Steering Lock up ?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 38
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From: NY
Steering Lock up ?
Today while out (05 F350 6.o SD Lariat 4x4) acted as though it wasn't going back to center after a turn....Arriving at my destination I checked the front air pressure (65lb) & looked under to see if there was something evident that would hinder the steering from going back to center....
PS fluid is OK!....
I believe there was some bulletin sent about front end "problem" and to be sure the front tires are constant pressure ( truck says 65---tire says 80) so I brought the pressures up to 80.....
Shot grease into the upper and lower grease fittings both sides.... shot the front axel at same time...... (noticed that the transaxles don't move "freely" unless moved by the drive shaft.. but I'm getting too old for that.) There we no fittings in the drag link, tie rod ends ......
I see no drips when parked for a day or 2..... or while running.....
Any Ideas, places to check, thoughts would ~ could be most helpful...
TY
Lucky
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From: Stephensville WI
Return to center is a function of the caster angle. From http://www.ozebiz.com.au/racetech/theory/align.html:
THE EFFECTS OF CASTER
Caster is the angle to which the steering pivot axis is tilted forward or rearward from vertical, as viewed from the side. If the pivot axis is tilted backward (that is, the top pivot is positioned farther rearward than the bottom pivot), then the caster is positive; if it's tilted forward, then the caster is negative.
Positive caster tends to straighten the wheel when the vehicle is traveling forward, and thus is used to enhance straight-line stability. The mechanism that causes this tendency is clearly illustrated by the castering front wheels of a shopping cart (above). The steering axis of a shopping cart wheel is set forward of where the wheel contacts the ground. As the cart is pushed forward, the steering axis pulls the wheel along, and since the wheel drags along the ground, it falls directly in line behind the steering axis. The force that causes the wheel to follow the steering axis is proportional to the distance between the steering axis and the wheel-to-ground contact patch-the greater the distance, the greater the force. This distance is referred to as "trail."
Has anything been done to the suspension that might have screwed up the alignment?
THE EFFECTS OF CASTER
Caster is the angle to which the steering pivot axis is tilted forward or rearward from vertical, as viewed from the side. If the pivot axis is tilted backward (that is, the top pivot is positioned farther rearward than the bottom pivot), then the caster is positive; if it's tilted forward, then the caster is negative.
Positive caster tends to straighten the wheel when the vehicle is traveling forward, and thus is used to enhance straight-line stability. The mechanism that causes this tendency is clearly illustrated by the castering front wheels of a shopping cart (above). The steering axis of a shopping cart wheel is set forward of where the wheel contacts the ground. As the cart is pushed forward, the steering axis pulls the wheel along, and since the wheel drags along the ground, it falls directly in line behind the steering axis. The force that causes the wheel to follow the steering axis is proportional to the distance between the steering axis and the wheel-to-ground contact patch-the greater the distance, the greater the force. This distance is referred to as "trail."
Has anything been done to the suspension that might have screwed up the alignment?
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 38
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From: NY
Return to center is a function of the caster angle. From http://www.ozebiz.com.au/racetech/theory/align.html:
Has anything been done to the suspension that might have screwed up the alignment?
Has anything been done to the suspension that might have screwed up the alignment?
No alteration to the front end... This is a 4X4 and I'll have to look up where caster is set to have a look see if there is shiny metal .....
Was good when parked and not been on a Baja with it....
Any other suggestions would be deeply appreciated.....
Last edited by BlindLucky; May 7, 2013 at 12:53 PM. Reason: link posted doesn't work for me
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 29
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From: Standish ME
Had a Bronco whose steering would'nt return to center. Progressively
got worse. I disconnected the tie rod and you could still feel it
binding. I pulled off the brakes and bearings and found that
the ujoint between the main axle and stub axle had frozen up.
I pulled the the axle/stub axle and had to take it down to the
local NAPA machine shop and they had a heck of a time separating
it. Replaced with a new ujoint and put it back together and all was
good til i sold it.
gud luck,
Geo.
got worse. I disconnected the tie rod and you could still feel it
binding. I pulled off the brakes and bearings and found that
the ujoint between the main axle and stub axle had frozen up.
I pulled the the axle/stub axle and had to take it down to the
local NAPA machine shop and they had a heck of a time separating
it. Replaced with a new ujoint and put it back together and all was
good til i sold it.
gud luck,
Geo.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 38
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From: NY
BTW , F350 4x4 2005 6.0 have no factory installed caster adjustments... Upon further investigation I found no shiny spots to indicate movement nor did I find any broken or bent parts. I went further and had some one move the steering wheel(while running) back and forth and saw the stabilizer hydraulic damper was moving between the bushings. Upon moving vehicle back and forth I saw no motion indicating bushing wear in the beams...
I tightened the bushing back up on stabilizer , test drove & it appears to be fine now. Now I will put air pressure back @ 65~70 and get my ride back.....
TY very much for the suggestions and I hope this is informative to some one else !
I tightened the bushing back up on stabilizer , test drove & it appears to be fine now. Now I will put air pressure back @ 65~70 and get my ride back.....
TY very much for the suggestions and I hope this is informative to some one else !
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 38
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From: NY
Jumped the gun I may have.... Out today with over the road miles and speed... Still acts like there is a binding in the steering system & it doesn't return to center on its own....
Removed front wheels and had a look but can find nothing evident... Tie rods , drag links, ball joints....
I'm amiss, going to try putting grease to ball joints again while having some one move l~r action ( used to work on kingpins) ....
Removed front wheels and had a look but can find nothing evident... Tie rods , drag links, ball joints....
I'm amiss, going to try putting grease to ball joints again while having some one move l~r action ( used to work on kingpins) ....
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 38
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From: NY
Steering lock up
Front U joint frozen ?
Dropped the Tie rod, and couldn't move the wheel back and forth... (moved only a little bit) could see the front axel moving a little but not bending within the joint....
Pulled the brakes, mount, 4 bolts in rear, Locking Hub, and Low and behold I cannot get the snap ring out.... couldn't get under it to pry,,, and the only thing available was a cheap set of pliers that were not long enough to reach the pin holes on the ring.....
Tomorrows another day.....
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: NY
Steering Hard
Yes I found that both u-joints were dried up and frozen. I took the hard way about it and replaced the u-joints....
You could try heating them up and injecting some good grease into them.. This had worked for some "old timers" and never allow them to get dry again.... If you 4 wheel off road be sure to grease them each time before and after to allow freedom of movement...
Guess they don't like dry !
You could try heating them up and injecting some good grease into them.. This had worked for some "old timers" and never allow them to get dry again.... If you 4 wheel off road be sure to grease them each time before and after to allow freedom of movement...
Guess they don't like dry !
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