2011-2014 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke Steering Parts

Steering on the 2011-2014 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke

On a 4x4 Super Duty of this era, steering starts at a recirculating-ball gear box bolted to the driver-side frame rail. The box turns the pitman arm, the pitman arm pushes the drag link, and the drag link turns the knuckle on the solid Dana Super 60 front axle. Tie rods set toe between the two knuckles, a track bar keeps the axle centered side to side, and one steering stabilizer damps the linkage. Two-wheel-drive trucks are built differently, with Ford's Twin-I-Beam front suspension, which is why most of the chassis parts on this page are labeled 4WD. For engine-side parts, go to the Powerstroke hub.

What fails and why

Play builds up in a few predictable places. The gear box wears and lets the truck wander, with a loose on-center feel that keeps you making small corrections. Bigger tires, heavy off-road bumpers and snow plows speed that wear along. Tie-rod ends and drag link joints wear too, and you feel it as tire slap, clicking and a lag between the steering wheel and the tires. When enough slack stacks up, the truck can fall into death wobble, the violent front-end shake at highway speed that shows up on solid-axle 4x4 Super Dutys. Front-end specialists rank the track bar as the most common cause, with tie rods second and the drag link third. Putting a new stabilizer on top of that only buys time, and the wobble tends to return within months.

How to find the loose part

You need two people and a flat concrete floor. One person rocks the steering wheel back and forth while the other watches each joint in turn, from the gear box and pitman arm out to the drag link, tie-rod ends and track bar. The joint that moves when it should not is the one to replace. After any tie rod or drag link work, get the front end aligned.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

A worn gear box can be swapped for a new or remanufactured unit, and either restores factory-like feel. Heavier-duty gears and cylinder-assist kits exist for trucks on big tires or plow duty. Watch the years when you shop: some aftermarket gear makers list the 2011-and-later gear as a different part from the 2005-2007 and October 2007-2010 gears, even though the front axle carried over. Stabilizers sit on the upgrade side. A dual kit adds damping once the joints are tight, but it is an add-on, never a substitute. On trucks lifted 4 inches or more, a drop pitman arm or a corrected drag link may be needed to keep the steering geometry right, so check with your lift kit maker.

What we carry

• Stabilizers: BDS Suspension dual steering stabilizer kits for 0-2 inch and 2.5-9 inch lifts, a dual stabilizer mounting kit for 2.5-9 inch lifts, and a single stabilizer kit with an NX2 shock for 2011-2016 4WD trucks. Bilstein adds the 24-196284 B8 5100 Series steering damper for 2008-2016 4WD trucks.
• Pitman arm: a BDS Suspension drop pitman arm with 5 inches of drop for 4WD trucks.
• Gear box and pump: the XDP XD744 Stock+ power steering gearbox and the XDP XD739 power steering pump with pulley and pipe, both new units listed for 2011-2016 6.7L trucks.
• Fluid and hardware: Lucas Oil 10823 power steering fluid and the BD Diesel 1032103 cam adjuster kit, listed for 2011-2022 Powerstroke trucks.

Fitment notes

Most stabilizer and pitman arm parts here are built for 4x4 trucks with the solid front axle. A 4x2 Super Duty uses Twin-I-Beam front suspension, so read the drive type on every listing. Stabilizer kits are split by lift height, so know your lift before you order. Some gear makers list the 2011-and-later steering gear as its own part, so do not assume an earlier Super Duty box will swap in. Verify by VIN or use the fitment checker on the product page.

Frequently asked questions

Will a new steering stabilizer cure death wobble on my F-250?

No. The stabilizer is a damper. It can mask the shake for a while, but the wobble usually comes back within months because the worn track bar, tie rod or drag link joint is still there. Fix the loose parts first, then add a single or dual stabilizer for damping.

Why does my 6.7L Super Duty wander on the highway?

A worn steering gear box is a common cause. It shows up as a loose on-center feel and constant small corrections, and larger tires, heavy bumpers and plows make it wear faster. Worn tie-rod ends and drag link joints add slack too, so check them in the same inspection.

Do I need an alignment after steering work?

After any tie rod or drag link work, yes. The tie rods set toe on these trucks, so replacing linkage parts moves the alignment. Schedule it as soon as the new parts are in.

Does a lifted F-350 need a drop pitman arm?

It may. On trucks lifted 4 inches or more, a drop pitman arm or a corrected drag link can be what keeps the steering geometry right. Check what your lift kit maker calls for before ordering.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.