Power steering problem?
 

Over the last week or so, I have noticed that my truck is hard to steer. The steering wheel doesn't center itself going around a corner anymore. It almost feels like driving with 2 flat tires. I do not believe that my front hubs are locked in, haven't checked yet though. Power steering fluid is just above the min line when cold and just below the max line when hot. I've done some searching and found possible problems from the rack and pinion to a high pressure valve. I'm really at a loss here and am a little concerned about doing some expensive damage. I should add that the problem is worse when it is cold and seems to get little better as the truck warms up. Anybody have any ideas?
edit: the issue is intermittent

Any noise? Like squealing or whining?

If your front hubs are locked and you are driving on dry pavement, you will definitely experience sluggish steering and what feels like flat tires.

No noise that I can hear (40 series flow on the truck). What is the easiest way to see of the hubs are locked? I've punched the throttle in the gravel parking lot at work and only the rear tires broke loose. I'm thinking I should be able to turn my front driveshaft with the truck on all fours, if the hubs are UNLOCKED? The truck goes 'into' 4 HI fine, no unusual noises or clunks. I haven't checked into the 4wd any further than that

Jack the front end up and with the truck not running, see if you can rotate the CV's by hand. You should not be able to rotate them. Next, start your truck. The hubs should now be unlocked and able to rotate freely by hand. Now select 4wd-the hubs should lock again. Select back to 2wd and your hubs should unlock. When you turn your truck off, the hubs should lock again.

Perfect, now I just have to find a dry spot to check it out. Its raining here today. Ill post up my findings. Thanks

I donned my rubber ducky rain gear and braved the rain. With the truck running in 2wd I can turn both of the cv's by hand. Flip it into 4 hi and I can't turn either one, so I know my hubs are working properly. Would it be possible, since this is an intermittent issue that the solenoid could be fuggard? It is the older one without the shield

It's possible. The solenoids are not that expensive $30-$45 and its cheap insurance.

Doubt it. There shouldn't be hardly any extra steering resistance with the hubs engaged.
I ran with mine engaged several hundred miles after I re-geared by unplugging the vacuum solenoid. No noticeable difference in driving habits. Don't forget that the rangers after 2000 and the explorers had live axles and you really couldn't feel a difference between the late and early rangers either.

I'm thinking the next time the steering feels really stiff, I'm gunna pull over and see if the hubs are locked

Hmmm... I noticed a difference in the steering between the f150 and my old 07. The ranger's steering was a little stiffer

I wouldn't call it steering resistance per se. It's more like lag. Especially when on dry pavement. If you're turning to the right or the left, hard with locked hubs; the inner wheel on the turn has less rotations to make to cover distance than the outside wheel does. This gives the steering wheel a dead feel and is certainly less responsive.

Kevin that is only an issue if you are running a locker or you are actually engaged in 4wd.

As for the steering issue, id check out the power steering pump.

I agree Zach.

I converted the 98 ranger to manual hubs, left them engaged most of the winter. No difference in steering feel.
No dead steering feel in the 97 explorer with live axles, or the 05 sport trac with live axles and an aussie locker in front.
No sluggishness/ deal feeling with the hubs locked on my F150 (by unplugging the vacuum solenoid) either.

Any easy way to do that? Have someone turn the wheel and listen for noise? Or put a bar on the pump and listen for growling?

UPDATE
 

So I finally got frustrated enough to really check into the problem. Turns out that the u joints on the steering shaft to the rack and pinion were seized solid. SO $320 later my truck now drives like a brand new truck:D. The mechanic that diagnosed and fixed it told me that this is common on the F150's

I am experiencing the same symptoms, but I checked the u-joint on the steering shaft and it appears to working properly. I originally thought it was caused by the hubs being locked, but I just replace an IWE and the problem persists. Glad you got yours sorted out.

really? that seems crazy! but glad you got it fixed!

I told you it wasn't the hubs! Haha
Glad its fixed. I went through and replaced everything up front on my truck to fix some looseness. Finally figured out it was a worn out bushing or something on the drivers side of the steering rack. Replaced it with a reman rack but I could feel slight play in it too. A couple months later and it's almost as bad as my old one. I'm so frustrated. They will warranty the rack but I'd be screwed with laborand probably get another rack that wasn't properly overhauled. Ugh. Tons of money spent and it still sucks. Some days I just want to cut my losses and get a barebones gasser super duty with a real axle.

I thought so too. Turns out just the steering shaft is a $250 part.

I would go to the boneyard and see if you could find a rack from a crashed truck with low miles. I have little confidence in the 'remanned' racks that they just put new seals in.

Awesome Canadian_Screw,Thank you very much!! I had the exact same problem.I actually described it to a friend as feeling like driving with the front tires flat too..I did notice some rust around the pump and the swivel joint but didn't think too much of it.A couple shots of LP1 on the swivel and it's like new.Thanks again,that really made my day.Much appreciated.

price of a grease fitting would save it all was there and did that

Your ball joints are probably getting buggard, how is the wear on the tires, is inside going loopy. If good wear pattern look to the steergear wear. You know you have perty good hyd psi because it pulls hard on the motor at idle. No hard pull weak pump psi verses good steering. Naturally the pump is the easiest to fix. They wear out together a lot filling the system with grit.