Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Popping in Steering Wheel

[FF1381]

Ok i don't know any other way to describe it, but when i turn hard mostly to the right (you know those one handed tractor turns) i can feel a little popping in my steering wheel... i can't describe it any better, but it is something you can feel and hear...



any help would be appreciated



thanks

 

[Steve Campbell]

Page 7 of issue 37...

has an ad for Borgeson steering shafts. From your description, a replacement one of these may be in order.

 

[John Berger]

Every now and then I experienced something similar to what you are describing, when I turned hard to the left. I drained as much fluid from my pump as I could and refilled it with the synthetic stuff Valvoline sells. I have not experienced the "thump" since. Something that may or may not be unrelated is the steering shaft knuckle and joint. Do you notice any squeeking while driving? A solution for that is to spray the shaft from the firewall down to the knuckle and joint with WD-40. I also did that at about the same time I changed the PS fluid. No knocks and squeeks since. It might be worth a try. If you don't know what I mean by the squeeky sound, you probably don't have it. Trust me, it's a great big annoying pain in the a$$. If you got it, you know it.

 

[FF1381]

there is no squeeking... but there is the knocking... how much is that shaft?

 

[jthomp2]

I am interested in this subject as well, I have a similar sensation when starting off in 2nd gear from dead stop from the steering column. Also my 2k 4x4 ctd has that "wander" problem that some have described on this website. 47000miles. Anyone out actual tried the Borgsen Shaft? If so could you see (feel) any difference.

 

[jandtjil]

FF1381

It sounds like a problem my brother describes with his 2002, I will make sure he gives this thread a read.

Your signiture doesn't mention whether it is a 2X4 or 4X4.

brothers truck is a 4X4. He hasn't had much luck with dealer, first place he took it to said "yeah some of them just do that". Obvoiusly it is very technical and not understood my most truck owners.



JJ

 

[sberrio]

Borgeson Shaft

I had the Borgeson on my 93 W250 CTD. It FIXED the steering. All I had to do was ad a steering stabilizer. On this truck the steering seems more complicated. More stuff to wear out, I would assume. I was thinking of putting one in this truck. The only thing stopping me is the price increase since 93, and the fact that I can barely see the shaft through that MESS of brake lines.

just my thoughts,

simon

 

[jthomp2]

It is a 4x4 and my "popping" , tremors or whatever only started in the last few thousand miles in the steering column. The "wander" has been there from day one. However it is not bad compared to the last 2 ford trucks I owned that had twin I beam front suspension. I just thought if the Borgeson would make much difference I would like to retro fit this truck. Also anyone know if replacing the steering stabilizer would make any difference to front end wander (or change any front end characteristics).

 

[legbert]

my 2001 had this same thing

My 2001 had same deal. It was 4X4 auto. I took to dealership 2 times. First time was to replace seals on steering box. I noticed it was leaking and they said seals were bad. Truck had 6k on it. Second time it started popping bad. checked steering fluid and was bone dry. Took in with 15K and they put a whole new steering box on it. that fixed the problem. May help, may not. Just my 2 cents of experience.



Louis



P. S. If I were you, I would tell the stealers what you think the problem is. This way they think you know what you are talking about, even if you don't. Just make sure someone knowledgeable looks at it before taking in and have them give you their assessment.

 

[Crazy Horse]

I've noticed the same thing on my 2000 2500. It kinda feels like a loosenes/ light pop occasionally. Seems like it's done for awhile, the truck only has 7200 miles on it. It hasn't got bad enough yet so I haven't looked into the cause.

 

[Smoke Chopper]

I think I know what might be your problem.

My truck has done it also off an on. It is the telescoping shaft part of the stearing shaft between the fire wall and the box. To keep the slip slider tight they use teflon between the tubes and they kind of bind a little. The shifting of the body in relation to the frame causes the slip slider to slide or pop depending how tight it is. Good luck hope this helps.

 

[jthomp2]

To smoke chopper

Your reply makes the most sense of any that I have read here. But woulldn't the Borgeson Shaft fix such a problem? I am under the impression they design in a slip coupler like on a drive shaft.

 

[FF1381]

is there anything that can be done smoke chopper?

 

[Smoke Chopper]

I haven't tryed to fix the poping in the stearing slider. I spose you could try spraying a light weight oil on the slider but trying to get it to run up hill might be a trick. I would think that a small amount of road dust and salt and water has caused them to rust a little and or the factory lube has gone away and caused this problem.