Steering Problem
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 550
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From: Sioux City, IA
Steering Problem
I almost got stuck at work the other day while is 2WD. I stopped and put the truck in 4WD. Had to rock it back and forth quite violently to get the truck out.
Since then, I have had a steering issue. When I turn right the truck doesn't want to return to center. It doesn't do it everytime though. Today, after turning right that was some decent resistance in the steering wheel to get the truck to return to center.
I'm assuming this is a bad u-joint. Can anybody explain to me how to determine if that is the problem?
Any suggestions for other possibilities are welcome?
Thanks,
Mike
Since then, I have had a steering issue. When I turn right the truck doesn't want to return to center. It doesn't do it everytime though. Today, after turning right that was some decent resistance in the steering wheel to get the truck to return to center.
I'm assuming this is a bad u-joint. Can anybody explain to me how to determine if that is the problem?
Any suggestions for other possibilities are welcome?
Thanks,
Mike
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,072
Likes: 242
From: Saratoga Springs,UT
make shure one of the hubs is not in the lock position at the hub
both should be in auto position
If there both in auto and will not unlock from switch on dash you may have an vacum problem or vacum leak causing the hub not to unlock
both should be in auto position
If there both in auto and will not unlock from switch on dash you may have an vacum problem or vacum leak causing the hub not to unlock
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Having just gone through this, if the u-joint is bad it will fight you when you go to turn...then suddenly allow it. The front end will not return to center on its own. When you yank it to center, you may feel the front end pull to one side through the steering wheel (almost as if it was pulsing to one side). If ignored, it gets worse and the truck will actually pull hard right, then left, then right as the axle turns and the u-joint is frozen.
Just by your description it sounds to me as though it is the u-joint on the axle.
Just by your description it sounds to me as though it is the u-joint on the axle.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 550
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From: Sioux City, IA
Having just gone through this, if the u-joint is bad it will fight you when you go to turn...then suddenly allow it. The front end will not return to center on its own. When you yank it to center, you may feel the front end pull to one side through the steering wheel (almost as if it was pulsing to one side). If ignored, it gets worse and the truck will actually pull hard right, then left, then right as the axle turns and the u-joint is frozen.
Just by your description it sounds to me as though it is the u-joint on the axle.
Just by your description it sounds to me as though it is the u-joint on the axle.
I jacked the front-end up tonight and turned the wheels lock to lock in both 2wd and 4wd and tried turning the wheels when all the way in lock. When in lock to the left or the right while in 4wd, the wheels would not turn. The passenger side wouldn't turn at all and the driver side would only slightly.
My confusion though is.... The u-joints are not engaged while in 2wd, so how would they affect the steering while driving in 2wd?
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Joined: Dec 2010
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The axles still turn in 2WD. Just that they are not "powered." As the axle turns, if the u-joint is failed off-center from rotation, you will feel it pulling.
You may not be able to see anything out of the ordinary with one tire raised. If you want to give it a try, raise both sides of the front, turn the steering wheel to one side and try to turn the tire by hand. You might be able to feel the excessive drag as the u-joint gets in one spot. If the u-joint wont turn as you spin the tire by hand, try locking the hubs in manually and giving that a try.
My u-joint was so bad that when it was removed the cap was fused to the cross and I could see that the cap was rotating in the stub axle..
You may not be able to see anything out of the ordinary with one tire raised. If you want to give it a try, raise both sides of the front, turn the steering wheel to one side and try to turn the tire by hand. You might be able to feel the excessive drag as the u-joint gets in one spot. If the u-joint wont turn as you spin the tire by hand, try locking the hubs in manually and giving that a try.
My u-joint was so bad that when it was removed the cap was fused to the cross and I could see that the cap was rotating in the stub axle..
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 550
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From: Sioux City, IA
I greased both u-joints. The truck feels better but not what I would expect. I'm going to put a couple more pumps in there and see what happens. When I have time I'm going to adjust the steering box and see if that helps.
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