Steering problem

BrianT · 02-17-2007, 06:19 PM

While I was out today I had a strange problem arise. I made a "U" turn to the left, while straighting the wheel it kind of binded. When the steering is in the center it seems tight now, it will stay where you put it instead of returning to center. I just replaced the tie-rods and tie-rod ends about 3 weeks ago and thought my steering was in good shape until now. It was dark when I got home and just took a quick look under it and did not see anything hitting or binding. When I performed the "U" turn I had the wheel turned all the way to the left, now my steering is stiff. Anyone have a idea of what might have happened? Could it be a ball joint? I have new ones to replace the old but did not think they were bad. I had it on jacks and did not see any slack in them.

944cabby · 02-18-2007, 02:36 AM

Is your tyre pressure ok?
Being winter and since i changed jobs i don't use mine as much so it's been sat on my drive 2-3 weeks at a time but i've found i've had to top the air up in the tyres more frequently due to standing (usually the fronts as they're older than the rears).
I've noticed that the steering becomes noticably stiffer and harder to turn until i put air in.

BrianT · 09:36 AM

First I am in south west Florida, the temp at the time was about 68deg. The tightness I am feeling is at all positions. Their should be some slop in the steering and that should be real easy to turn. It is like it is in the steering column its self, just tight. I am going to take the steering wheel off and look at the bearing that sets at the end of the column but I don't think thats it. I just replaced tie-rods and wondering if I screwed then onto the shaft too far and when I turned really hard I may have impacted the seal on the end of the steering rack and damaged it. This is a factory manual steering system. The ends of the shaft were very greasy and dirty, I cleaned up some but maybe it pushed a piece of dirt back into the end of the shaft causing it to be fowled. For it to do this all at once while making a full locked left hand turn makes me think this way. I will have to remove the new boots I installed when I replaced the tie-rods.

fast924S · fast924S's Garage

Did you get a alignment after you did the tie rods????

BrianT · 02-18-2007, 09:26 AM

NO, This week it goes to the shop for new bilstein struts and shocks, "A" arm bushings, strut bearings, ball joints and stabilizer bushings, then it will go to alignment. I have been waiting for all the parts to come in and I have been putting in new carpet and re upholstering the seats and working on a couple electrical gremlins too. I was just going to replace the tie-rods and struts, but finally came to my senses and said what the heck, these things are 24 years old and know they are worn and will fail soon and will cause it to drive poorly. The car has set for about 10 years and these things dry rot. I want a good car when I am done. I want it to handle like new and be reliable. I am not looking for a weekend car, I want a car if I want to take a trip 200 miles I can rely on it. I also have 4 new tires. The person I am taking it to is very good on balancing tires. He does not put the tire on a center hub like most, he uses an adapter that holds the tire by the lugs bolts, no one else uses this in this area. He done the tires on my PU truck, what a difference. I had it to two other shops before and it still had a little hop to it. The shop I purchased the tires at even replaced one tire and told me I had a bent rim. I did not have a bent rim, they are just stock rims.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Steering link U-joints.

BrianT · 02-18-2007, 11:10 AM

I was looking at the parts diagram and was looking at the U joints. I will check them. How hard are they to replace and what should I look for to determine they are bad? Everything was working fine and then just bang. Could me just turning this hard and putting more than average preasure on them cause them to go bad?

BrianT · 02-18-2007, 12:56 PM

I just went out and looked at the thing, I don't think it is the U joints, they feel OK. I have one side of the car jacked up and you can cut the wheel all the way to the left and it feels like it should. As you turn the wheel to the right it gets tight in about 1/4 turn and stays tight till lock to the right. It is like on a regular steering system when you adjust the slack adjuster too tight and the wheel tends to stay where you put it instead of returning to center. Now I know nothing about a rack system. I see a adjusting nut on the unit. What is that for? Does anyone know where I can read and see a diagram of a unit broken down so I can get it in my mind how this works. Can it be repaired or do I need to replace it?

Thanks For Your Help, This is driving me crazy

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Could be a bent strut. Look for creases just above the spindle mounting flanges.

BrianT · 02-18-2007, 02:31 PM

Funny you should bring that up, I am hearing a screek when turning my wheels. I thought it to be the top strut bearing. As I mentioned I have new bearings, ball joints and struts to be put on I hope this week. This may fix it. Just looking again at your reply I only have the inserts, not the whole strut. Well I will look at that. Thanks

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

When doing the re alignment best to have the rack centered. There is a plastic plug you remove and screw in a pointed end bolt to intercept a dimple in the rack proper. This centers the rack for doing the toe in. Otherwise you will find it easier to turn one way than the other.