Steering Issue

[Burgersquatch]

73 K10, all original as far as I know... minus a motor rebuild and carb.

I've owned this truck for about 4 months now, it's always had a little play in the steering but would track straight. There was just a bit of easy/nothing steering to either side. Yesterday, I was making a left-hand turn onto a road that was at an incline. I turned from a dead stop (waiting for light), wasn't going fast or accelerating hard, got tossed a little with the driver front tire hit the bump first, then the passenger side. When I went to straighten out and continue down the road I just turned on, the steering wanted to continue the turn. I had to turn the wheel harder than normal and it seemed to be a little stubborn. Afterward, the truck wanted to drift left or right and no longer drive straight without having to counter-steer. I looked it over from what I could think of to look at and nothing I saw showed worn metal, bend or breakage. Today seemed a bit better and I didn't have to correct it much.

I'm definitely no mechanic, although I have some experience with remote control trucks and I've had a few act similarly when a wheel/hub was loose or the toe/camber was off. Like the wheel would wobble and it would toe in, pushing the vehicle left, or toe out and it would drift right. I'm hoping it's not something like this.

I stopped at the mechanic this morning and he suggested changing the power steering fluid. I don't know the last time it was flushed or had new fluid added, looks a bit old and thin, according to the mechanic. He said thin/dirty fluid would make seals sticky. Having him flush it on Wednesday. I could do it myself but if it's not the solution to my problem, I'd prefer to have a professional on hand.

So yeah, I do have some local help from this garage but I'm always interested in hearing other opinions.... any ideas on what could be my problem?

[zieg85]

First thing is to check the frame around the steering box for cracks.  If that is all good it sounds like you have a front axle ujoint frozen....

[bake74]

     I agree with you mechanic on the part of you turning into the incline driveway, of how/why it seemed stuck and hard to correct. 
     However the issue of the free play in either direction I believe is something different.  It could be as zeig suggested, to the tires themselves, to a issue with a part or parts in the front end suspension, to the steering pump or steering gear box having a little to much free play.  Also have him check the rag joint or the top connector on the steering column, this sometimes can get loose.  There is thread on hear somewhere of the steering wheel itself being a little loose also.
     In any case I would say be patient and thorough with your checks and in the end it should be a s brand new.
     

[Burgersquatch]

I was looking around the forum for steering related topics and checking the frame around the steering box came up pretty often. I looked through the wheel well but didn't notice any cracks or stress marks. It's been behaving better and not trying to push to one side or the other much. It drove like an old truck before but it's acting a little more like it's age now. I did plan to get into the steering when weather was more cooperative, or have someone else do it when I could afford it.

When the mechanic is flushing the fluid I'm gonna have him go over as much of it as I can get him to. I like these guys and probably gonna talk with them about future plans for my truck. You guys are great, but I need hands on my truck. From what I can tell, no one is near SLT.

I'm supposed to house-sit for my sister who lives 2-3 hours away, over mountain passes (Donner Summit) and semi-crazy roads. I'm hoping to get this issue resolved before next weekend. Or at least get an ok from a mechanic.

[Burgersquatch]

Got the power steering fluid flushed, went over the column linkage and adjusted the steering box. Feels better but I've only driven a couple miles from the garage to my work, so it's not much to really go on.

[Burgersquatch]

shoot's acting up again. More so on a normal driving basis and not just turning a corner with some momentum (still where it's at it's worse). Looking at what I can see, there's nothing bent, worn or really anything visible aside from a rubber bushing on the tie rod (?) on the driver's side... it's pretty much rotted and falling apart but most of it is still intact.

What's happening when I'm driving is... it will drive straight for the most part but if I have to make adjustments (wind blows, road curves, potholes, etc), it's like the truck will settle into a groove or something where the steering wants to continue whatever direction I was turning. Then I'll have to hold the wheel against the direction it wants to drift. The best/only way I've figured out to correct it is to turn sharply in the opposite direction. Sometimes this will make the steering stick in the other direction. Then I kinda go back and forth with it until it straightens out... and not while I'm driving down the road, I do pull off somewhere and do it safely.

I've had some of the steering fluid flushed and the gearbox adjusted, inflated tires properly. It was doing ok for awhile, just had be mindful when making turns. Some have suggested that it's stuck in 4x4... not real sure how to un-stick it. Pretty sure I had gotten it to disengage, although it's possible it was just acting like it and I just don't know? I don't want to just remove the front drive shaft, possibly be needing it to do some camping or something this summer. I'll try to get some pictures of stuff a little later.

[bobcooter]

I had a 77 Scottsdale SWB 2WD that would want to keep turning when you turned a corner. Especially to the left. You had to turn hard in the opposite direction to get it straightened out. It turned out the pitman was worn out. I have never heard of power steering fluid wearing out. But sometimes I think there must be a lot I have never heard of...

[Burgersquatch]

I had a 77 Scottsdale SWB 2WD that would want to keep turning when you turned a corner. Especially to the left. You had to turn hard in the opposite direction to get it straightened out. It turned out the pitman was worn out. I have never heard of power steering fluid wearing out. But sometimes I think there must be a lot I have never heard of...

Pretty sure the steering fluid idea was if it were old, dirty and clogging lines and whatnot. The fluid taken out of my truck was pretty dark but wasn't lumpy or gritty looking (don't know if steering fluid would do that).

I'm figuring I'm gonna need a mechanic or someone able to crawl around and physically check things on the truck.

[bd]

Using a good flashlight, carefully inspect inside the frame rail where the steering box mounting bolts protrude through the frame, just rearward of the front crossmember.  Look closely for any rust tracks or cracks radiating from and/or somewhat concentric with the steering gear mounting bolt holes.  With the engine running and brake set, have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the steering gear.  Does the gear appear to move relative to the frame?  Also, watch the Pitman arm on the gearbox; does it move up-and-down at all, or only side-to-side?  Similarly, observe each steering link end.  Do any appear loose as the steering wheel is turned back and forth?  Both steer tires should turn side-to-side in perfect unison with the Pitman arm - there should be no lag between turning the steering wheel and seeing both steer tires move.

[Burgersquatch]



[frotosride]

I was going to ask a question but after seeing the pictures I'm going to make a recommendation that should be high on your to do list if you want that air plow to handle like it should. Replace every one of the ball joints on the front end. If money permits it wouldn't hurt to do the ones in the knuckles as well. I'm not sure of what a good going price would be for a mechanic to replace the steering components like draglink, and tie rods but honestly you can order those your self and screw them in on your own then just get an alignment. As for the knuckles, They are not a must but will definitely help. The only issue will be paying a mechanic because they are not really hard but definitely time consuming. I pray I never have a reason or desire to do mine again unless I can talk the wife into letting me buy a hydraulic press!! Then that would be worth it! If you decide to go the cheap route let me know and I will do all I can to help. I just did al of this recently so it's still fresh in my mind.

[blazing816]

I was going to ask a question but after seeing the pictures I'm going to make a recommendation that should be high on your to do list if you want that air plow to handle like it should. Replace every one of the ball joints on the front end. If money permits it wouldn't hurt to do the ones in the knuckles as well. I'm not sure of what a good going price would be for a mechanic to replace the steering components like draglink, and tie rods but honestly you can order those your self and screw them in on your own then just get an alignment. As for the knuckles, They are not a must but will definitely help. The only issue will be paying a mechanic because they are not really hard but definitely time consuming. I pray I never have a reason or desire to do mine again unless I can talk the wife into letting me buy a hydraulic press!! Then that would be worth it! If you decide to go the cheap route let me know and I will do all I can to help. I just did al of this recently so it's still fresh in my mind.

X2 that.....some of those look pretty bad.

[Burgersquatch]

Thanks y'all, truck is going to see the mechanic tomorrow morning and I'll mention the ball joints and see how much damage it's gonna cause.

Thankfully my Harley is being delivered this week (shipped from FL) and I'll be able to save some money on gas and can afford to have my truck apart for more than a day.

[Burgersquatch]

Alright, now it's Thursday afternoon....

[Engineer]

Since this happened sort of suddenly I'm not thinking worn parts, I'm thinking broken parts.

There is a centering spring in your steering box's hydraulic valve. If that centering spring has broke it can give the erratic steering symptoms you mention.