Steering Binds Up - Need Troubleshooting Help
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Northwest
Steering Binds Up - Need Troubleshooting Help
Recently bought 97' PSD; had to give up my old faithful 87' 6.9, to many things finally going wrong... I regress.
Truck seems to steer fine the first several miles of the day. Once I get to the main highway, about 10 miles & turn left or right there is binding after about the first 1/4 turn of the wheel & I can hear what sounds like ratcheting or binding metal; it's not a high pitch clinking or chirping. I can not see any metal to metal wearing, u-joints are tight. I thought it might be the auto hubs so I switched them out for manual hubs, replaced wheel bearings, & lubed all joints. Didn't make any difference.
I read one post that by changing the steering gear box a guy fixed the problem that sounds like mine?
Before I start spending money & replacing good parts I was hoping someone could give me some ideas of what else I could check.
Truck seems to steer fine the first several miles of the day. Once I get to the main highway, about 10 miles & turn left or right there is binding after about the first 1/4 turn of the wheel & I can hear what sounds like ratcheting or binding metal; it's not a high pitch clinking or chirping. I can not see any metal to metal wearing, u-joints are tight. I thought it might be the auto hubs so I switched them out for manual hubs, replaced wheel bearings, & lubed all joints. Didn't make any difference.
I read one post that by changing the steering gear box a guy fixed the problem that sounds like mine?
Before I start spending money & replacing good parts I was hoping someone could give me some ideas of what else I could check.
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From: Northwest
I've had a pump go before so I'm pretty sure it's not the pump. Sitting still & just turning the wheel there doesn't seem to be any problems. Haven't felt the same thing at highway speeds. It takes a pretty good turn, more than 75 degrees, I'd guess, to feel any binding so I'm probably turning the wheel more than 1/4 turn when it starts binding/ratcheting. Once it starts it pretty much happens the rest of the day; turning onto street corners, into-out of the parking lot, etc.
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From: Northwest
Nope, once I start the turn & feel the binding/ratcheting I'm able to continue the turn tighter it just feels & sounds bad.
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From: Northwest
Could it be a tie rod end?
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From: Redwood Valley, CA
I had a couple of problems with my 1996 F250. First the bearing at the top of the steering column went out. Had to pull the column apart to replace it. The second time it was a broken u-joint in the steering knuckle. It had apparently broken while in four wheel drive and the yokes on the axle shaft and stub shaft would hand up on each other.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Las Vegas
I agree with cOOnhunterjoe.
I think I would jack up the front end and disconnect the steering linkage at the pitman arm and turn the wheels by hand for a while to see if I could duplicate the problem.
If nothing turns up, start the truck and start turning the steering wheel back and forth to see what turns up.
Also check the steering coulmn linkage and any u-joints you find to the steering box.
Good Luck, I hope this helps
Kevin
I think I would jack up the front end and disconnect the steering linkage at the pitman arm and turn the wheels by hand for a while to see if I could duplicate the problem.
If nothing turns up, start the truck and start turning the steering wheel back and forth to see what turns up.
Also check the steering coulmn linkage and any u-joints you find to the steering box.
Good Luck, I hope this helps
Kevin
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
I vote for steering column bearings. When they start to get bad they can be fine one minute and lock the steering wheel the next minute. Does the steering wheel feel loose at all. If should have no play side to side/up and down.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Medford Oregon
On my truck I would not call it a ratcheting / binding issue but sounded like bushings or ball joints. It usually occured going over uneven surfaces like turning in out driveways. You could also feel it in the steering wheel. It was so bad it would turn heads and I searched a long time to find the solution $$$$. A couple times I had to stop and check under the vehicle because I was sure something busted.
Try tightening up the fender bolts, two on each side. Mine were snug and I got a turn or two on them .. presto, problem gone now for over a year.
Don't laugh to much until you try it. At least it does not cost anything to tighten up those bolts.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Levittown
It takes a pretty good turn, more than 75 degrees, I'd guess, to feel any binding so I'm probably turning the wheel more than 1/4 turn when it starts binding/ratcheting. Once it starts it pretty much happens the rest of the day; turning onto street corners, into-out of the parking lot, etc.
Are you shure its not the tires hitting the fender?
Bill
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Huntsville, Tx
I'm with tim on the colum bearings, my truck had the bearing out and it would be fine during a slight turn but starting turning in and out of drive ways and stuff it would make a grinding/crunching sound. But my steering wheel would move around alot so that was pretty easy to figure out.
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Senior User
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From: Northwest
Brett, don't know if this is the same problem as I had or not. This issue crops up now and then on here so I'll throw it out for some of the new members.
On my truck I would not call it a ratcheting / binding issue but sounded like bushings or ball joints. It usually occured going over uneven surfaces like turning in out driveways. You could also feel it in the steering wheel. It was so bad it would turn heads and I searched a long time to find the solution $$$$. A couple times I had to stop and check under the vehicle because I was sure something busted.
Try tightening up the fender bolts, two on each side. Mine were snug and I got a turn or two on them .. presto, problem gone now for over a year.
Don't laugh to much until you try it. At least it does not cost anything to tighten up those bolts.
On my truck I would not call it a ratcheting / binding issue but sounded like bushings or ball joints. It usually occured going over uneven surfaces like turning in out driveways. You could also feel it in the steering wheel. It was so bad it would turn heads and I searched a long time to find the solution $$$$. A couple times I had to stop and check under the vehicle because I was sure something busted.
Try tightening up the fender bolts, two on each side. Mine were snug and I got a turn or two on them .. presto, problem gone now for over a year.
Don't laugh to much until you try it. At least it does not cost anything to tighten up those bolts.