Bolt153

Hi Folks,

I have a 2007, 5.4, Supercrew. Last year I spent time replacing my transmission with a used one and it works great! Now I have come accross a new problem. The steering has become a big issue. Turning the wheel either direction at corners is difficult and definitely not smooth. It feels like I'm turning an egg instead of a circle (if that makes sense). It's stiff, monetarily easy, then stiff. It also will not self center when coming out of the turn, I have to do the same process to get back to driving straight. The power steering pump has lost no fluid at all, but there are a small flecks of metal in the resevior that I captured with a magnet. I know there are many components to steering (ball joints, tie rods, etc) but the little I know in this area makes me concerned for the rack and pinion. Has anyone else gone through this? Any suggestions on diagnostics before I simply go after the R&P? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

ford4wd08

Sounds like it could be your pinion valve, but before you jump to that, check your I-shaft coming through the firewall down to the steering gear assembly, it could be binding. Might try by lubing it up.

jamie930

sounds like the steering shaft to me. Do a search on it. It is pretty common. You can try lubing it up in place. Remove it and lube it. Or replace it all together.
Price and times vary

Ford123

Steering shaft, mine used to do the exact same think a couple years back, lubed it up with oil and it's been smooth as butter ever since.

Bolt153

Thank you all for your feedback! I went out today and looked at the steering shaft. It was quite rusty so I oiled all the knuckles along with the shaft itself. Dropped the truck off the stands, took it for a drive, and WOW! Just like there was never a steering issue at all! You folks and this forum have most likely saved me hours of work and a lot of money on parts that probably wouldn't have addressed the problem. I am very appreciative for your help! Drive safe all!

tomb1269

How are you guys getting in to the lower join to oil it up and what are you using? Regular motor oil coating or spray white lithum grease??

Ford123

I used clean outboard motor oil any oil would probably do. I've tried using lithium grease it worked for about 6 months then it started binding up again, so I used the oil in an oil can, I just climbed up and sat on the fan shroud and reached down to get the bottom joint.

jamie930

I pulled the shaft out of the truck. They made sure the joint was all god then coated in grease. It lasted like 18months then the bottom joint started to grab again. I pulled it again and regreased. I might spend the $120 for the new shaft later.
But having pulled the shaft already it takes like 30min to do