Wondering steering problem
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2010
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Wondering steering problem
So when driving my tuck the steering on it would sorta lock up like it wanted to push the truck to one side then it would free up and the steering would be real loose it just felt like it had no power steering to one side it's not the same side each time and it pulses when I'm at a stop if I move the the tires Erving the motor doesn't seem to help so far I have replaced ball joints and all tie rods they needed done anyways it would still do it got an alignment done last week and it almost seems worse now could just be coincidence. I'm thinking power steering pump but when the steering locks up to one side I'm also wondering if it's the steering box it's kinda hard to explain it what's going on and there is no poping noise or anything when the steering frees up. It's kinda scary on the freeway when I go around a corner the steering gets real loose and wonders back and forth not all the time but quit a bit but when going strait it will feel like it wants to pull to one side then the steering will loosen up again. The steering will wine only first thing in the morning when I pull out of the driveway then it's fine
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2015
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What picachu said, my 1994 had a bad axle u-joint and it would fight the wheel, but only when turning. Of course the 94 had a vacuum booster, so you could actually turn and brake at the same time. Could be steering box, check out Redhead steering boxes.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
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From: Archdale,N.C.
Be careful. My steering wheel would do the lock and release thing. It turned out to be the bearings in the steering column. Trust me it will lock up at the wrong times. I got a used column from a parts yard.
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More Turbo
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I checked the axle I joints and the short side turned easily but the long side right side I couldn't get it to budge, but my question is would just that one side make it want to fight the steering wheel going both ways and when I go around a corner on the freeway is loosens up and the steering moves back and forth like and wobble side to side. I'm going to replace the power steering pump anyways because it was giving me problems in the past and the truck now just turned 250k. The steering doesn't totally lock up it just feels like there is no power steering to one side but it only does it one side at a time.
New User
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: North Adams. MA
Both my wheel bearings seized up at different times. When they went, it would do the same exact thing that the OP described. Almost lost control of my truck on the highway. Had to replace the whole hub assembly and one of the stub shafts.
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More Turbo
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Both wheel bearings and ball joints are only about 2 months old tie rods only about a month old just replaced the power steering pump does turn easier but the truck still swerves back and forth going into a corner and driving strait down the road the steering will be tight to one side and that varies to wich side it is tight on its not real tight it just wants to push to one side or the other. Track bar is tight also. I guess next is to try and replace the axle u joints I just don't see why those being bad would make it do what it is doing. This is my only vehicle so it's a pain for it to be down very long. I'm thinking it's the steering box I guess that's next after the U joints.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2010
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Also it mildly did this before I had done all of these things it would do the tightness going down the road strait but then be fine for a few days. Part of why I started replacing everything.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 527
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From: Jamestown Tn
i had the same issue for a long time as well. The issue is your steering box id loose. You can adjust the screw but it is only a temporary fix. I finally bought a redbox steering box and all issues are gone. It gets scary when u drift on the road.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
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From: Texas
If you have a 4 wheel drive, do you still have the tow hooks from the factory mounted up front?
The bolts that hold those tow hooks also help bolt in the front of the leaf spring hanger. I've seen those removed before and when the bolts are left out, the springs move around and cause wandering steering.
The bolts that hold those tow hooks also help bolt in the front of the leaf spring hanger. I've seen those removed before and when the bolts are left out, the springs move around and cause wandering steering.
