Rubbery feeling in steering column...

[cannesdo]

I have a 2001 F250...I recently moved the Oregon Coast and started noticing a feeling(no sound) of rubber on rubber when I turn the wheel. It's not extreme, very slight...it's just never felt like that before. Any idea what it would be? And if so what it would take to fix? I like to try to do things myself so I'd be interested in how difficult it would be to do on my own. I checked the power steering fluid...the level is fine.

Thanks...

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Have them check the line pressure out to the rack and see if it's in spec. If the line pressure out is not high enough it will give a weird feeling.

I haven't seen rag joints sense I had to set points. Let us know what they find.

(on edit I for some reason thought this was an Ecoboot with a rack)

[cannesdo]

It feels like it's just missing some grease or something. Not any looser (although there's been a lot of play for years and the mechanic thinks it may be the gearbox but it's not dire)...There's just a rubbing feeling that I can feel with my hands when I turn the wheel.

[cannesdo]

dodge guy wrote:
Is it a 2WD or 4WD? On 4WD Superduty's when an axle u-joint seizes up it can give a tight rubbery feeling.

It's a 2WD.

[dodge_guy]

Is it a 2WD or 4WD? On 4WD Superduty's when an axle u-joint seizes up it can give a tight rubbery feeling.

[AJBert]

Sounds like the rag joint is giving up the ghost. Take a look at a Flaming River u-joint to replace the rag joint rather than replacing the rag joint itself. Fairly easy to do as long as you are comfortable cutting the steering rod. Just remember to measure twice and cut once.