Hard to steer at lower RPM's

FORDSUPERDUTY1

MEMBER
2001 FORD F-250
5.4L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
205,000 MILES

Steering seems to get hard to steer when I apply brakes to the vehicle like when I am backing into garage Less so when at higher rpm's. Have already replace power steering pump This does not have a Hydro boost system Has a lot of mechanics in town stumped. It is like it gets very hard to stee, no belt slipping etc.

6 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Ford says this is normal especially if you have bigger tires on truck. Make sure you have grease-able ball joints on lower and if belt was replaced the tensioner should have been as well. Recommended replacement for both is 60,000 miles.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

-1

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016 AT 9:38 AM

FORDSUPERDUTY1

MEMBER
3 POSTS

It just started doing this all at once which lead everybody to think power steering pump. Same size tires as recommended. No problems for 200,000 miles, until now.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016 AT 10:17 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Then the only thing I can recommend is to replace the hydro boost with a factory one as tips form other mechanics have done that but still have the same problem. Make sure you can grease your front end as well as that seems to be one of the fixes.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016 AT 11:58 AM

FORDSUPERDUTY1

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Will make sure it is greased. Unit is serviced every 3,000 miles since new. Does not have a Hydro boost on it just a regular master cylinder and vacuum for the brakes.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016 AT 12:36 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Sorry, I misread the hydro boost on this. The only other thing I can really think of is if the spring for the spool valve broke it will make the valve inside do screwy things or maybe due to age and mileage the balls may be hanging up either on return or on shaft itself. Maybe because of lower pressure, I cannot really think of anything else.