2017 steering surge

[STeichert]

I have a 2017 3500 4x4 aisin that has a strange surge in the steering. It feels like it’s in 4x4 when turning even though it’s not. I thought maybe steering knuckle u joints, but they are good,and it does it while stopped also. If I turn the wheel either direction about 1/4 turn while stopped the steering wheel will surge back and forth. Once I get past that point the steering is fine. It happens at all speeds too. No foaming in the reservoir, and no whine or brake surge with it. It seems like a possible pump failure, but want to get ideas before buying a pump.

 

[C M McCormick]

What was the outside temperature?

 

[AEdelheit]

If the brakes feel good I would suspect a box over the pump, I have not seen a failing pump cause the wheel to surge like that they seem to either provide proper pressure or not and any surging from the pump should be felt in the brake pedal as well.

 

[STeichert]

The high temps are in the 30's, and lows around -10. It seems the same no matter the outside temp, or the truck temp.

Is there a way to check the gearbox? Or any adjustments? I remember my old 96 had an adjustment on the gear box that would help with wander, but this feels totally different than that. Steering is tight other than in that same spot and it's the same going right or left. Are there o rings in the gear box that could be bad and causing interior leaks?

 

[AEdelheit]

The adjustment likely wont help, it can have internal leaks but Its possible its a bad joint binding in one spot only. I would get the front tires off the ground, pop the draglink out of the pitman arm if you have a puller, put your hand at 3 and 9 on the tire and steer back and fourth with your hands feeling for tight spots, check for play in all the joints and move the steering wheel to see if you can isolate where the issue is coming from.

 

[STeichert]

Ok. Thanks, I will do that. I had a helper turn the wheel for me as I crawled underneath and I couldn’t see anything amiss. I will keep updating as I proceed. Thank you!

 

[STeichert]

Ok, things are a bit weird under the truck. I have the exact same truck except an 18 for work, and it’s upper ball joints look like normal ball joints. This 17 has these in the pic. Are they offset? I ask because on the passenger side the wheel toes out some like the old Ford twin i beam axles. It’s not a lot; but it does even on the lift. The 18 doesn’t at all. The drivers side of the 17 doesn’t either. I have some play in the passenger side ball joints but not a lot; and the passenger side sits 1/2” lower than the driver side measured at the fenders.
I can’t get my puller to stay on the drag link; so I can’t get it off to check things that way. Guess what I’m saying, is I think the problem may be on this passenger side. Are those stock ball joints for a 17 3500?

 

[STeichert]

It’s about impossible to get a god pic of the toe out but here it is.

 

[lpennock]

Offset ball joints aren't as strong as stock ball joints. I ran a set on my jeep for a few years, when they started failing my chamber went to crap. The question is why you have them. Normally not needed on solid axle truck unless housing is bent.

 

[STeichert]

The previous owner must have put them on, I see no need for them either. Negative camber is what I'm trying to show it the second pic. Sounds like what happened to your Jeep.

 

[AEdelheit]

Very odd to have an offset ball joint as unless the axle is bent there is never a need for one on these trucks, looks like it has a grease fitting on top and no sign of grease anywhere around it so I would get that tire off the ground and get grease through that ball joint, see if it smooths out and then If it was my truck I would replace the ball joints with Carli , EMF or Dynatrack to know they are all the proper joints but that is not a cheap route.

 

[STeichert]

A little update here. I greased those ball joints and man were they hard to get grease through! I also adjusted the caster on the passenger side that sat lower, and what a difference. The truck would slightly pull to the right before, and now it is straight and true. The steering is quite a bit better, but I still get some surge in the same spot. I will get some new ball joints for it. I was just looking at the EMF ones in Geno's the other day and will probably go that route.
My brother in-law works at a wrecking yard and they have a steering gearbox they will let me try. If it fixes the surge I just buy the gearbox, and if it doesn't I just give it back.
Thanks for the help, it lots better already and I will update when I get some new parts.

 

[STeichert]

I got my new steering box in and the problem is gone! The truck drives as nice as my '18 now. It wasn't as hard of a job as I expected, kind of a heavy gearbox but a manageable job alone. Thanks for all of the help, I would have bought a pump without your help and wasted $$$.

 

[Chad Jorstad]

I got my new steering box in and the problem is gone! The truck drives as nice as my '18 now. It wasn't as hard of a job as I expected, kind of a heavy gearbox but a manageable job alone. Thanks for all of the help, I would have bought a pump without your help and wasted $$$.

Thank you so much for this post! Been trying to find this solution for nearly a year and my very good diesel pros have reached out to numerous mechanics all over the nation and couldn’t find a consistent solution.

 

[Chad Jorstad]

Thank you for this post. I have the same problem and no one has been able to figure it out. Out of curiosity, did you ever have 35” tires on it? I am also trying to figure out what causes the issue. I suspect there is some sort of pressure valve in the gearbox that isn’t holding pressure this causing the surge. My surge happens throughout the turning it isn’t just at one point in steering it will happen about every 30-45 degrees of any turn.

 

[STeichert]

Glad this has helped you. I don't know if it ever had 35" tires because I bought it used, but I think it may have because the fender liners are cut out some. I don't know why the offset ball joints either, I bought some EMF ball joints from Geno's that I haven't had time to put on yet. The steering is still good with the new gearbox.