Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I came across a 97 4x2 Long Box that I’m considering buying and took it for a test drive last week and I’m a little puzzled by the steering. It feels like it has a detent or “notch” when driving straight ahead. Turning the wheel either direction takes a significant amount of force to get past this “notch” and make a turn. While in the turn it feels like it takes a little more effort to hold the turn compared to my 98 4x4. Other than this, it feels ok going down the road. It has Michelin 245 A/S tires with plenty of tread
When I got back from the highway, I took the truck to a mall with a vacant parking lot. I put it in a tight right turn at a speed just above a walk, and when I let go of the steering wheel, the truck started to come out of the turn, but instead of the wheel smoothly returning to straight ahead, it “stepped” back. That is, it would turn back a couple of inches then stop, then turn back another couple of inches and stop. It kept this up until the top of the steering wheel was about two inches to the right of center then it stayed there. Same thing happened with a tight turn to the left.
Anybody know what the cause may be? I’d like to have a handle on this before I get to the negotiating stage so I can either have it fixed as part of the deal or compensated for in the price.
TIA
Don
When I got back from the highway, I took the truck to a mall with a vacant parking lot. I put it in a tight right turn at a speed just above a walk, and when I let go of the steering wheel, the truck started to come out of the turn, but instead of the wheel smoothly returning to straight ahead, it “stepped” back. That is, it would turn back a couple of inches then stop, then turn back another couple of inches and stop. It kept this up until the top of the steering wheel was about two inches to the right of center then it stayed there. Same thing happened with a tight turn to the left.
Anybody know what the cause may be? I’d like to have a handle on this before I get to the negotiating stage so I can either have it fixed as part of the deal or compensated for in the price.
TIA
Don
