steering problems
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Chicago
steering problems
So I drove the truck when we had the really warm day last week after a crazy cold winter and found that the steering was very stiff. When I parked it, it was not like this. I just put a new bump steering absorber on in the spring and it was steering great. Can the cold or something else make it all of a sudden so stiff. it is hard to get around a corner here in the city without going into on coming traffic or making my arms burn.
thanks for the help.
Cbass
thanks for the help.
Cbass
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Joined: Dec 2009
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Check your kingpins for proper lubrication, If the zert gets clogged thye dry up and bind. I just had the same problem with mine, I had to heat them up to soften the grease back up. I also pulled the lock pins and tapped the king pin up and down and sprayed some penetrating oil in there. They loosened up pretty good till I get the new kingpins installed this week.
Put the front on jack stands and detach the draglink and see if you can move the wheels back and forth by hand. If it is hard you may need new king pins, also check the rotation of the steering box while the draglink is off. it should be real easy to spin the steering wheel back and forth. If that feels tough or funny, you may have to rebuild the box.
Deadanimal
Put the front on jack stands and detach the draglink and see if you can move the wheels back and forth by hand. If it is hard you may need new king pins, also check the rotation of the steering box while the draglink is off. it should be real easy to spin the steering wheel back and forth. If that feels tough or funny, you may have to rebuild the box.
Deadanimal
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From: Chicago
Thought that I had this worked out but it still is a PITA and now it that i am noticing it, it bothers me even more. It wont even center itself when going around corners. I am going to try the toyota power steering this summer but want to drive the truck now that it has started warming up here. Anybody have any other ideas?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,292
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From: sparta ky.
try to grease everything up while it is jacked up and make sure everything is taking grease, if you have a torch put mild heat on axle to heat king pins and grease the heck out of it.
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From: Chicago
yup, that is what I did when I had it up and it didnt work, was hoping there was something I missed. It is almost undriveable, and is dangerous. Now I have to fix this before I can drive it anymore.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Chicago
Larry, I didnt think of that but my amazing wife did. I will try removing the BSA to see if it is too stiff or something, we will see. Please feel free to throw out any other suggestions so I can go at it and see what i get.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 914
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From: SW Missouri
My only other suggestion would be something perhaps is binding with the truck on it's springs, thats not when you jack it up.
Perhaps as you jack it up and let it down you can see whats going on and find the issue. If you raise it up and it turns ok, then let if down slightly and stop and see if it still is easy. At some point as you lower the jack it will get hard and then perhaps you can see the problem. I am wondering if something inside the steering assist broke due to the cold, which of course, it shouldn't have.
Larry
Perhaps as you jack it up and let it down you can see whats going on and find the issue. If you raise it up and it turns ok, then let if down slightly and stop and see if it still is easy. At some point as you lower the jack it will get hard and then perhaps you can see the problem. I am wondering if something inside the steering assist broke due to the cold, which of course, it shouldn't have.
Larry
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If you havent already, maybe just rebuild the front end links,kingpins,and drag. Before i did the rebuild my steering was a S.O.B to turn.
when i came around geting the king pins out i saw that the smooth pin was no longer smooth but pitted,rusted,jagged,done. How about the steering box? I have read here that it is a good idea to take a look inside to make sure the worm is still good and if its full....
Its really up to you but you can either put gear oil in the box or grease, I put grease myself after reading a dozen threads about putting grease in the steering box rather then oil....less chance of leaks.
It did cost me around 200-250 to rebuild/replace steering parts and now it steers like a dream.. Good luck in fnding the problem
when i came around geting the king pins out i saw that the smooth pin was no longer smooth but pitted,rusted,jagged,done. How about the steering box? I have read here that it is a good idea to take a look inside to make sure the worm is still good and if its full....
Its really up to you but you can either put gear oil in the box or grease, I put grease myself after reading a dozen threads about putting grease in the steering box rather then oil....less chance of leaks.
It did cost me around 200-250 to rebuild/replace steering parts and now it steers like a dream.. Good luck in fnding the problem
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Joined: Dec 2009
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As Larry said it may be the weight on the king pins that is causing the PITA to steer. The guy that removed mine said that the upper bushing actually siezed to the king pin and was turning inside the spindle. The weight might be what is making it so hard with very little grease if any. Mine would not take any, I rebuilt everything up front and even found the tie rod was bent and replaced that. Steers great now, and I see no need for the Toyota swap. I was all about doing it before I rebuilt the front end, It just seemed to get bad very gradually so I did not notice the problem till it was as bad as yours is now....
Deadanimal
Deadanimal