Steering gear E99
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 467
Likes: 158
Steering gear E99
Hey fellas! I think I broke my steering gear or something. I was backing my camp trailer into the rv pad and my steering became super hard to turn. I muscled the wheel to get it to turn and I heard/felt a ‘pop’.
Now driving down the road it won’t hold center. It’ll go left of center or right of center but it’s difficult to hold center if that makes any sense.
Think it’s the steering gear or so thing else? I assume I have a 32 spline gear. Blue top is out of stock, should I consider red top? I’d like to upgrade but at the end of the day it’s just a gearbox… some of them are very expensive.
Whatcha think? Thanks for your time,
Andrew
Now driving down the road it won’t hold center. It’ll go left of center or right of center but it’s difficult to hold center if that makes any sense.
Think it’s the steering gear or so thing else? I assume I have a 32 spline gear. Blue top is out of stock, should I consider red top? I’d like to upgrade but at the end of the day it’s just a gearbox… some of them are very expensive.
Whatcha think? Thanks for your time,
Andrew
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,087
Likes: 1,418
From: Oologah, OK
well, you asked.
I never, push the Steering wheel when it wants to stop,
I pull forward, or backwards, and take a new tack on the effort.
so far, at 81 summers, I have never broken any steering component.
I never, push the Steering wheel when it wants to stop,
I pull forward, or backwards, and take a new tack on the effort.
so far, at 81 summers, I have never broken any steering component.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
Have you checked all your steering links, axles, hubs, rotors, calipers, the whole works yet? I actually had a hub assy. lose some nuts and the truck obviously became nearly uncontrollable. Would not hold center regardless how much I fought. If you had the steering in a bind when this happened then I'd say anything is possible so I wouldn't automatically assumed the box failed
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,278
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
Check and see if the "rag joint" didn't fail or a tie rod or drag link, shoot maybe even the steering damper got bent. Lift up the front end of the truck and check for loose parts
Not to long ago a had a tie rod fail on me and caused the same problem, I even replaced the steering box thinking it was the problem as it was leaking but nope just a defective tie rod.
Not to long ago a had a tie rod fail on me and caused the same problem, I even replaced the steering box thinking it was the problem as it was leaking but nope just a defective tie rod.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 467
Likes: 158
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2020
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Well guys I’ve been shaking the front end of this thing for a minute now and I’m not seeing anything too out of the ordinary. All tie rods and ball joints feel nice and tight as well as the steering shaft. Both front tires are cupped on the inside pretty good but that didn’t happen over night haha.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 467
Likes: 158
I finally figured it out but it took awhile ha. Passenger axle shaft ujoint is trying to seize up.
Up on a jack stand (passenger hub locked) the tire will turn fine unless I turn the steering wheel a bit then the axle shaft will bind up.
Driving down the road (hubs unlocked) the axle shaft would turn just enough for me to get some feedback from the steering wheel. I’ve seen this once before but it’s been a very long time.
Hope that all makes sense. Thanks again,
Andrew
Up on a jack stand (passenger hub locked) the tire will turn fine unless I turn the steering wheel a bit then the axle shaft will bind up.
Driving down the road (hubs unlocked) the axle shaft would turn just enough for me to get some feedback from the steering wheel. I’ve seen this once before but it’s been a very long time.
Hope that all makes sense. Thanks again,
Andrew
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
Cool, glad you figured it out. I'd started watching vids trying to figure out what could break internally to cause drunk driving but still actually work otherwise. Funny side note did find one throwing down some Star Trek quotes.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,087
Likes: 1,418
From: Oologah, OK
I finally figured it out but it took awhile ha. Passenger axle shaft ujoint is trying to seize up.
Up on a jack stand (passenger hub locked) the tire will turn fine unless I turn the steering wheel a bit then the axle shaft will bind up.
Driving down the road (hubs unlocked) the axle shaft would turn just enough for me to get some feedback from the steering wheel. I’ve seen this once before but it’s been a very long time.
Hope that all makes sense. Thanks again,
Andrew
Up on a jack stand (passenger hub locked) the tire will turn fine unless I turn the steering wheel a bit then the axle shaft will bind up.
Driving down the road (hubs unlocked) the axle shaft would turn just enough for me to get some feedback from the steering wheel. I’ve seen this once before but it’s been a very long time.
Hope that all makes sense. Thanks again,
Andrew
at the time, I had it inspected at a typical alignment shop, all they did was replace loose tie rods and drag link.... no clue that what I was telling them, had to do with a bad U-joint.
later, after Covid was over, and I was able to leave sick family in Utah,
I had learned a lot from this forum.
I took my truck to my local mechanic who only works on stuff that does not have a computer on it... he makes an exception for me, I don't ask him to do the electronics, just the hardware.
he found the u-joint, had him replace both of them and everything that goes inside that hub...
end of problems.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 467
Likes: 158
Got the axle pulled. Sure enough the ujoint is seized pretty bad!
Anything else I should do while I’m into it this far? Ball joints feel nice and tight I really don’t want to change them unless I have to lol. Wheel bearings are a few years old but they should still be good.
First time into one of these this far… the big knuckle seal is kinda goofy.. got the installation tool coming along with some new seals.
Anything else I should do while I’m into it this far? Ball joints feel nice and tight I really don’t want to change them unless I have to lol. Wheel bearings are a few years old but they should still be good.
First time into one of these this far… the big knuckle seal is kinda goofy.. got the installation tool coming along with some new seals.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Are you just replacing the u-joint? Or the axle assembly as a whole? Reason I'm asking is the sealing surface of the axle needs a thorough inspection if you are reusing the axle. And for sure replace all the seals.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
Install tool? What you don't have any old FL 1995 oil filters laying around?
