Steering Issue

[befrazier]

I just returned from a 3000 mile round trip pulling my fifth wheel which weighs around 12,000 lbs. About half way through the trip I noticed that my steering was very responsive, meaning that if I was going straight down the highway and moved the steering just a tiny bit, either way, the truck would track that way, immediately. So I felt like I was really having to drive the truck with two hands on the wheel at all times, real steady (NO one hand on top of steering wheel or steering with the knee, almost impossible, I tried it and I would be all over the road). I can also turn a corner and the truck will just keep turning, kind of like a boat, if i fell out it would come back to me eventually. The truck acts the same unloaded also. It did develop a leak from the front diff. seal somewhere along the way. I also engaged the 4-wheel low a few times when backing the fiver into my spot at the campgrounds. I did try 4-wheel high in the parking lot at work, turned the wheel and it would do the jerking thing then it would return to what I am experiencing when switched back to 2-high, so I don't believe that it is stuck in 4-wheel drive. The truck got an average of 11mpg, hand figured, on pretty much every fill up, on the way home it was actually a little better because I learned where the sweet spot was.

Any thoughts on what this might be, I have 123,000 miles on it and it has never had to be aligned or needed any parts on the front end. It has new Michelins and new Bilsteins all the way around it also.



Any help is much appreciated,



Thanks, Brian

 

[jelag]

I don't know where your at... but with my dually I have the same problem on some roads... . I'm where it snows during the winter and we use studded tires... the front wheels will have one width, the rear wheels of course a different width and the trailer wheels another one... I find that on roads that have moderate to severe studded tire wear, the truck is always looking for a grove to run in... on set or another is either on one side of the slop or the other... thus the rig is constantly being pushed around... often if I move the left lane on a multiple lane road... it will stop and go away... as that lane is less traveled and has less wear... .

Once I'm out of snow country and studded tire wear... that we're fine... . could this be what your seeing...

Remember that on dry surfaces with the truck in 4wd it's very easy to get gear wind up in even a small turn... the front end doesn't have near the slip potential that the rear end does... . be very, very careful... .

 

[CBari]

I had the same problem but it was after I had installed a bad ball joint. I replaced everything else under the front end trying to track down my issue. Only to get mad one day and tell them to pull the aftermarket ball joints out we had put in and put the Mopar ones in. I couldn't believe it fixed it but it did.

 

[befrazier]

Turned out to be the steering box, replaced with Napa box and is working great.