Occasional hard steering

[KirsL]

This problem is with my Dodge but since pretty much all hydroboost setups works the same I'll ask here. Might help some else in the future.

The truck has 209k on it. I've changed the steering box once at about 140k due to it leaking. The current box is starting to leak, I noticed it this weekend. Ps pump is original as is the booster.

The issue is when slowing down and then turning left, the wheel barely wants to turn at all. Like almost locked up not turn. But if you do the same and turn right. Everything works nice and smooth as it always has. Driving down the road and maintaining my lane uses the same effort is always has.

My first thought was the box going bad. My dad had a similar issue with his work supplied GMC van and it was a problem with the booster.

I know the steeing box has a slight leak and it's getting changed regardless. But I want to be sure about the booster. They're not crazy expensive but it's an pretty involved job to change it out.


Thanks.

 

[Bent77]

I’ve had standard systems do that and it was the pump in that event

 

[diesel4me]

I'd make sure its not a ball joint or tie rod end binding up inside first..

If it is the steering box I'd guess it didn't get rebuilt right--the steel ball bearings inside the box are not all the same,some are different sizes and if one or more wasn't installed in the correct sequence it'll bind up..

I've had the hydroboost in my diesel pickup make for weird steering before--not that long ago I had to replace the pitman shaft seals (had a bad gusher leak!),and after it was fixed and I refilled the P/S pump the steering and brakes acted weird even after the pump had bled all the air out..after the truck sat a few days ,the next time I drove it everything felt "normal" again..

 

[KirsL]

I'll have to see how I can test the pump. A pump is a lot easier to change then the booster. I'll try flushing the system out with fresh fluid.

The box doesn't surprise me. This generation of Dodge truck are notoriously hard on steering components.

 

[diesel4me]

I don't see how the pump could cause binding on turns in one direction only..it either has sufficient pressure,or it doesn't..it should steer hard in both directions,and likely give a loud groan or whining noise if it was damaged and not putting out enough pressure..

I would suspect the steering box itself more than anything,the spool valve that directs the power assist may be bad,or the steel balls I mentioned ,Dodge's have ball joint issues and tie rods fail on them at low miles quite often.

If it has a 4x4 solid front axle with open u-joints one may be seizing up too,my truck did that before--you'd be rolling along fine,then suddenly it would want to pull to the right,and when you turned to the left to compensate,it would be stiff,then "snap" free suddenly and it would dart into the other lane..
One axle u-joint had 2 seized cups ,the other two had no needles left in it..problem vanished once I replaced the u-joint..
Another thing some Dodge's have issues with is a u-joint on the steering shaft seizing up..

 

[Fordum]

Is your ram a single rod or double?
A double uses the same amount of fluid in both directions, a single uses more in one than the other.
The only way I can figure that the pump could be the problem would be if the ram were single rod and at low speed it was not putting out enough fluid for one direction.
Otherwise, I would expect it to be the steering box since the spool valve moves to send the fluid in the right direction like Diesel said. So if the spool valve bound in one direction and did not move, then it would cause that problem.
Otherwise, I suppose a failing hose could hose could act like a check valve like brake hoses sometimes do.

 

[KirsL]

Is your ram a single rod or double?
A double uses the same amount of fluid in both directions, a single uses more in one than the other.
The only way I can figure that the pump could be the problem would be if the ram were single rod and at low speed it was not putting out enough fluid for one direction.
Otherwise, I would expect it to be the steering box since the spool valve moves to send the fluid in the right direction like Diesel said. So if the spool valve bound in one direction and did not move, then it would cause that problem.
Otherwise, I suppose a failing hose could hose could act like a check valve like brake hoses sometimes do.

Truck has stock steering. No hydraulic rams.

 

[KirsL]

I don't see how the pump could cause binding on turns in one direction only..it either has sufficient pressure,or it doesn't..it should steer hard in both directions,and likely give a loud groan or whining noise if it was damaged and not putting out enough pressure..

I would suspect the steering box itself more than anything,the spool valve that directs the power assist may be bad,or the steel balls I mentioned ,Dodge's have ball joint issues and tie rods fail on them at low miles quite often.

If it has a 4x4 solid front axle with open u-joints one may be seizing up too,my truck did that before--you'd be rolling along fine,then suddenly it would want to pull to the right,and when you turned to the left to compensate,it would be stiff,then "snap" free suddenly and it would dart into the other lane..
One axle u-joint had 2 seized cups ,the other two had no needles left in it..problem vanished once I replaced the u-joint..
Another thing some Dodge's have issues with is a u-joint on the steering shaft seizing up..

I don't hear anything binding. Nothing feels as if it's popping loose. It's hard to turn but still a linear movement.

The front u-joints are on the list of things to be changed when I do all the brakes on a couple weeks.

Sounding more like the box the more I think about it.

 

[Fordum]

Wow, completely misread what you have.
I read hydroboost as full hydraulic steering. Sorry about that. In that case I'll go with the steering box too.

 

[KirsL]

Wow, completely misread what you have.
I read hydroboost as full hydraulic steering. Sorry about that. In that case I'll go with the steering box too.

It's all good. I do the same thing trying to speed read.

 

[KirsL]

So updating this as I finally fixed this issue after dealing with needing to rebuild my trans. Basically the steering box tool a shit for whatever reason. Changing it out isn't too bad of a job. Expect when the one sway bar frame mount bolts decides to snap in half. And then I snapped off an ez-out trying remove said broken piece.

So needing to fix that now I decided to buy a new matching metric nut and bolt. I drilled out the existing hole so the nut could fit into the hole and sit flush after welding the nut in place.

First to drill the hole bigger. I broke out this handy tool.
Makes drilling upside down so easy.

I then welded the nut into the newly enlarged hole.


And ground down ready for some paint.

And that part is finally finished. Dropped her off to get the alignment touched up.