UPDATE: Steering Column....
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
UPDATE: Steering Column....
I've posted before about my steering wheel hanging up while driving,someone had mentioned before about bearings in the steering column,well a while ago after picking the kids up from school it did it again,only this time when I turned it a little harder to get past the"hang" I heard a very faint click from the steering column(it seemed like thats where it came from),but the steering wheel don't feel loose at all.....how can I check the bearings in there,do I have to disable the airbag?....Thoughts...
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
Well sometimes it just gets overall tight,but sometimes it's like there's a"burr" that you have to get past,it's not just when you're turning,but even when going straight say like on the highway,and you kinda have to float the wheel a little back and forth between back and forth you can feel it then.I've been all under the truck and there's no play in anything,steering bo
not that I can tell as far as the steering box goes,don't really know how to check the shaft),ball joints are tight with no play,hubs have been replaced(but hubs make a grinding sound when you stop hard,but that's another story),tie rod ends are tight,I can't find anything under the front end that would cause this,I was wondering about taking the column apart and checking in there but I didn't know if I had to disable the air bag or not...
not that I can tell as far as the steering box goes,don't really know how to check the shaft),ball joints are tight with no play,hubs have been replaced(but hubs make a grinding sound when you stop hard,but that's another story),tie rod ends are tight,I can't find anything under the front end that would cause this,I was wondering about taking the column apart and checking in there but I didn't know if I had to disable the air bag or not...
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 42
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As for the air bag. I've always disconnected the batteries and removed them with no issues. Just reinstall it before you reconnect the batteries. Can you get it to "hang up" while parked? If so i would lift the frontend off the ground { both wheels free spinning }and see if it still "hangs up".
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Kiowa CO
60RatRod swapped a steering column last year. You may want to PM him to see about taking the column apart.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 822
Likes: 9
From: Leander Texas
Just a thought, did you check your steering stabilizer shock if equipped? My dads '01 had a hard spot in the steering and after checking everything 10 times noticed a small dent in the stabilizer. Replace and all is well. Saw one yesterday in buddys shop that was in real bad shape, owner complaining about not being able to steer. I was surprised it would move at all. Other than that, you didn't just try tightening the steering box did you? That's exactly what happens if you go a little too far on the box.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Arlington, Texas
Be careful with that "hang up". I had the same problem a year or so ago. until the thing decided it would be fun to completely lock up at 70 miles an hour. 
I wound up bending the steering shaft just to get it off the road and stopped.
I wound up bending the steering shaft just to get it off the road and stopped.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
Just a thought, did you check your steering stabilizer shock if equipped? My dads '01 had a hard spot in the steering and after checking everything 10 times noticed a small dent in the stabilizer. Replace and all is well. Saw one yesterday in buddys shop that was in real bad shape, owner complaining about not being able to steer. I was surprised it would move at all. Other than that, you didn't just try tightening the steering box did you? That's exactly what happens if you go a little too far on the box.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
What did the problem/fix turn out to be?
1/8 mile Oval Track
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,300
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From: Newport,Tennessee
Have you tried jacking the front up off the ground to see if it still has the BRR feel to it? If you have to take the airbag out,after you discount the batteries and take it out. Make sure you have the plug plugged back in on the airbag/steering wheel before reconnecting the batteries and starting. It will trow a blinking code of 32.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
Well,I've been out driving around listening to my new quieter(stock intake back on) truck,it seems the steering has got harder to turn over all. I flushed the PS out about two years ago and put synthetic trans fluid in,there's no noise coming from the PS unit,the brakes feel OK, but it has always had a bit of a stiff brake pedal,not stiff to where it worries me,just after the wife drives her Tahoe and then drives the truck she says she don't like it cause it's stiff....Oh well....As far as the front U-joints,they seem to be tight,I have to turn them to get to the grease zerks for the ball joints...Thanks for the replies guys...