help with steering
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
My driver's side U joint after it was replaced. Yes neglected by PO.
Symptoms before replacement were a catch in the steering wheel when turning, it was intermittent; the wheel would grab and jerk then release. One side was bound up with rust. This photo shows the "catch and jerk" scenario that this was causing.
Symptoms before replacement were a catch in the steering wheel when turning, it was intermittent; the wheel would grab and jerk then release. One side was bound up with rust. This photo shows the "catch and jerk" scenario that this was causing.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Altoona, PA
Yes Sammie I know what what a u-joint looks like with the lubrication gone....and I also stated the impact it can possibly have...however did that u-joint send you 90 degrees into a ditch? If u-joints gone bad did that the auto industry as we know it today would be a might different.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Yes Sammie I know what what a u-joint looks like with the lubrication gone....and I also stated the impact it can possibly have...however did that u-joint send you 90 degrees into a ditch? If u-joints gone bad did that the auto industry as we know it today would be a might different.
I said my steering was catching and jerking.
Is it the cause of his "heading to the ditch" if that is accurate? I agree it's not, but doesn't mean he doesn't have a bad ujoint in addition too whatever the main source of the problem may be, my point was "all my u joints are good" is an errenous statement, you can't tell by looking.
There is also the chance that his description of "heading into a ditch" is not how others would describe it. Some may feel a jerk and think it's bad enought to describe as "heading to the ditch" others may feel it just as a catch.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Missed the point. You are stating the the truck and steering wheel going into a shimmy. The poster is talking about driving into a ditch. I have replaced around 250 u-joints and at no point did I replace a u-joint because the vehicle became dangerous. Moreover what are you guys doing with those rigs? Never locking in the hubs? Parking the vehicles in a creek? Neglect anyone?
Yes my Ex had the problem too, and maybe your 251st joint will have caused that problem. Also; the pictures Sammie posted are exactly what I meant when I said they go through the "dry but intact" stage. (the light brown ones). I was going to post those but she beat me to it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,450
Likes: 13
From: Forest lake minnesota
Missed the point. You are stating the the truck and steering wheel going into a shimmy. The poster is talking about driving into a ditch. I have replaced around 250 u-joints and at no point did I replace a u-joint because the vehicle became dangerous. Moreover what are you guys doing with those rigs? Never locking in the hubs? Parking the vehicles in a creek? Neglect anyone?
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Altoona, PA
I didn't miss anything, the problem is you are not familiar with the phenomenon all the the posters are talking about. The joint on one wheel starts binding/locking and controls the wheel near it. The joints speed up and slow down with every revolution (I can explain why but not here) and this transfers to the wheel and to the steering wheel. It can set up a perpetual oscillation which can be very violent and could take you into another lane........or a ditch.
Yes my Ex had the problem too, and maybe your 251st joint will have caused that problem. Also; the pictures Sammie posted are exactly what I meant when I said they go through the "dry but intact" stage. (the light brown ones). I was going to post those but she beat me to it.
Yes my Ex had the problem too, and maybe your 251st joint will have caused that problem. Also; the pictures Sammie posted are exactly what I meant when I said they go through the "dry but intact" stage. (the light brown ones). I was going to post those but she beat me to it.
I'm sorry Ex but a stand alone bad u-joint while other components are in proper working order is not going to cause shooting into a ditch and the extreme eccentric behavior alike. You can get a steering wheel shimmy which is miles from the dangerous behavior you are selling.
So you are right on the 251st u-joint I do, while I also check steering components on a routine basis, I will know the same as I always have. They are leaving with a new u-joint and are as safe as when they pulled in here. (provided the steering did not need attention)
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Altoona, PA
You do realize locking in the hubs without using 4wd still makes the axle turn. That make the joint turn inside those caps back and forth keeping the lube moving and the joint happy.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,450
Likes: 13
From: Forest lake minnesota
Grease them? No fitting? Put one in. Don't care to do that..ok...then lock the hubs frequently without using 4wd and drive to the grocery store...whatever. Not doing any of the above would fall under the neglect category.
You do realize locking in the hubs without using 4wd still makes the axle turn. That make the joint turn inside those caps back and forth keeping the lube moving and the joint happy.
You do realize locking in the hubs without using 4wd still makes the axle turn. That make the joint turn inside those caps back and forth keeping the lube moving and the joint happy.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Now any of you who saw my truck when I bought it, I'm sure will agree the PO neglected it; but the axle U joints probably would have looked that way at 80k or shortly there after if the truck spent those 80k anywhere in the rust belt. So I will give the PO a pass on the rusted Ujoint being his fault.
Now the rest of the underbody and suspension - they were just lazy and didn't want to bother with any prevention whatsoever or heck even a hose to rinse it off once a year or so.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Originally Posted by Xcursion88;13593802[B
]Exv10, if a u-joint sent you into a ditch...then you have other steering issues that should have been addressed regardless of u-joint state. Do[/B] you realize the above u-joint pictured would make up about 20-30 percent of the axle u-joints running on the road today. If heading into a ditch or any extreme accident causing move would occur because of a bad u-joint...then everyday we should see vehicles in a ditch, head on hits, side swipes, and just vehicles wandering aimlessly.
I'm sorry Ex but a stand alone bad u-joint while other components are in proper working order is not going to cause shooting into a ditch and the extreme eccentric behavior alike. You can get a steering wheel shimmy which is miles from the dangerous behavior you are selling.
So you are right on the 251st u-joint I do, while I also check steering components on a routine basis, I will know the same as I always have. They are leaving with a new u-joint and are as safe as when they pulled in here. (provided the steering did not need attention)
I'm sorry Ex but a stand alone bad u-joint while other components are in proper working order is not going to cause shooting into a ditch and the extreme eccentric behavior alike. You can get a steering wheel shimmy which is miles from the dangerous behavior you are selling.
So you are right on the 251st u-joint I do, while I also check steering components on a routine basis, I will know the same as I always have. They are leaving with a new u-joint and are as safe as when they pulled in here. (provided the steering did not need attention)
And I bet you could remove the 5 and the 1 for the front joints on Ex's. My steering was fine before and after I freed the joints with light oil (another thread) so.........wrong again.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Altoona, PA
You're still not getting it. The pulling left and right can range from Sammie's mild experience to violent pulling left and right. Maybe someone else that has experienced it will chime in and set you straight, in the mean time read the last pages of my "steering jerks back and forth" thread. Did you think I was making all this up?
And I bet you could remove the 5 and the 1 for the front joints on Ex's. My steering was fine before and after I freed the joints with light oil (another thread) so.........wrong again.
And I bet you could remove the 5 and the 1 for the front joints on Ex's. My steering was fine before and after I freed the joints with light oil (another thread) so.........wrong again.
I certainly don't wish ill will on anyone but maybe I will see some trucks in those ditches today.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
EX, don't think you are making this up...but I am out in the world a lot more than I am on the internet and have yet to see these vehicles sitting in the cornfield, ditch or some other eccentric behaved destination. As you say this won't happen to everyone but boy you sure make it sound like its a fairly regular thing...it just must be immune to western PA.
I certainly don't wish ill will on anyone but maybe I will see some trucks in those ditches today.
I certainly don't wish ill will on anyone but maybe I will see some trucks in those ditches today.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 889
Likes: 1
From: Ithaca
So last weekend had to drive to Brooklyn and back to Ithaca about 500 mile round trip. Seems like everything has settled in. No Darting like it was doing and tracked real nice. I wonder if the springs are breaking in and not flexing as much. I have done nothing to the truck since I adjusted the steering box the second time a couple months ago.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Yes Sammie I know what what a u-joint looks like with the lubrication gone....and I also stated the impact it can possibly have...however did that u-joint send you 90 degrees into a ditch? If u-joints gone bad did that the auto industry as we know it today would be a might different.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13589319
We never said 90 degrees into a ditch.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
So last weekend had to drive to Brooklyn and back to Ithaca about 500 mile round trip. Seems like everything has settled in. No Darting like it was doing and tracked real nice. I wonder if the springs are breaking in and not flexing as much. I have done nothing to the truck since I adjusted the steering box the second time a couple months ago.