Steering is hard?

STEVE DIAMOND2

MEMBER
2002 FORD F-150
4.2L
6 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
220,000 MILES

My girl has the truck listed above and I have been doing a little work here and there on it to save her and myself some money. I replace the tie-rod on the driver side because the ball joints are bad on Monday we drove it all Monday it drove straight as an arrow did not have any issues drove better than it ever has except for when it was brand new. She went out last night riding around coming out and trying to come out to my house and then all of a sudden the stearing was hard and it wanted to go to the left real sharp. So she got scared and turned around and went back to her house and the issue stopped. Then there was no problems whatsoever.

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,011 POSTS

That description sounds like an issue with the steering box assist control valving sticking and forcing the steering box to the left.
I would start by drawing some fluid out of the power steering reservoir and adding some Seafoam Hydra Trans Tune to the power steering fluid. Then turn the wheel back/forth to circulate that through the system. It should clean out any varnish or crud. Then drain and flush the power steering fluid and cleaner. Refill with new fluid and test it out.