steering
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 153
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From: va beach, va
steering
i have an issue with my steering wheel constantly changing direction.
at times (all while driving straight down the road) my steering wheel is pretty straight, then it can all the sudden goto 90* to the right, later on 80* to the left, or maybe 20* to the right, back to straight and level, etc. it usually stays in a certain way for awhile down the road, sometimes it might go back and forth a couple times then stay put.
the tie rod that sets the toe is tight, the tie rod that sets the length on the drag-link from the pitman is tight. tie rods are tight.
is something wrong with my steering box?
at times (all while driving straight down the road) my steering wheel is pretty straight, then it can all the sudden goto 90* to the right, later on 80* to the left, or maybe 20* to the right, back to straight and level, etc. it usually stays in a certain way for awhile down the road, sometimes it might go back and forth a couple times then stay put.
the tie rod that sets the toe is tight, the tie rod that sets the length on the drag-link from the pitman is tight. tie rods are tight.
is something wrong with my steering box?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,627
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From: West Valley Utah
WOW, that just sounds dangerous! My first thought is to check the coupler on the steering shaft.
It's in the engine compartment between the steering box and firewall, couples two parts of the shaft together. Have someone turn the steering wheel (engine off) and check the coupler while they are turning the wheel.
It's in the engine compartment between the steering box and firewall, couples two parts of the shaft together. Have someone turn the steering wheel (engine off) and check the coupler while they are turning the wheel.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 153
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From: va beach, va
i will try looking at the shaft later.
tjc, the wheel just randomly changes, but if i keep the wheel where it was id start turning that direction until i found the new 'straight'
tjc, the wheel just randomly changes, but if i keep the wheel where it was id start turning that direction until i found the new 'straight'
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 153
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From: va beach, va
yes, to the point where it makes me do tiny adjustments while driving constantly to keep it straight. sometimes it goes as much as 'turning right' to 'turning left' out of nowhere.
im pretty sure the old owner said 'power steering looses 1qt a week when you turn at full lock a lot'.
ive done that many times, i havent added a drop of ps fluid and the level is fine. so im not sure what he meant to say or what.
im pretty sure the old owner said 'power steering looses 1qt a week when you turn at full lock a lot'.
ive done that many times, i havent added a drop of ps fluid and the level is fine. so im not sure what he meant to say or what.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
I had an older ford do this when it was basically new. It got to the point that when you were not moving you could just keep turning the steering wheel and not move the tires.
It was the coupling that clamped on the splines of the steering column.
It was the coupling that clamped on the splines of the steering column.
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,422
Likes: 5,507
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
very good point.
i wonder if someone had the steering box and column seperated, and forgot to put the lock bolt back into the coupler
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 153
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From: va beach, va
where am i looking at for that? inside under the wheel or outside at the box.
as far as the outside at the steering box, other then a torn up boot it looks alright without removing things to see better
as far as the outside at the steering box, other then a torn up boot it looks alright without removing things to see better
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,422
Likes: 5,507
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
the lock bolt will be under that boot, on top of the steering box where the steering column connects to the box.
the coupler slips over the shaft coming out of the top of the box, and the bolt goes through the coupler and a notch in the shaft to lock everything together
the coupler slips over the shaft coming out of the top of the box, and the bolt goes through the coupler and a notch in the shaft to lock everything together
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 1
From: Surrey, BC, Canada
That is your steering box, mine had that problem for like 9 months. Changed the steering box yesterday and it's gone. But it could very well be the connection to the steering columb as well. It's a PITA to seperate so the guy coulda half-assed putting it back together.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,061
Likes: 2
I think i have the same situation as you do just not near as bad. when i am driving i will somtimes have to turn the wheel to the right a little to maintain straight direction, then it will start to drift to the right and then i am good to straighten the wheel back out. it is not to the point of being dangerous though like yours sounds. My steering is easy to turn. the tires move as soon as the steering wheel starts to move as well.
not to hijack but when i have the steering all the way left or right against the locks my steering wheel kind of twitches a little bit and you can hear the ps pump kind of making some hissing noises other than the normal noises you get when you have the steering against the locks.
Any ideas on my twitching?
not to hijack but when i have the steering all the way left or right against the locks my steering wheel kind of twitches a little bit and you can hear the ps pump kind of making some hissing noises other than the normal noises you get when you have the steering against the locks.
Any ideas on my twitching?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 153
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From: va beach, va
the lock bolt will be under that boot, on top of the steering box where the steering column connects to the box.
the coupler slips over the shaft coming out of the top of the box, and the bolt goes through the coupler and a notch in the shaft to lock everything together
the coupler slips over the shaft coming out of the top of the box, and the bolt goes through the coupler and a notch in the shaft to lock everything together
tomorrow ill try and clean it up a little bit and find a way to take a picture down there.
i havent messed with steering yet(just about everything else i have) so im not sure what it needs to look like.
hopefully i can get a good pic of it
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 1
From: Surrey, BC, Canada
I think i have the same situation as you do just not near as bad. when i am driving i will somtimes have to turn the wheel to the right a little to maintain straight direction, then it will start to drift to the right and then i am good to straighten the wheel back out. it is not to the point of being dangerous though like yours sounds. My steering is easy to turn. the tires move as soon as the steering wheel starts to move as well.
not to hijack but when i have the steering all the way left or right against the locks my steering wheel kind of twitches a little bit and you can hear the ps pump kind of making some hissing noises other than the normal noises you get when you have the steering against the locks.
Any ideas on my twitching?
not to hijack but when i have the steering all the way left or right against the locks my steering wheel kind of twitches a little bit and you can hear the ps pump kind of making some hissing noises other than the normal noises you get when you have the steering against the locks.
Any ideas on my twitching?
My PS makes a hissing noise when it's turned full, as does my 98 1/2 ton, my neighbours 92 E150 van, and my other neighbours 98 mustang. I think it's just a ford thing. But if your concerned, flush the line, and fill it with new fluid, and see what happens.
yea im sure i saw what youre talking about then.
tomorrow ill try and clean it up a little bit and find a way to take a picture down there.
i havent messed with steering yet(just about everything else i have) so im not sure what it needs to look like.
hopefully i can get a good pic of it
tomorrow ill try and clean it up a little bit and find a way to take a picture down there.
i havent messed with steering yet(just about everything else i have) so im not sure what it needs to look like.
hopefully i can get a good pic of it