Hello... My Brother has a 94 Ford F-150, and he is having some power
steering problems. ...Perhaps there's someone here who can help.
He replaced the power steering gear and pump, and checked all the
linkages and found there was no free play. ...However, he finds that at
slow speed, the steering feels sluggish, almost as if it was "manual".
...Further -- and this is the main problem: If he makes a turn to the
left, and then goes to straighten the wheel, he finds that he has to
turn it to the right - but Past center - in order to once again drive
straight. ...Thus, he is continually moving the wheel as if it was
manual, with a lot of free play. Any suggestions? Thanks... Jon
Jeff Strickland - 24 Jun 2008 01:54 GMT
You've got something broken in the front end, possibly the steering box
itself.
It sounds as if you guys got a variable assist pump, and speed plays into
how much work it does, but it seems to me that it ought to provide more
assist at low speed, not less assist.
You should be able to get under the truck while he turns the steering wheel,
and you can see if the Pitman Arm moves in unison with the steering column.
You should also look for the box to be mounted securely to the frame, and
for the various trailing arms and suspension components to to be solidly
mounted.
> Hello... My Brother has a 94 Ford F-150, and he is having some power
> steering problems. ...Perhaps there's someone here who can help.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> straight. ...Thus, he is continually moving the wheel as if it was
> manual, with a lot of free play. Any suggestions? Thanks... Jon
lugnut - 24 Jun 2008 04:43 GMT
>Hello... My Brother has a 94 Ford F-150, and he is having some power
>steering problems. ...Perhaps there's someone here who can help.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>straight. ...Thus, he is continually moving the wheel as if it was
>manual, with a lot of free play. Any suggestions? Thanks... Jon
Your problem sounds like either a bad pump or the spool
valve in the gearbox. Does the engine sound like it is
working when the wheel is thurned to the stops? Does the
sound change. That may tell you if the pump is working.
You can also see the pressure line flex as pressure goes up.
I suspect the gearbox preload has been over adjusted and the
only cure is replacement if you can actually feel it go past
center.
Lugnut
SC Tom - 24 Jun 2008 12:57 GMT
> Hello... My Brother has a 94 Ford F-150, and he is having some power
> steering problems. ...Perhaps there's someone here who can help.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> straight. ...Thus, he is continually moving the wheel as if it was
> manual, with a lot of free play. Any suggestions? Thanks... Jon
May be a silly question, but did you guys bleed the system after the
installation?
SC Tom
Jeff Guenther - 28 Jun 2008 19:30 GMT