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Old 04-13-2015, 11:33 PM   #1
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Power steering weak

When stopped on dirt or pavement I can't turn my front wheels unless I am moving. When moving the steering feels normal. I am curious as to whether this is normal for the beast or do I have a power steering problem. I have owned the truck for 18 months so I don't know how it felt when new.

I have a 2006 SMB E-350 RB with Sportsmobile suspension. The steering gear is all stock E-350. Tires are 35" Toyo MT on 17" rims. Deaver springs and Dynatrack big brake (F-550) conversion are installed.

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Old 04-14-2015, 01:02 AM   #2
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Re: Power steering weak

It is a FORD - it is normal.
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Old 04-14-2015, 01:42 AM   #3
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Re: Power steering weak

I have the same problem
I changed the pump and flush the system....does not help
To change the steering gear box would be my next step but it is to much money for a try so in the moment i live with it
What is a bit strange is that it changed a bit to the better side after changing tires from 285/75-17 to 37" on the same wheels.
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Old 05-30-2016, 07:17 PM   #4
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Found this topic that kind of matches my concern. Seems like my steering wheel has gotten harder to turn over the last year or so. I am getting older, but still. Quite a bit harder in cold weather, but that doesn't surprise me that much. I had the Ford dealer look it over, but they thought it was OK. It's not like there isn't power steering at all, but still seems tougher than it should be. I read some things on a Ford forum that suggested putting oil on the steering column u joints. Might try that tomorrow. Any other thoughts. It's 2008 Quigley with 130,000 miles. Did ball joints around 70,000 miles I think.
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Old 05-30-2016, 11:33 PM   #5
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My van (Ford) acts like it has no power steering for the first few turns wriggling out of my tight garage from a cold start, but then it's fine after that.
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Old 05-31-2016, 01:09 PM   #6
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Interesting, I have never noticed that on my 2001 Advanced conversion, but it may be the same I don't know. I replaced the steering box a couple years ago for different reasons, but there was no difference in the zero speed steering effort needed. The only time I was unable to turn the wheels while parked was when I was camped at very low temps and the pump was frozen. Some boiling water fixed that problem.
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Old 06-27-2016, 06:17 PM   #7
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I did a youtube search on this 6mos ago, there is a good video on 'hard steering' for an F350.

The guy said he was on his second pump and second steering bix (if I remember right) He shows the correct way to diagnose hard steering using oil plates and a fish scale, it turns out Ford has a spec for resistance in lbs.

The Dana 60 ball joints are a common service item that freeze up/get rough prior to eating themselves alive and getting loose/rattley. After replacing mine, which weren't very loose, (only one was questionable, but I was upgrading to a high-steer arm which require replacing the BJ's anyhow) my steering is now noticeably easier while parking, the power steering pump isn't laboring as much, either. I atribute that to new Moog greaseable balljoints.
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