Section 11-00: Steering System, Service
1996 F-150, F-250, F-350, Bronco and F-Super Duty Workshop Manual
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

Symptom Chart — Steering System Problems

 
STEERING SYSTEM PROBLEMS
ConditionPossible SourceAction
  • Power Steering Pump Leaks
  • Leaking cap and dipstick or overfilledpower steering oil reservoir.
  • CHECK for indications of false leakage — overfilled power steering oil reservoir, improperly installed, damaged or lost cap or dipstick.
 
  • Loose or damaged power steering pressure hose connections.
 
  • Leakage between power steering oil reservoir and power steering pump housing.
  • REPLACE pump as required.
 
  • Leakage at pump shaft seal area.
  • REPLACE shaft seal or power steering pump. REPLACE C-II pump as required.
  • Noise in Steering Column
      Squeak or Creak
  • Steering column cover interference.
  • ADJUST or REPOSITION as required.
 
  • Noisy clockspring.
  • INSTALL new clockspring.
 
  • Loose steering column mounting bolts.
  • TIGHTEN to specification.
  • Noise in Steering Column Clunk
  • Steering column intermediate shaft coupling bottoming.
  • ALIGN or ADJUST as required.
 
  • Loose steering column intermediate shaft coupling to steering column bolt.
  • TIGHTEN to specification.
 
  • Improperly adjusted steering gear.
  • Excessive Steering Effort
  • Improper/oversized tires.
  • INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination. REFER to Section 04-04.
 
  • Tires not uniform.
  • INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination. REFER to Section 04-04.
 
  • Improper tire pressure.
 
  • Misaligned steering column intermediate shaft coupling (if so equipped) to gear interference.
  • ALIGN or ADJUST as required.
 
  • Improperly adjusted wheel to column alignment.
  • ALIGN or ADJUST as required.
 
  • Binding condition in steering sector shaft arm drag link or front axle pins, or lack of lubrication.
  • LUBE, INSPECT, ADJUST or REPLACE as required. REFER to Section 11-03.
 
  • Bind in front axle spindle thrust bearings (4WD only).
  • LUBE, INSPECT, ADJUST or REPLACE as required. REFER to Group 05.
 
  • Improperly adjusted steering gear.
 
  • Low power steering pump fluid level and possible leak in system.
  • ADD fluid, TIGHTEN connections and CORRECT as necessary.
 
  • Power steering pump pressure and flow below specification.
  • CONDUCT pump flow and pressure tests in this section and ADJUST or REPAIR as necessary.
 
  • Air in power steering system.
  • ADD fluid, TIGHTEN connections and BLEED system.
 
  • Contaminated fluid, incorrect fluid.
  • REPLACE with specified fluid.
 
  • Obstruction within steering gear orpower steering return hose and power steering pressure hose (including bent or kinked steel tubing).
  • INSPECT, REMOVE obstruction(s) and REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
 
  • Steering gear valve binding (integral power steering).
  • INSPECT, REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
 
  • Excessive internal gear leakage.
  • INSPECT, REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
 
  • Interface with rotational portion of column or intermediate shaft.
  • TIE back as required.
 
  • Front suspension axle to spindle ball joints.
  • INSPECT for freedom of motion. REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
  • Wanders Side to Side — Loose Steering
  • Vehicle overloaded or unevenly loaded.
  • CORRECT as required.
 
  • Improper (mismatched) tires and wheels.
  • INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination. REFER to Section 04-04.
 
  • Improper tire pressure.
  • ADJUST air pressure in tires.
 
  • Loose steering gear mounting.
  • ADJUST to 73-89 Nm (54-66 lb-ft).
 
  • Front and rear suspension components loose, worn or exhibit damaged condition.
  • TIGHTEN or REPLACE as necessary. REFER to Group 04.
 
  • Loose, worn or damaged steering sector shaft arm drag link.
 
  • Loose wheel lug nuts.
  • TIGHTEN to specifications.
 
  • Spindle pin (king pin) binding.
  • LUBRICATE suspension. REFER to Group 04.
 
  • Improperly adjusted front wheel bearing.
  • ADJUST to specification.
 
  • Steering column intermediate shaft coupling fractured.
  • REPLACE as required.
 
  • Incorrect toe setting.
 
  • Improperly adjusted steering gear.
 
  • Steering column misaligned.
 
  • Steering column components loose or exhibit excessive play.
  • REPAIR as required.
  • Pulls to One Side
  • Improperly sized tires.
  • INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination.
 
  • Improper tire pressure.
 
  • Unevenly loaded vehicle.
  • CORRECT as required.
 
  • Improper brake operation or adjustment.
  • INSPECT, ADJUST and CORRECT as required. REFER to Group 06.
 
  • Improperly adjusted front wheel bearing, or worn or damaged rear wheel bearing.
  • ADJUST or REPLACE as required. REFER to Group 05.
 
  • Broken or sagging front spring and/or rear spring.
  • INSPECT and REPLACE as required. REFER to Group 04 and Group 05.
 
  • Loose steering gear mountings.
 
  • Loose, worn or damaged steering sector shaft arm drag link.
 
  • Bent front wheel spindle.
  • INSPECT and REPLACE as required.
 
  • Bent rear axle housing and/or loose rear spring, shock absorber and suspension arm attaching points.
  • INSPECT, TIGHTEN and REPLACE as required. REFER to Group 04.
 
  • Frame or underbody out of alignment.
 
  • Misaligned front wheel.
 
  • Belts on tires misaligned.
 
  • Steering gear valve binding or out of balance.
  • Returnability Poor
  • Improper tire pressure.
 
  • Binding steering sector shaft arm drag link or lack of lubrication.
 
  • Spindle pin (king pin) binding.
  • LUBRICATE suspension. REFER to Group 04.
 
  • Tight front axle spindles.
  • LUBE, CORRECT as required.
 
  • Bind in front axle spindle bolt thrust bearings.
  • LUBE, CORRECT as required. REFER to Group 04.
 
  • Improperly adjusted toe.
  • ADJUST as required.
 
  • Improperly adjusted steering gear.
 
  • Kinked power steering return hose.
  • INSPECT and REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
 
  • Obstruction with steering gear or power steering return hose/power steering pressure hose.
  • INSPECT, REMOVE obstructions and REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
 
  • Binding steering linkage, connecting rods or ends.
  • Shaking Transmission Column Shift Selector Tube
  • Engine out of tune.
  • TUNE engine. REFER to Group 03.
 
  • Worn or damaged steering column, adjacent sheet metal, shift tube bushing or shift linkage.
  • REPAIR or REPLACE the column and/or components as required. REFER to Section 11-04.
 
  • Alignment and movement — engine and transmission insulators and mounts.
 
  • Improper detent torque loading in transmission column shift selector tube.
  • REPAIR or REPLACE transmission shift components as required. REFER to appropriate section in Group 07.
 
  • Damaged or twisted steering gear sector shaft.
  • REPLACE steering gear sector shaft.
  • Clear Vision Complaint — Steering Wheel Spokes Obscure View of Instrument Panel with Wheels in Straight-Ahead Position
  • Damaged or twisted steering gear sector shaft.
  • REPLACE steering gear sector shaft.
 
  • Toe out of adjustment.
  • Power Steering or Accessory Belt Squealing
  • Check belt for proper tension or glazing. For C-II pump, the pump would be damaged due to excessive fluid temperatures of 149°C (300°F) or higher. Dark fluid with a burnt smell will confirm.
  • TIGHTEN or REPLACE belt as required. REFER to Section 03-05.For CII pump, REPLACE pump and PURGE old fluid. ADD Motorcraft MERCON ® ATF XT-2-QDX or MERCON® equivalent.
  • Pump Noisy
  • Low fluid level and possible leakage.
  • REFILL to specified level. PURGE air from system. CHECK for leaks. REPAIR as required. If noise persists, REPLACE pump.
  • Swish Type Noise
  • Fluid flow into the bypass valve of the pump valve housing with fluid temperature below 55°C (130°F).
  • Normal noise.
  • Whine Type Noise
  • Aerated fluid or cam contour damaged.
  • Worn or damaged valve O-ring seal.
  • PURGE system of air. If condition not resolved, REPLACE pump. GO to Pinpoint Test D .