binding in steering box???
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 434
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binding in steering box???
Ok i did some searching but have not found a similar situation. every once in a while when i turn corners (angle of corner doesn't matter) the steering wheel will be very tight and i have to turn it very hard to break it free from whatever is binding and then it turns. its hard to figure out what it is because it only does this occasionally and very random. If it is not the steering box i think it could be the axle joints maybe seized. however now that i think about it 4x4 is working just fine with no binding noise so that really doesn't add up. I have jacked up the front end up and turned wheels back and forth, of course everything was smooth then and there were no linkages or steering stabilizers or anything else binding. There are 182K miles on the truck and it has seen its fair share of off-road abuse. Also when this first started happening i flushed the power steering fluid with royal purple atf. fluid that came out was pretty darn clean and condition persisted. sorry for the long post just wanted to give you the whole scoop. thanks for any help.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,904
Likes: 76
From: Wayland, MI
Sounds to me a like a ball joint or axle joint locking up. You may not be able to feel it while driving normally. If you want to know for sure jack the truck up, remove the tie rod from each side individually and move the wheel/tire assembly back and forth, remember to rotate the axle joint. It may only bind when it is in one position.
Post back what you find.
Toyman
Post back what you find.
Toyman
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
With the wheels turned to the side, try turning the front axles by hand.
It COULD be a u-joint sticking - the axles do turn very slowly even without the hubs locked, and by random chance, with one bearing locking up, you might or might not be in the right alignment to have it make the steering stick like that.
It COULD be a u-joint sticking - the axles do turn very slowly even without the hubs locked, and by random chance, with one bearing locking up, you might or might not be in the right alignment to have it make the steering stick like that.
