Steering gearbox grind Hmmmm?

[Gunny65]

When I turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, about a half turn from full stop, I can hear a slight scratching/grinding sound. Like a thick piece of wire scraping across a small area as the column turns past that point. It lasts for about a half inch of wheel turn then the noise stops and normal steering continues to full stop. When I turn back to the left, no sounds of grinding at any time.

When I turn the steering wheel back and forth in that one specific area it makes the sound turning right but not left. It only happens on the last rotation of the steering wheel not on earlier rotations. Example: I start turning right, from full left, and the steering wheel rotates one full turn with no grind, another full turn with no grind, and on the last turn when I am at about a half turn from full right, the noise shows up for just that short instance. It sounds like it is coming from the steering box.

I did adjust the sector shaft both up and down from where the book says to adjust it. That didn't make any difference in the sound at all. Same place, same noise level.

Any ideas why and what I can do to fix it?

 

[bot0611]

Are you sure its the box?

 

[Gunny65]

I grabbed the steering shaft and turned while leaning in the engine bay. It sure sounded like it was coming from the box.

 

[cybrfire]

possible cavitation/air? Never heard a steering box make a sound like you are describing and without hearing it... Just throwing out a suggestion.

 

[Gunny65]

Could be but I dont think it was air. Just had the wrong tone. It is more of a lighter metal on metal sound. I got the ram tabs adjusted so I will put it back on the road and see what happens. On the road carefully and slowly that is.