

[NCheek]

Did somebody fool with the pre-load on the steering box itself?

 

[pedro_8149]

i dont think so, i did the work myself, and its been fine for a long time then this just started to happen, is that possible just to randomly just mess up like that

 

[david85]

First thing to do is raise the front end up to see if there is any play in the front end components. Have you check the obvious things first? anything binding on the steering shaft under the hood? power steering fluid fulled?

Does it track strait?

 

[pedro_8149]

it tracks straight sometimes, and as far as i can tell no binding on anything. and ball joints and what have you are good

 

[suv7734]

Does it turn smoothly when you're going slow, like in a parking lot?
When you replaced all the front end parts last year did that include the steering box because it sounds like that might be the problem. I had what sounds like a similar problem a while ago. When I pulled off the freeway and turned onto the ramp it did not want to straighten out once I was coming off the curve. Spent some time going through things and it turned out to be the steering box.

 

[punkmechanic]

It sounds like your steering box is failing internally. there is a "butterfly" valve inside that directs the power steering fluid to the correct side for assist. It appears from your info that the valve is sticking or working incorrectly.

just my .02 from what I remember.

punk

 

[pedro_8149]

hmm how do i test that is there anyway, cause that is originally what i was thinking it was, a valve of some sort.....is there a way to fix it and or how hard is it to change on a 92 f250? and how long roughly...... it runs smoothly as i go through a parking lot or anywhere on the roads or highway, it only does this sometimes, its not constant, its just been pereodically over the last 2 days.

 

[Fozz]

I'm thinking steering box too. That happened to my 92' a few years ago. I could turn right fine, but turning left was a b...... If you end up changing it, might do yourself a favor and change the high and low pressure lines while you're at it. Maybe even the pump (it's pretty cheap).

 

[pedro_8149]

alright, sounds like a good idea to me, how long did it take and how hard ? do you remember?

 

[david85]

Its not too bad if you have the proper pullers for it. A small ball joint separator for the steering/tie rod, and a pitman arm puller are required. The hydraulic fitting can be a problem if it rusts to the line, but other than that, theres only 3 bolts holding it in that are accessed easily through the wheel well.

looks like we're all up late tonight

 

[sassyrel]

SPOOL VALVE--with four nylon sealing rings on it---and can be rebuilt--i do them all the time--as the rings wear--you have pressure on both sides bleeding by--hence the screwy steering