steering shudder

Booncha57 · Apr 27, 2008

I just installed upper and lower ball joints and now my steering wheel shudders when I turn it. I cranked the wheel with the truck off and some power steering fluid leaked out so I figured it was that, but I bled it and nothing has really changed. When I have the front wheels off the ground the steering feels fine (truck on or off), but when it's on the ground is where I have problems. I just read a post about someone saying that they had the lower castle nut too tight, but my book said something like 83-103 ft. lbs. I don't know if want to loosen it or if it's my power steering.

Jspafford · Apr 27, 2008

As long as it does not affect your driving, I would leave it for a day or so and see if it gets better.

When you turn the wheel with the motor off our (ford) ps pumps puke fluid. This can lead to air in the lines. Usually after a little driving it works back out.

CheapThrillB2 · Apr 27, 2008

its normal....i go through this daily at work. If you have the Torsion BAr set-up and you have the front off the gorund and you turn the wheels at all left to right by physicall grabbing the tire/spindle and turning it with the motor off, will cause this. Sometimes it takes up to 20 miles for it to go away, sometimes it feels like when you make a lane change your tire will fall off or the steering wheel shakes violently. The first time i exp this was about 10 years ago at work and it took me forever to figure out what i did. Just make sure the lugs are tight and just go on a long test drive.

Booncha57 · Apr 27, 2008

Ok, thanks guys. I was just worried that I messed up my first ball joint install...Does it make a difference if I have a coil spring set up?

CheapThrillB2 · Apr 27, 2008

on a 98 probably not, its the power steering set-up that causes it, just most commonly felt on the T-Bar set-up after 94

Booncha57 · Apr 27, 2008

It just made sense to me that if the wheels were off the ground and everything was turning fine that it must have been the pump. I guess there is a ton more load on it when it's on the ground.

metalmacguyver · Apr 27, 2008

What actually causes this though?

CheapThrillB2 · Apr 27, 2008

i don't remember the specifics from the TSB i read years ago but it was something in the pump or rack and getting air trapped...........it was years ago i read the details.

Booncha57 · Apr 28, 2008

All is good today, thanks for your replies.

Sasquatch_Ryda · Apr 28, 2008

Yeup, I've had to explain this to a few customers at work as well

thegoat4 · Apr 28, 2008

metalmacguyver said:
What actually causes this though?

The steering rack is a little crappy on fords and will push out fluid when steered without assist. Fluid out means air in. Air is compressible, while oil (at reasonable pressures, anyway) is not. Any bubbles in your system will get smashed. When these bubbles pass through the valving, instead of smoothly modulating, the valves flutter due to pressure changes letting the bubbles expand suddenly. The fluttering valves cause the steering to hammer back and forth. The hammering goes away as the bubbles work their way out.

I steer stop-to-stop a few times, then shut down a minute or so, then fire it up and do it again. That generally pushes out most of the air before you have to drive it. The pause is to allow aerated fluid to separate within the reservoir.

Booncha57 · Apr 29, 2008

Very good.

compleckz · Jun 5, 2008

thegoat4 said:
The steering rack is a little crappy on fords and will push out fluid when steered without assist. Fluid out means air in. Air is compressible, while oil (at reasonable pressures, anyway) is not. Any bubbles in your system will get smashed. When these bubbles pass through the valving, instead of smoothly modulating, the valves flutter due to pressure changes letting the bubbles expand suddenly. The fluttering valves cause the steering to hammer back and forth. The hammering goes away as the bubbles work their way out.

I steer stop-to-stop a few times, then shut down a minute or so, then fire it up and do it again. That generally pushes out most of the air before you have to drive it. The pause is to allow aerated fluid to separate within the reservoir.

good info

northerncountry · Jun 15, 2008

same thing here I just replaced my hub assembly and I have a bad shake on my right side I thought I did something wrong but I double checked and all looks right could this be the same thing?

fireguy12117 · Jul 5, 2008

Glad i saw this. i just did my inner and outter tie rod ends, and seem to have experience the same thing. i was turning the steering for some reason at some point and puked some fluid out of the resevior....after i had everything together, i went for a drive and felt a shudder and though it was just everything settling in, but it hasnt gone away. when i the trucks off the ground and i push and pull the tires (engine off), its fine, when i use the steering weel (engine on) i get a shudder. when the trucks off, everything feels fine, no binding....

is this the same thing as described above?

it does seem like nearly hard over to the right, it is a little tight, compared to all other range of motion...could this be over tighened outter tie rod nuts?

steering shudder

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