Steering issues

[Billy Diesel]

And not a typical issue either. Oh, and it is a 4x4.



Driving straight down the road the truck does fine. No wandering or slop in the steering.



If I take a sharp corner, I lose my return to center. After I physically turn the wheel to center, the next odd thing happens. The truck does a quick jerk to the left every 2 or 3 seconds after that. A quick jerk to the left and then straight down the road. And it sure feels like the steering wheel jerks in my a hand a split second before the truck jerks. The jerking motion is very rythmic, basically to the point where I can now time it and jerk the wheel to the right at the correct instant and not scare the oncoming traffic! :-{}



The jerking motion will linearly go away after a couple of miles. The truck will drive fine until the next sharp corner.



So what is going on? I have flushed the fluid a couple of times now. It still doesn't look great, but it looks better than before. And not much has changed.



Any ideas?

 

[JHumphries]

Look at your tire tread. It might tell you more than we can.
I would also check the two tie rod ends and adjusting sleeve for tightness. If it's adjusting itself during the corner, and slowly unwinding? It's a stretch, but it's all I can think of right now.

 

[MMeier]

Almost sounds like the steering box mount that mounts to the frame is starting to crack . Inspect it very carefully, hard to see when they first start, if possible have someone turn the wheel lock to lock while you watch the box and see if it moves any . Report back !

 

[NIsaacs]

Does the truck have a steering stabilizer? It sounds like it might be seizing up? Jack up the front end with both wheels off the ground and feel the steering with the engine off. How hard does it turn? King pins might be seizing up also. Whatever it is, it sounds like something is not moving freely and stays where you point it. Steering box maybe even.



Nick

 

[HHhuntitall]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with the above, and start with the steering stabilizer, as it may have a bad dent or is going bad. If the fluid can't return flow, you'll have to manually turn it back, then, when you do return it to center manually, it has pressure on one side, which bleeds off and releases the stabilizer, which takes pressure off the steering rod, making it feel like a jerk..... Also, check your steering control arm, all the ball joints, etc. If the tires are not wearing, I'd bet it's the Stabilizer.

 

[cerberusiam]

Steering stabilzer or steering box, either one will cause those symptoms.

 

[TBartlett1]

The steering not returning could be caused by worn or dry kingpins.

The upper is an easily replaced bushing while the lower is a Timken bearing. If greased regularly they have an indefinite life span.

I would also suggest a molly fortified grease it reduced the steering effort in mine which was purchased new.

The steering having a rhythmic oscillation could be a u-joint starting to seize.

To check for a stiff u-joint jack the front end up engage the hubs turn the wheels fully to the right or left.

Each wheel should turn easily; if they try to spring back the u-joint is bad. This can be confirmed by inspecting the u-joints for a red powder (rust). I had a u-joint completely seize once coming home from work and I was all over the road. Turns had to be planned and taken as wide as possible.

The trip home busted parts of the locking hub.

Hope this helps!

 

[JDancoe]

I had a similar problem, and like TBartlett1, I found it to be the u-joints in the steering knuckles. I was lucky enough to catch mine before any further damage occurred. I have to agree with those who suggest inspecting everything. There is always the possibility that you have more than just one problem, especially on high milage vehicles. Jack Dancoe