Okanee69

The steering is hard to turn to the left . It turns okay when parked but when driving thats a different story. Power steering fluid is okay checked that and I dont want to take it in rather work on it myself any ideas out there?

rocky raccoon

You don't say what you are driving but many of our trucks have a design flaw. The steering shaft has two universal joints to allow steering wheel adjustment. On my truck (and probably all of them) those u-joints are out in the open and vulnerable to dirt and corrosion thus stiffening up. Pop your hood and look straight down on the driver side and you will see the upper joint, the one usually at fault.

To verify this is your problem, clean it with degreaser and soak-squirt almost any lubricant into it. I used Marvel Mystery Oil. If your steering is restored, that was your problem. Lubrication is only a temporary fix but you can put off replacing that upper shaft and u-joint for a while by keeping it lubed. Eventually you will have to replace it. I sourced mine from ebay but be careful as some of them are junk. Don't buy the cheapest.

ReaperHWK

Exactly. I bought an OEM steering shaft off of EBAY about 3 years ago, still turns like it's brand new.....

gDMJoe

And ... Your vehicle is ?

HINT/TIP: Put your -COMPLETE- vehicle information (year, model, cab, trim, engine, wheelbase, _x4 drive, mileage, modifications, etc., etc.) in your signature -OR- provide it in your posting(s).

*Telepathic or Carnac we're not.
.

Okanee69

That's what year and make it is

Hefe

Question... I just replaced my steering shaft, which is what these folks are suggesting. I have a 2013 Eco 3.5 FXR... I'm fearing the EPAS system but troubleshooting at this point. Did you find this shaft to be the problem or was something else the problem?

maco

Sounds to me like you just went ahead & changed your steering shaft.....
I would question why you didn't trouble shoot your initial problem by soaking the lower joint (in particular) with a lubricate to test ???
If semi seized etc. it should/would've freed up for @ least a few days....& that would have told you it was the problem....
After removing old shaft did you check especially that lower joint.....was it stiff to turn & rotate....if it was , again this was your problem !!
Is your initial problem seem fixed right now ?? If it is.......likely you have replaced/fixed your problem !!
Plz post your final fix....so others may learn....THKS!!

maco

Just added info regarding replacing the lower steering shafts with the cheaper replacement shafts !! (china)
I drive commercially approx. 100,000 km a year (60,000 miles) & bought the cheap e-bay china replacement shaft for approx. $50.00 Cdn.
It works just fine & is still performing on my old 2010 with 530,000 km on the clock @ the time of sale !! ... I sold this truck about 3 yrs ago & it still works!!

Hefe

yea I changed my steering shaft, it was $60 and I’m constantly out of town. I don’t have much time to fix the problems, but I also don’t have $2k for the problem, I had lubricated with WD40 but Didn’t get much change.

The vibration I feel is at the steering wheel, with a grind feeling a lot higher. All the symptoms of an EPAS failure seem to exist except for codes and the squeal.

am I crazy to purchase a new rack and just swap it out? I know this is the most expensive part but it seems to be consistent with this make/model. I’ve never heard of issues in the steering column itself.

Spiky

WD40 is a cleaner, not a lubricant. Good first step, but then use a lubricant, too.