Weird steering problem

[quikshft]

Well guys I've had my truck for a little over a year and about 6,000 miles now, including the 1,500 mile trip home from Colorado Springs. No problems to speak of and I am really enjoying owning this rig.

Now, a curious thing happens on occasion. I'll turn a corner and as I'm coming out of it and getting back straight down the road, I'll feel the truck pull left, then right, then left again in sort of a steady rythem. I know these trucks have some steering problems but I haven't heard anybody describe anything like this. Any ideas? The truck now has 106,000 miles on it and to my knowledge is totally stock. Many thanks, Jeff

 

[Idually]

Hey Jeff.

I'm newbie to this forum, but I'd check the steering gearbox joint. I took a 700 mile trip to pick up my '93 1-ton 4x4. One of the the first things I noticed was the "play" in the steering. I also noticed after a couple of hours of driving home that the truck wanted to "sway" sort of like what you are describing. I didn't help that I was trying to correct each "pull" from left to right. I think that made the "Sway" even more noticible. When I got home I checked the steering coupling and it was a mess!! Completely loose and my '93 had only 36000 miles on it(at that time). I went to my local Dodge dealer and purchased the $10. 00 kit to "rebuild" the coupling, but it wasn't good enough. So I collected some pennies and dealt with it for a few weeks and puchased a Borgeson steering shaft. At $200. 00 I think it is, one of the best additions I think you can do to any older Dodge truck. Easy to install with minimal tools or skill. Give it some thought. There are other shaft Mfg's out there, but I don't know anything about them. Just my thoughts. Good luck.



Andrew

 

[quikshft]

Andrew thanks for the reply. The Borgeson upgrade is on the "to do" list, as well as a couple other repairs. I don't doubt that the steering joint could be causing this, but my first thought is that there is something going on inside the steering gearbox itself. The reason I think that is because I get feedback to the steering wheel when this occurs, like you say you can 'fight' against it as you drive. I've found that just a quick left/right maneuver stops it once it happens. I guess I should go out and do a little bit more extensive inspection and see if there is anything else plainly wrong. I admit I really have not done that but the problem is occuring with more regularity and is becoming an annoyance I guess it's getting my attention. I would not consider the $200 cost of the Borgeson to be 'throwing money at the problem' because I'm sure it needs that. Perhaps that is the next step to take and then see if the trouble is repaired. Jeff

 

[JBournes]

Steering!

Well i hope you have already read my post, i would check all your tie rod ends for loose and worn out parts. And as well i would look at your springs and the brackets that hold them on. I found that the one that held my driver side spring a little loose and i will be drilling out a couple hot rivots that use to hold it secure and installing some grade 8 bolts in their place. Have some turn the wheel while you crawl under and look ever thing over. See if anything is flexing or moving that shouldnt.



JEB

 

[PPeters]

I'll second what JEB said, but from your description of the problem, borgeson is the answer. I had the exact same experience with mine, replaced the pot joint twice, found this place, put in the borg, no more problem. Got close to 100,000 on my borgeson, still fine.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Guys,.....



A non-member, Jeremy Miller,who was good enough to offer his solution to this, sent me an email on your problems...

Below is an exerpt with the meat and potato's of his solution. He was making the point that often non-members have solutions but can't post them, so in this case I'm posting his solution for you and for Jeremy..... THANK YOU JEREMY...



"... ... J. Bournes' 11/02/03 post "weird steering problem” is caused by particulate contaminants entering the hydraulic spool valve, and characterized by a steering system that actively leads the truck from left to right, repeatedly and rhythmically. The cheapest solution is to install an in-line fuel filter on the return hose. I learned this after spending about $300 on a new drag link, steering box, hoses, fluid, etc. , only to have the problem return. The filter installation corrected my problem. Unless another veteran member can post some insight, the current suggestions are to check all steering components for looseness, i. e. : tie rods, drag link…then replace steering box, as I did... . "



Pastor Bob.

 

[skobylenski]

I'm not sure if this is the same motion that I experience when turning left - mine is sort of a clunk and then whole truck shifts (it feels like the body is sliding off the chassis), and you have to be quick to counter the shift by pulling out of the turn a little earlier than you would think to. I seem to remember reading somewhere around here that this is caused either by the bracket for the steering box being shot, or there being a crack in the chassis right by where the bracket mounts. The solution for the crack is a plate welded to the back side (inside the frame) on the chassis.



I don't want to scare you with the cracked chassis thing, I just remember reading about that about 3 weeks ago.



I hope this helps you and anyone else,

good luck finding your problem!



Scott

 

[quikshft]

Definately something else to check out... thanks.

I'm not driving it until I do my dowel pin repair either.

 

[MFalkinham]

Quikshft, I also have been occasionally experiencing the exact same problem you are describing. It started happening recently, and seems to occur mostly between 40-50mph. My steering shaft boot and clamps appear to be pretty new, so I think the previous owner repaired the joint prior to me buying the truck last year.



Also, the symptoms started after I began flushing my power steering system with Valvoline Synpower fluid (by suctioning 10oz at a time from the pump and replacing with new).



I think Jeremy Miller is onto something, and that debris in the system might be flushed loose by my newer fluid and are plugging that spool valve. It is more of an annoyance at this time than a real problem, but if a fuel filter in the return line would solve it, I'd be willing to try that. Maybe Jeremy could recommend a part number or size for the filter he used?



Thanks!



- Mike

 

[JLEONARD]

Maybe Jeremy could recommend a part number or size for the filter he used?

I agree...comon Jeremy... . give it up!!

We gots to know!!

Jay

 

[Case500D]

Quickshift,



Another item to investigate is the u-joints in the front axle. A rusted or frozen u-joint can cause all kinds of erratic steering problems. I had that happen on my W-250. Had to stop and change pants after a couple of "self steering" events.



Jeremy

 

[csnider]

I had a similar problem . . it was a worn steering shaft . So I bought the rebuild kit from dodge . It didn't help because the hole in the steering shaft that the steering shaft joint connects to was ovalized and still had plenty of play. . I bought the Borgenson steering shaft and it tightned things right up. .



I think it's the first thing anyone who owns a first gen should do as far as upgrades go... ... Hope things work out... ... . Chuck

 

[Greenleaf]

csnider;



A man, His truck, and His... ... ... ... . Winchester

 

[quikshft]

Originally posted by Greenleaf

csnider;



A man, His truck, and His... ... ... ... . Winchester

Mines a Ruger... No. 1 to be exact



Lots of stuff to check out here, thanks guys. This board is great. Now if I could just finish my garage cleanup/reorganization project maybe I could get some of these items checked into, but my castle is a mess and I can't stand it. The garage must be clean!

 

[nascar mark]

Guys,



The Borgeson shaft is a great addition and will fix your slop in the steering shaft but this problem isn't slop.



Jeremy Miller is bang on with this problem. Quickshft, if you change out your power steering fluid completely this problem will go away. I experienced the same symptoms as you described. It only happens some times and it has nothing to do with speed. steer hard the other way and it will go away immediately. Driving straight takes a little while and feels real funny. I checked everything over from the axles to the front end parts and when I hooked up a hose to a old turkey baster and sucked out some power steering fluid and put it in a clear jar.

Was very dark and had float-ezs in it. I sucked out as much fluid as I could, topped it up with fresh and the problem went away. A month or so later it happened again and I repeated the fluid change again and was good for a longer period. Conclusion... change it out completely.



Mark

 

[Paychk]

Power steering pump filter Cardone #20FLT1 can be found here.



Rock Auto

 

[quikshft]

Originally posted by nascar mark

Guys,



The Borgeson shaft is a great addition and will fix your slop in the steering shaft but this problem isn't slop.



Jeremy Miller is bang on with this problem. Quickshft, if you change out your power steering fluid completely this problem will go away. I experienced the same symptoms as you described. It only happens some times and it has nothing to do with speed. steer hard the other way and it will go away immediately. Driving straight takes a little while and feels real funny. I checked everything over from the axles to the front end parts and when I hooked up a hose to a old turkey baster and sucked out some power steering fluid and put it in a clear jar.

Was very dark and had float-ezs in it. I sucked out as much fluid as I could, topped it up with fresh and the problem went away. A month or so later it happened again and I repeated the fluid change again and was good for a longer period. Conclusion... change it out completely.



Mark

This MUST be the problem, because I have found that if I jerk the wheel quickly one time the cycling back and forth (left and right?) does quit. I'll give it a shot. Many thanks.

Jeff

 

[RGT]

I have noticed this steering quirk recently also, I have changed my steering fluid a couple times in the last year, but don't know if the previous owner did. I'll have to do it again, thanks for another timely fix

 

[PumpChatter]

Hey Quiksft,



I had this similar problem about 5 years ago, its pretty scary when it starts happening and it took all Summer to figure it out. For me it turned out to be the Front Manual Hubs, the left one would engage for a second causing the truck to pull left then release. And of course your turning the wheel to the right to compensate just as it releases causing you to jerk right. Finally just as you get the truck straightened out again the hub re-engages for another second starting the process over.

It happened to my truck usually after a turn, but not always and was intermittent. Next time it starts happening engage the Hubs, if you problem immediately goes away - you've got your answer.

Your local car parts store should carry the replacement WARN Hubs, they make most of the hubs for 4X4's anyway so its an exact replacement.

Just giving my contribution to information over-load.



Good Luck!

 

[SClements]

Definitely check those u-joints!!!