Hard to steer.
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Joined: Feb 2012
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Hard to steer.
I bought a 2000 Excursion today. It is a Limited 4x4 with the V10 with 148k miles. On the highway it drives like a dream. I did however notice a couple of times on the way home that at turning at a stop sign, and backing out of a parking spot the steering wheel was extremely hard to turn. It also has a little slop in the steering. It feels like possibly the steering gear box needs the slack adujusted. It was dark when I got home, and about 12 degrees outside, so I didn't feel like looking at things tonight. I'm sure this is not the first time you guys have heard of the sticking steering. Any common problems with this problem I should look into first? I'll start looking things over a little more closely in the morning. Thanks.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 611
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From: Northern NV
I don't have any direct experience with this but from what I've read here, the steering may have been adjusted too tight and warn the gears. I would get it checked out by a competent mechanic asap.
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A buddy of mine owns a body shop and has a lift big enough to check things over. It's just too dang cold, and my driveway is sloped pretty steeply. I have been an equipment mechanic for over 20 years, but I have not kept up on automotive systems. I did however drive the vehicle again yesterday. I could not duplicate the steering sticking, but when stopped with my foot on the brake idleing in gear I was able to get a little resistance along with a whine from the power steering pump. I checked the fluid and it was a little low, and had some bubbles in it. There are no visible leaks, so I am assuming it is likely starting to go out, or has some air in the system from being low.
I have another question. The lock outs are very hard to turn, and the positions are not labled anymore. I know turning them clockwise will keep them locked all the time. Is counter clockwise free or do excursion have the vacuume auto lock with the manual lock over ride so to speak? Which would mean that counter clockwise would be Auto. The whole switch inside rather than the stick for the 4x4 controls has me kind of thrown off. Thanks
I have another question. The lock outs are very hard to turn, and the positions are not labled anymore. I know turning them clockwise will keep them locked all the time. Is counter clockwise free or do excursion have the vacuume auto lock with the manual lock over ride so to speak? Which would mean that counter clockwise would be Auto. The whole switch inside rather than the stick for the 4x4 controls has me kind of thrown off. Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
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From: Pa
The ESOF system (switch on dash) has an "auto" and a "locked position. Turn to the right locks them, turn to the left is "auto".(righty tightey, lefty loosey) The manual hubs come on trucks with the floor shift transfer case. If your hubs are hard to turn they are more than likely corroded to a point they probably need replaced because cleaning them well enough is next to impossible. There is a rubber diaphram on the auto hubs which gets in the way of taking apart the hubs. If you tear that diaphram your SOL as their are no replacements. The manual hubs can be stripped down further.
Do you have a steering stabilizer on your truck? I bent the stabilizer shaft on mine a while back and I got a hang point in the steering that I only noticed with tighter turns. Something simple to check, starting with the simplest thing is the best.
Do you have a steering stabilizer on your truck? I bent the stabilizer shaft on mine a while back and I got a hang point in the steering that I only noticed with tighter turns. Something simple to check, starting with the simplest thing is the best.
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