Power steering pulling back and forth

[PToombs]

I was wondering if you got the wobble problem solved or not.

[IrishChamp]

No, not yet, look at the last post of mine, I thought it was better but no.....
It's not really a wobble, more like sporadic pulling.
Thanks!

I was wondering if you got the wobble problem solved or not.

[slow_90firebird]

Just a thought about your steering...

I had a FWD car in at work one time with a power steering rack, so its a little different concept but might still apply.

I was driving the car in for a LOF and noticed immediately that if you turned the wheel to one side it was super hard, but if you turned the wheel to the other side, it basically ripped the wheel out of your hand and turned it all the way.

What we ended up figuring out on the lift is that the check ball mechanisms that control which way to send the fluid from the pressure line were stuck so that the pressure was always wanting to turn the wheel right. Mechanically you always steer the car, its a physical linkage. You were just fighting the full force of the power assist.

Changing the rack for a new one solved the problem.

[IrishChamp]

Hmm, interesting. The response my steering gives me is not violent or strong, it's very subtle, like the steering can't make up it's mind which way to go, slight movements, like a rut in the pavement pulling on the steering a little.

Just a thought about your steering...

I had a FWD car in at work one time with a power steering rack, so its a little different concept but might still apply.

I was driving the car in for a LOF and noticed immediately that if you turned the wheel to one side it was super hard, but if you turned the wheel to the other side, it basically ripped the wheel out of your hand and turned it all the way.

What we ended up figuring out on the lift is that the check ball mechanisms that control which way to send the fluid from the pressure line were stuck so that the pressure was always wanting to turn the wheel right. Mechanically you always steer the car, its a physical linkage. You were just fighting the full force of the power assist.

Changing the rack for a new one solved the problem.

[BobS]

Here is the normal checklist:

1. Sheared shear pin located within the steering column. It could minimally contribute by giving a very small amount of slack between the two shafts. Very low probability but still possible.

2. Rag joint cracked or loose. Upper removable rag joint mounting flange worn or loose on steering shaft (92-93). Usually they are rusted in place.

3. Steering shaft coupler at the steering box worn. Very common problem.

4. Gear or bearing wear within the steering box. This would show up as steering wheel play with the engine shut off.

5. Pitman arm worn or loose. Check both vertical and horizontal axis for movement using a large adjustable wrench placed on the arm.

6. Steering gear box mounting plate loose or cracked. Check using a small pry bar to look for unwanted movement.

7. Frame cracked at the steering box mounting plate location. Would likely show up while checking "#6" above.

8. Worn or loose drag link. Check for play.

9. Defective tie rod end or tie rod mounting is loose.

10. Excessive wheel bearing play. Unlikely but possible.

11. Spring mounting bushings worn, spring end eyelet rubber bushing(s) worn or rotted, broken spring center bolt in combination with stretched axle mounting U-bolts that have loosened. Egged out spring bolt mounting hole(s). Spring bracket mounting loose on the frame channel.

12. Rear spring mounting U-bolts loosened or stretched permitting a small amount of travel of the axle on the spring. This sometimes shows up as a slight steering correction required while pulling out at full throttle.

13. Tires. Rotate tires front to rear and see if it changes its habits. Uneven tread wear on the front tires can cause unwanted steering on slightly uneven surfaces.

14. Cracked truck frame. Unlikely but possible.

[IrishChamp]

BobS, thank you! I'll go through your check list when I get the truck back.

A couple of thoughts:
Tires are new but treadwear was even on last tires. About 6 or 8 months ago after going through a ditch at an angle and getting a descent amount of flex my steering wheel became slightly out of line. Tire shop said that alignment is fine and like I said tires were wearing evenly. I was going very slow, I had to stop in the middle because tow hitch got hung up, I locked the hubs, but it in 4H and pulled right through without an issue.
2nd, when making a long turn, say I went in a circle, something in the front end makes a metallic single popping noise like some suspension piece is shifting abruptly.
I've been going over any strange characteristics and this is what I can think of. Truck cruises smoothly, no vibration.

[slow_90firebird]

my other thread in this forum shows how I just corrected #4. Also seems to have cured my death wobble (fingers crossed)!!

easiest way to check #4 is engine off, igniton on, reach in the wheel well and grab the steering shaft and see how much you can rotate it back and forth WITHOUT the pitman arm moving at all. Now I found out by trial and error that you can adjust it tighter but you have to keep some slack in there or the steering gets too touchy. I found a sweet spot I really like today.

------------

as for the steering wheel moving when you got stuck, i had the same thing happen on my 78 chevy. Never figured it out but you probably bent something just a little or maybe rotated the pitman arm on the steering box (unless these have a keyway i didnt look).

[IrishChamp]

Thanks!

my other thread in this forum shows how I just corrected #4. Also seems to have cured my death wobble (fingers crossed)!!

easiest way to check #4 is engine off, igniton on, reach in the wheel well and grab the steering shaft and see how much you can rotate it back and forth WITHOUT the pitman arm moving at all. Now I found out by trial and error that you can adjust it tighter but you have to keep some slack in there or the steering gets too touchy. I found a sweet spot I really like today.

------------

as for the steering wheel moving when you got stuck, i had the same thing happen on my 78 chevy. Never figured it out but you probably bent something just a little or maybe rotated the pitman arm on the steering box (unless these have a keyway i didnt look).

[ccab85]

Go back over the steering box bracket and look for broken/cracked bolt ear or a loose bolt. What you are describing almost always relates to the bracket. Dodge still stocks these so you know it is a common problem. I just had one break an ear off and it did the same thing you describe. Unfortunately on mine it opened up a whole new can of worms, I had to do kingpins and bushings, trunion bearings, wheel bearing pack, front and rear brakes, draglink. I now need a new steering box and shaft as well. Another thought, is the truck lifted? Lifting these trucks throws the draglink off and gives you an offcenter steering wheel and you wont have even steering lock to lock. As far as greasing u-joints it is very critical to grease them even if it is a PITA, especially in the CV on the front driveshaft. Back to the steering issues, I understand that crossover steering kits eliminate most of the problems that come with owning a Dodge. I am going to look into crossover for one truck and if it is as good as everyone says I will do the other four. Good luck.

[IrishChamp]

My truck is not lifted. I'll take a close look at the steering brackets. The issue is sporadic and it's driving me crazy!!
I hope I don't need to do any serious work to the front end, I've spend too damn much lately!

Go back over the steering box bracket and look for broken/cracked bolt ear or a loose bolt. What you are describing almost always relates to the bracket. Dodge still stocks these so you know it is a common problem. I just had one break an ear off and it did the same thing you describe. Unfortunately on mine it opened up a whole new can of worms, I had to do kingpins and bushings, trunion bearings, wheel bearing pack, front and rear brakes, draglink. I now need a new steering box and shaft as well. Another thought, is the truck lifted? Lifting these trucks throws the draglink off and gives you an offcenter steering wheel and you wont have even steering lock to lock. As far as greasing u-joints it is very critical to grease them even if it is a PITA, especially in the CV on the front driveshaft. Back to the steering issues, I understand that crossover steering kits eliminate most of the problems that come with owning a Dodge. I am going to look into crossover for one truck and if it is as good as everyone says I will do the other four. Good luck.

[Ironforger]

Did you by chance adjust your steering gear recently?

It sounds like your wheels are not returning correctly. My truck did this after I attempted to adjust the steering gear (I made it too tight. Took it for an alignment and the guy backed off on the adjuster screw a bit) Ok, so now my truck wanders a little bit, which is what was originally doing before I attempted to adjust the steering gear.

[IrishChamp]

its been a while sense I worked on this problem, truck was getting a trans rebuild, I was sick, work etc.
Anyway, I jacked up the front and searched around for any red flags, this is what I found, please watch short clips and let me know if these symptoms could be causing my problem.
First video is of power steering input play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDyiFznnep4
2nd video of passenger side u joint area:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y75UVz538ow
3rd vido of drivers side u joint area:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8MUXDy1NBI

Also, one of the first things I did was grease all the points on the truck, specifically the front steering joints.
the one place I've not greased yet because I cant find the place to stick the pin I purchased is in the front drive shaft joint. the rear driveshaft had two nipples, the front has nothing that I can see to grease.
On another side note, there is this little clip pictured that looks broken compared to the other side, the piece that goes underneath both clips was not under this one and I don't see a place to secure it like the other sides clip.

[1STGENFARMBOY]

Maybe the discriptive word your using here is off a little..
is it deffinitly a pull....i mean when your on a new smooth asfault road does it still to this...
mine does somthing what i call diving...when i'm on an uneven country oil and chip road it
feels like my steering in wor out, but it's very tight and most of it's new. i am blaming my
problem on the 33x12.5 tires.

just a thought in trying to track down your problem.

Dar

[IrishChamp]

It's denimately not tire or road related. It Does it completely randomly. It's like the steering throws a fit. Randomly refuses to track straight. I'll try to correct but it goes a tad to far the opposite direction back and forth, back and forth.

Maybe the discriptive word your using here is off a little..
is it deffinitly a pull....i mean when your on a new smooth asfault road does it still to this...
mine does somthing what i call diving...when i'm on an uneven country oil and chip road it
feels like my steering in wor out, but it's very tight and most of it's new. i am blaming my
problem on the 33x12.5 tires.

just a thought in trying to track down your problem.

Dar

[IrishChamp]

Today, I drove up into the mountains and thought I might need 4x4 so I locked in the hubsWither the hubs locked but in 2wd it felt like I had a solid front axle. When I turned it rocked back and forth, real quick though, seemed to move back and forth faster than if I was in 4x4 on dry pavement.
I can't help but think this is related to my steering problem, some sort of binding in the front differential. I have some severe gear amsoil I plan on putting in. Should I open it up and look for something?