Intermittent hard steering
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Intermittent hard steering
Ok, here it goes......
1996 bronco. New moog ball joints and tie rods about 5 years and 3000 miles ago.
Last year I noticed it and today on my way to work.
it is so hard to turn the steering wheel it is like no power steering(even driving down the road you need to use BOTH ARMS
Tonight I got it home, jacked it up, took tires off and steering linkage off. Both sides are easily moved by hand. steering linkage off pitman arm and the steering wheel turn freely.
I was thinking a ball joint seizing but with no weight both sides move fine.
Any suggestions?
BTW I was originally thinking a seized u-joint and when it got in the right position, you hard a hard time turning, but even with the hubs engaged, it makes no difference
1996 bronco. New moog ball joints and tie rods about 5 years and 3000 miles ago.
Last year I noticed it and today on my way to work.
it is so hard to turn the steering wheel it is like no power steering(even driving down the road you need to use BOTH ARMS
Tonight I got it home, jacked it up, took tires off and steering linkage off. Both sides are easily moved by hand. steering linkage off pitman arm and the steering wheel turn freely.
I was thinking a ball joint seizing but with no weight both sides move fine.
Any suggestions?
BTW I was originally thinking a seized u-joint and when it got in the right position, you hard a hard time turning, but even with the hubs engaged, it makes no difference
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh
Might be far fetched but I'm just throwing this out there. Is is possible the frame is cracked around the steering box?
My frame cracked there and you could feel a slight bind in the steering (though nothing like what you are describing) and it created a clicking noise. I couldn't reproduce the symptoms unless the vehicle was on the ground.
I think the frame would have to be pretty far out of whack for it to bind the way you are describing, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
My frame cracked there and you could feel a slight bind in the steering (though nothing like what you are describing) and it created a clicking noise. I couldn't reproduce the symptoms unless the vehicle was on the ground.
I think the frame would have to be pretty far out of whack for it to bind the way you are describing, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 47
From: Mexico, Missouri
I'm going with a failed or failing pump. If the steering box was bad, I don't think it would possible to steer. But the pump failing, it would be able to steer like a manual gearbox, without any power assist.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: Albany, GA
When I purchased my 92 f150 from the original owner, I was told the PS pump was failing. It became hard to steer sometimes especially at low speed. Turned out the water pump was dripping on the serpentine belt at temp causing it to slip at low speeds.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Might be far fetched but I'm just throwing this out there. Is is possible the frame is cracked around the steering box?
My frame cracked there and you could feel a slight bind in the steering (though nothing like what you are describing) and it created a clicking noise. I couldn't reproduce the symptoms unless the vehicle was on the ground.
I think the frame would have to be pretty far out of whack for it to bind the way you are describing, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
My frame cracked there and you could feel a slight bind in the steering (though nothing like what you are describing) and it created a clicking noise. I couldn't reproduce the symptoms unless the vehicle was on the ground.
I think the frame would have to be pretty far out of whack for it to bind the way you are describing, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
That was probably the second thing I checked because I have heard of that before. But nothing, it looks good
I could see when sitting still or slow moving but this also happens at 60mph
Junior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Frederiksted, USVI
Even if the power assist is completely out, it won't be that hard to turn once you're rolling more than walking speed. Loosening up with weight off indicates ball joint failure.
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Fleet Owner
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From: Gilbert, PA
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Junior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Frederiksted, USVI
Brad, you should feel a difference between the two sides when you turn them by hand. A dry joint will feel stiffer, but a badly worn joint will be looser and should have some free play. Ball joints don't normally wear so much in five years.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
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From: Gilbert, PA
maybe I leave everything together, and jack up one side at a time nd see if that make a difference in how hard it turns
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