HELP - Truck won't steer - any ideas?

[daschlag]

I loaned my truck to a friend yesterday so he could haul some stuff around.  He just called me and said the truck is almost impossible to steer.  It worked fine when he turned it off, but when he went back out to leave, it started up just fine and ran down the road fine, until he tried to steer it.  He said it was possible to steer (wheel not "locked") just took a tremendous amount of strength.

I don't have the truck in front of me (yet) so I can't provide any details but I thought I'd ask if anyone knows what might be going on.  It's a 1977 K20 with TH350 and full-time 4wd.

My first thoughts are of course the power steering fluid is low, or the pump is bad, or the belt broke.  Another more scary thought is the front differential is not slipping like it should when turning.  Then of course there could be a broken rod of some kind.  As soon as I get a look at it, I'll give more information.

What do you guys think?

[zieg85]

If a front u-joint is hanging up that is scary.  The frame around the steering box could have developed cracks.

[big bear]

.  The frame around the steering box could have developed cracks.

theres been a thread about this very topic i believe. gotta be careful and its certainly something to check out.

[daschlag]

Holy crap... I really hope there are no cracks in the frame.  That would be just about the worst possible news.  I'm going out tomorrow to check it out.  I'll probably end up having it towed back to my house.

[daschlag]

Okay good news!  The belts were both off and completely destroyed, but with one new belt and some belt dressing, it's back on the road.

I'm thinking, when I replaced the belts a couple of months ago, they "broke in" and got looser, but I never snugged them back up.  I think that one slipped off, got all wrapped around the alternator belt, preventing it from turning, which burned a flat spot into it.

So my next question is... anyone have any brilliant ideas for how to get the power steering belt nice and TAUGHT?  I had a 1" wrench against the frame and underneath the PS reservoir, but still couldn't get it tight enough.  There must be a trick to it.

[78 Chevyrado]

my truck has a little "nub" sticking out of the water pump that you use for leverage with a prybar on the PS pump. 

[daschlag]

my truck has a little "nub" sticking out of the water pump that you use for leverage with a prybar on the PS pump. 

Thanks!  I'll try that, the angle seems like it will work a lot better. 

[muddpuppy01]

that or get a smaller belt

[beastie_3]

and dont lend your truck to anyone

[bigchevyc30]

thats y no one gets to drive my truck except to move it foward when we are loading it up

[daschlag]

that or get a smaller belt

I hadn't thought of that, but in this case I think it's all about getting enough leverage, not necessarily the length of the belt.

and dont lend your truck to anyone

Yeah I'm drawing the same conclusion.  I've been in the habit of loaning it to friends and neighbors for dump runs or to pick up landscaping supplies, because it just sits at the curb most of the time and it's good to run it once and a while.  But the last friend I loaned it to ended up driving it a few hundred miles, all over the county, at freeway speeds.  I'm definitely going to lock down the policy but will still loan it to close, trustworthy friends.  Funny... my other cars are much more valuable but I'm most protective of my old Chevy.  Even my wife loves it!

[VileZambonie]

Use a lady slipper pry bar if you do not have the w/p set up mentioned above.

[daschlag]

Just to follow up... I did manage to get the belts nice and tight using the crow bar under the hood.  No more squeals, no more slipping (I hope).  I haven't loaned it out since.