1997 E150 4.6 215000 miles original engine/trany.

Steering has become stiff throughout its travel. Doesn't seem to bind in any one spot. Also will not return to center and seems to have about 2" of slop in the middle.

Flushed the fluid, pump isn't making any noise.

Is it a u-joint in the steering column/linkage?

Van sat for almost a year, prior to sitting it had no steering issues. When I got it back the steering was stiff? Driven it about 5000 miles in the last 2 months and it's not getting any more loose.

Thanks for your help.

 

This sounds like a problem with the bearings in the steering column, or a problem with the steering box.

I experienced a similar problem with the bearing in the column couple years ago on a '92, that didn't have a lot of mileage on it, I re-placed the 3 bearings, and that solved the problem with the very tight steering feel, and the up and down "wobble" of the steering wheel (does your steering wheel wobble up and down??)

First course of action would be to disconnect the mid link from the bottom of the steering column, and see how the steering wheel/column feels, if it's tight, and wobbles, then the bearing in the column should be replaced.

This would also give you a chance to inspect the mid link for the u-joints being bad, this would give you the loose play from wheel turn.

If not, then you have a problem with the steering box, and as you wrote, that you have a 2" play, it would narrow down the problem for you.

If you need additional info for the bearings, or a diagram for the steering column, ask up, and I'll post what info I have on that.

 

Excellent suggestions. I'll dig into it today while my wife is out of town and my honey do list can be put on hold

Any diagrams you have or suggestions you might have as to the easiest way to reach the u-joint would be great. I've seen the job done on an F150, but imagine the van won't be as easy.

I don't have any wobble in the steering wheel at all - I'm leaning towards u-joints because of how long it sat with out being driven.

I guess we'll see and I can report back.

 

There should be two u-joints in the steering shaft; one inside close to the firewall, the other outside somewhat close to the steering box.

I'd try spraying some WD40 or Liquid Wrench into each of them and work the column back and forth, front wheels off the ground if possible.

Wildman's ideas are great but I can't think just sitting that long would affect the steering box or other steering components, other than the u-joints that is.

Here's a photo of the inside u-joint:




One of the outside joint:

 

Nice pictures........Thanks

I took into consideration of the OP of the van having 215K on the clock.

Isolating the components would narrow down which of the 3 would be the cause of the vans problem as described.

I have in the past had to replace a mid shaft on a '94 that got retired after 326K total, the only replacement was from a pick-n-pull, no dealer had this obsolesce part available.

 

Great help THANK YOU. WD40 and some working back and forth has loosened up a bunch.

 

Glad that worked out so "easily" for you----should make a huge difference now.

 

Got to say thanks to you JWA. My steering was binding every 1/4 turn and I was ready to buy a new box. Read this post and it made sense. Poured some PB Blaster on the u-joint,cranked it back and forth and was back to normal. RG