6.0 power steering problem...HELP!!!!

[TurboTy]

Ok, i know i havent been on in a bunch of weeks, been busy buying a house and doing all the adult stuff, lol...i've got a problem at our shop, we own a auto body shop and are in process of fixing one of our towns ambulances, big job, cab was off, front frame rails replaced, motor and trans was out, etc...its a 6.0, problem is now i got it running, but when you try and turn the wheel just the slightest bit, the wheel startings turning violently, like it'd break your arm violent if it was in the wheel! keep in mind everything in the front was replaced, all coolers, all lines, steering box, all suspension, i traced all lines and none are kinked, both feed and return on box are different sizes so you cant mess them up, returns and all seem to be going all to correct places, what the helllllll could possibly cause this? I know it's fuggin weird, but hopin i just somehow am missing something stupid, but unsure? Pump couldnt do it could it? that is original, this truck was pretty much head on'd by a honda to try and give you a sense of the damage, i'm almost at my wits end, we have alldata, but it doesnt give great diagrams or anything like that...appreciate any info you guys may have, thanks!!!!1

 

[KRISTOLSON]

I imagine you had to change out the radiator, intercooler, trans cooler, etc? Could there be a restriction inside the new cooler? I blew a line on mine when it got cold out this year and when I got it repaired, it kind of jerked a little bit before all of the air got worked out, but not as bad as you described. The pressure from the pump also runs the hydra-boost on the brakes, so you may want to check that as well. If the brakes are not bled all the way, maybe it would oscillate like that? I am reaching here, but just things to check I guess.

 

[DaveBen]

My guess would be a damaged power steering box. This vehicle was in a big accident in the front, from what you say.

Dave

 

[SoCalPowerStroke]

i would say the steering box also, i replaced the cooler, the pump, then the hydroboost and then the steering box! mine acted the same way, jack the front end of it up and see if you can turn the wheels and it seems easier and is there any play in the steering when its shut off?

 

[KRISTOLSON]

I believe in his first post he said he replaced the steering box....

 

[SoCalPowerStroke]

as did i and it was a brand new box but was dead, i wont use the anology that the stealership used to describe it

 

[TurboTy]

Hey guys, thanks for the quick replys... i did replace the box, twice now cause the first new one we put in did this too....it blew out the top seal by the steering shaft, tried the new one last night, same thing..only thing i did notice upon searching a little more on all data is it shows that according to the pic they have i do have the lines crossed on the box, BUT...you cant swap them, ones say 1/2" and the other ones 3/4"....???????? Only thing i'm wondering is if there are adapters that are supposed to be there so you can swap them???? problem is my personal truck is a 7.3, i have no other 6.0 to check out, might take a ride to the local stealership and see if they have any used one's on the lot, this is baffling me...lol, oh and i did try the brake bleeding and that didnt really help, it did seem to slow the shaking down, but not completely, when i jack the truck up it doesnt turn smooth at all...only when i disconnect the hoses on the box does it smooth out, obviously, which does kinda lead me to believe they may have to be switched, so when my dealer opens this morning i gotta call and see if i'm missing some parts. i'll keep you all informed! thanks again!

 

[ponyexpress94]

I see from your first post the "cab was off", but you didn't say whether this was a superduty chassis or an econoline van cutaway chassis. Also what year is the truck and what model F-350, 450, or 550? If I remember correctly, I read somewhere the 05-07 F-450 and F-550 have a different steering box than the 05-07 F-350. I also believe I read somwhere that the 05-07 F-350 shares the same box as all 03-04 6.0 liter powered F250 through F550 trucks. This isn't definite but I do recall seeing this somewhere, just can't remember where.

You haven't mentioned the hydroboost system either. This is tied directly into the power steering system and introduces another variable that could be the culprit for your problems. Check the hose routing at the hydroboost too. I also would tend to suspect the power steering pump. Obviously the severity of the crash was fairly significant so it doesn't seem like a stretch that the pump may have internal damage even though it otherwise looks fine.

Just a few more places to look at. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[KRISTOLSON]

I guess it would make sense if the lines are backward... pressure to the out put side would make your steering column turn like an orbit motor. I just don't know how that could have happened, like you said, different size fittings and all. If you can't find a truck at the dealer, I can venture out in the blizzard and snap some pics. Let me know-

 

[TurboTy]

ok, figured it out guys, my parts guy had it in his head that this was an F550, even though i had given thim the vin for the truck and it is an F350, the power steering cooler lines look exactly the same from the cooler to the box and reservoir and the one from the assist to the box, EXCEPT for the fact that for F350's they are different sizes than the 550's...on the 550's they have an enourmous box, he had sent me one of them too tryin to help this situation, i told him this is def wrong...that made me wonder if anything else was ordered for a 550, uhhhhhhhh, fuggin parts, so when i get the lines tomorrow, i should be all good. Thanks again for all the reply's guys, and specially Kristolson offering to go out in the blizzard! thanks man!