Steering Gremlin, HELP

[TBusclas]

Had not had any problems with steering in a long time, truck has Carli uppers and lowers, 08 steering upgrade, Bilstien stabilizer and shocks. Parked truck last Friday evening everything fine, went to leave Saturday morning and soon as I hit the road new something was wrong, could not keep truck tracking in straight line by itself. Had to consonantly keep correcting to stay in my lane. Have since had front off the ground and can find nothing loose or tight and binding, greased the ball joints while I had it up as they were due to be greased, no improvement. Checked power steering fluid it was okay but didn't look the best either, drained and flushed it and no improvements. Have checked all bushings, bolts etc.. nothing bad or worn. With truck sitting on the ground as soon as you move the wheel either way both tires move, no slop in the steering box. I have had vehicles in the past where I tightened the sector adjustment too tight and created the same condition I have now. I am now leaning toward the power steering pump not putting out enough pressure and may try and test this weekend. Will try and find out from service manual what this should be if anyone knows please let me know. Don't really see how steering box would be bad but right now not going to rule it out either but it and the pump are the last two items that I think could possibly be my problem. Any suggestions appreciated, BTW truck has 265,000 miles on it.

 

[cerberusiam]

..or the Carli uppers are worn out causing memory steer. Pull them apart and see what they look like.

 

[TBusclas]

Just pulled upper pins both sides on the Carli's. Checked pins and bores with inside and outside micrometer, less than half a thousandth inch wear. Don't consider that to bad for close to 70,000 miles on these. Grease them every 5000 with Amsoil synthetic. Now back to my problem, parked the truck one night, got in next morning and soon as I hit the road had problems, truck acts just like the memory steer stated above, like when I have tightened the sector adjustment too tight on a steering box. I'm kinda leaning toward the gear box, anyone with ideas. As stated in original post, nothing worn or loose.

 

[JBallou]

The factory steering box can't be adjusted while mounted on the truck. There is some goofy procedure. Sounds like the box is bad to me. To much preload on the shaft.

 

[TBusclas]

That kind of what I was thinking, really never had much luck adjusting these in the past, especially with a lot of miles on them. Hadn't even looked at this one to see if it was adjustable. May look into the up-rated box.

 

[cerberusiam]

Nonsense, the box can easily be adjusted on the truck. There is a set screw and jam nut on that that will adjust the pitman shaft engagement on the rack. This is where the most wear occurs and can easily be adjusted to take slack out of the box. If the wear is too much and you adjust it to tight to remove slack you will start feeling a drag as it crosses center, not enough to cause steering issues but enough to tell you it is replacement time.

For it to just start having issues is not an adjustment thing, something happened. If you can run the steering locked to locked and it doesn't feel tight in the center problem is likely elsewhere.

Did you check front axle joints? Did you check to see if there is any vertical movement in the pitman shaft?

 

[TBusclas]

Have checked everything but also have missed things before, not perfect and the older I get the more this is apparent. Granted front u-joints are a possibility I'm considering but no tell tale signs I can see. Have pulled seals back slightly with small pick just to kinda get a peak but see nothing indicating a dry joint. Also have considered something in rear end keeping limited slip engaged or engaging and disengaging acting like a fully locked rear end but corners fine every time with no push/shove like both wheels locked. 50+ years wrenching this one kinda has me stumped, but have missed the obvious before. Time is limited at the moment with 60+ hour work weeks and just trying to get some input from somewhere as to what to check. If time permits will try and get into my FSM and find some specs on the power steering/pump system. Also scheduling truck in to check alignment just in case and to cover all bases, this is cheap before I start throwing money at parts which I hate to do. Truck is not un-driveable but you do have to be on your game. Have pushed, shoved, pried, twisted anything that moves to no avail, also did same with motor running and someone turning wheels, nothing. Thanks forward to anyone with suggestions or thoughts. As state previously, good piece on the other side of that half century mark and know when to ask for help

 

[yunk]

Having gone thru this my self several times I see no mention of checking for bearing hub or track arm bushings play. My drag link on my 08 steering upgrade worn enough to cause this very same issue in under 40,000 miles. Just replaced it 6 weeks ago and my tracking is much improved. All three of these issues caused me to experience tracking issues.

 

[TBusclas]

Have checked all that, thought I said wheel bearings, they are good. Track bar also, have put rolled tractor up to and touched both front wheels to essentially lock them in place and had someone turn steering wheel with motor running to see if something moving under stress, absolutely no movement in frame or any steering component. I'm still leaning toward steering box, don't know how to say except I've drove this truck last 150,000 miles and "box" just does not feel right from the steering wheel, flat, level, straight road and essentially truck wants to sluggishly dart one way and then back if you hod the wheel straight, if you stay on top of it constantly correcting you can keep it between the lines. This one has me stumped, hate throwing money but guess I'm going to start with the box.

 

[TBusclas]

I hadn't even thought about it but could the hydro-boost be causing this issue? Was talking to buddy of mine and he said he had seen a faulty hydro-boost cause some steering issues on some GM products and thought the units were similar. Any thoughts anyone?

 

[TBusclas]

Don't guess anyone has any thoughts. Front end has been checked for alignment an still exactly where it was seat from two years ago. Have been back through every item third or fourth time. It was mentioned about front u joints but there is no sign of bad joint and I have seen and ran trucks with each side joint ears practically banging against each other and never caused steering to act and pull like this. Have new upgraded steering box ordered and guess will start there.

 

[TBusclas]

Just wanted to update all that I ordered and installed a brand new box, the big shaft upgrade. Problem immediately solved. With box out and on the bench could not find any kind of slop or play. Was starting to be considerable weeping where the steering column shaft goes into the box, not the shaft seal but the first housing connected to the main box. Would like to have tore into it before sending back but problem fixed and life goes on.

 

[cumminbighorn06]

what is the big shaft upgrade?

 

[Regcabguy]

what is the big shaft upgrade?

http://www.cjcoffroad.com/Mopar-68170214AA-Steering-Box-Upgrade-Dodge-Ram-p/68170214aa.htm