Weird Steering Issue

[mpeche923]

Hey guys:

I know this post is super old, but after over 2 Years.... which really equates to about 1,000 miles I have finally found the culprit.  I don't drive my truck that much but it took that long to figure this one out.....  when you hear it...  you will probably wonder why i did not figure it out sooner.

I have had a sporatic issue with turning left with my truck and when i begin to turn back right it won't come straight....   thank God it's never happened on the highway or for that matter over 25 miles and hour..  it only happened around side streets....   

Well last week on my way home from work i made a left into my street and it would NOT come back to the right....  as I was getting the truck stopped i yanked the steering wheel to the right and I heard a "pop"  and it came back....   i limped the truck into my driveway and i knew something had gone in the steering...     Again visually  i could not see much different...  but i got the truck in the air and I had my wife steer it for me so I could analyze everything...  as she was turning the wheel i could easily see the drag link tie rod end that connects to the pitman arm come almost completely seperated as the wheel turned more..   AWESOME...

So I ran down to the parts store on the corner....   picked up a new tie rod end....  replaced it and finally also aligned my steering wheel and it's all good.....   

the steering is so might tighter also...   that was the last tie rod end that needed to be replaced.. so I am all good now...    funny thing was my "mechanic" kept telling me it was the steering box and i needed to get a new one.... hmmmmm   whatever...


Im just that glad that it did not completely sheer off while I was driving...

another reason why i won't get rid of this truck  25 bucks and im back on the road 

Mike

[HIGHPLAINSDRIFTER]

Could the left hub be locked or failing?  Maybe grabbing when the wheel is turned?

[mpeche923]

it's fixed now beleive me....  i know how it used to feel and that "feeling" is gone...

I am happy definately...  i have been driving the truck around for 3 days now and nothing....     i could barely get it into the garage last week....  it definately was the tie rod at the pitman arm.

Thanks
Mike

[VileZambonie]

You should have replaced the sleeve as well.

[Blazin]

A good way to check the axle joint is to jack up both sides of the front. Turn the wheel all the way in one or the other direction. Spin the tire around slowly. As it rotates if it tries to turn the steering wheel is a good indication thats you have a frozen joint.

[mpeche923]

Vile,

Yeah your right I guess I should have for what another 6 bucks      OOPS.   

Blazin,

Yeah I know what your saying..  I actually did that a while back and the tire spins freely without it affecting the steering.    Again last week I spun the wheels and I was go to go with the axle joints 

Thanks
Mike

[Blazin]

I was kinda posting it because I left that part out when I posted to it the first time!! 
For any other readers type deal.