Power steering getting stiffer

[Lick Dicker]

My power steering has been getting stiff lately, I flushed it with Mobil1 ATF last year, and things didn't seem to change and stayed about the same stiffness (too stiff but not bad) for a year, yesterday things got stiffer on me, is this a pump issue, or a steering box issue? I haven't checked the fluid level yet, I will report back on that shortly.

 

[Tom S]

An easy one. Are the front tires low. My experience is Ford pumps get weak with time and are minimal to begin with without enough RPM.

 

[02POWERSTROKE7.3]

Mine is getting the same way.

 

[ezzyke]

I put a steering box in a good friends 99 ccsb 4x4 a year ago. His was getting really stiff at low rpm and then one day the shaft broke where the pitman arm attached. After we replaced the box it steers easily now hasn't had any stiff steering since.

 

[stroker2]

An easy one. Are the front tires low. My experience is Ford pumps get weak with time and are minimal to begin with without enough RPM.

:whs: Maybe try revving it up to 2k and see if that helps at all at a stand still

 

[Lick Dicker]

I first noticed going ~60 compression braking down hill wound to 2.5k with a solid amount of touge weight. That being the case I dont think I could give it an easyer chance of making the tires easy to turn. I checked the fluid I replaced in it last year, it smells a little burnt and there were some little shavings on the dipstick, they looked like brass?

Is there a way to rebuild the pump of steering box?

 

[ezzyke]

I know you can rebuild a steering box because I have done it before. With that said it was a pain in the A$$! It's not overcomplicated and the parts are cheap but I didn't enjoy it at all. I got the one for the truck I did from advanve Auto. It was under 200 dollars and took an hour or so to do. I do get a commercial discout though.

 

[stackedstroker]

How are your balljoints?
I've done several sets of wore out ball joints that once it was put back together it helped the steering tremendously.

Just something to look into before getting a new pump.

 

[stroker2]

Just put a bigger steering wheel on, quit whining, and call it good

 

[NevrKnow]

Just put a bigger steering wheel on, quit whining, and call it good

HAHAHAHAHA

 

[Arisley]

With metal shavings in there, something is getting eaten. Either the pump or the steering box.

 

[Fly By Night]

With metal shavings in there, something is getting eaten. Either the pump or the steering box.

Any way to tell which it is?

 

[Gootee]

I battled this problem forever. I replaced everything. Started with the pump an burnt it out so replaced it again. Replaced the box and lines and it was solved