Strange steering issue

[mlaux]

I have developed a steering issue and hope someone has seen something like this before. When going down the highway at 65+ the truck will take a sudden step to the right. It feels very similar to stepping the truck over a lip on the road. Everything thing else feels perfectly normal. The truck is on an open Dana 44 front and lunch boxed 12 bolt rear with 35’s and 4 inch lift.

Here is what I have eliminated:

* Hubs unlocked and in 2WD so it shouldn’t be axle joints.
* No frame cracks.
* Inspected everything while my kid ran the steering and all the rod ends look fine.
* No indication of the axle moving on the leaf springs.
* Ball joins are good.

I didn’t pull the front apart to inspect the bearings but no looseness or heat after a high speed run and they feel smooth as silk.

The only slightly strange thing I notice is when the steering is being run back and forth there is a very slight pop from the steering box and the output shaft moves in and out a little. This isn’t an audible pop. You can just feel it when holding the tie rod.

Anybody have any ideas? I’m stumped.

 

[Fastereddie]

Because of your last statement I would be replacing the steering box.

 

[mlaux]

That's the direction I'm leaning, but I hate to just start throwing parts at it. Especially expensive ones.

 

[Fastereddie]

It sounds like youve checked everything else AND the gear box is the only thing that could "skip" and cause your lane change. Where you located? I think i still have my old box thats fine. Probably cost as much as a new one to ship it.

 

[mlaux]

It's probably not worth shipping it, but thanks for the offer. Maybe I'll see if the Chinese gods are with me and grab one from the local O'reilly.

 

[rampage]

I'd check the axle shaft u-joints. Doesn't matter that the hubs are unlocked and it's in 2WD, the u-joints will still affect the steering if they are dry and binding. They still need to move when the wheels are turned. If they are binding then when you turn the wheel suddenly they'll give and give you weird steering. Take the axleshafts out and check them. When you hold them level the end should flop around easily in all directions.

 

[CK10]

I had a situation like that when I bought my truck, it was an utterly destroyed frame side shackle bushing that would move when the tire found a groove or rut in the road and pull the truck. Your issue sounds a little different because of the steering box "pop" but it's something to keep in mind to check if you haven't

 

[mlaux]

Good thought. I'll check that too.

 

[blazinzuk]

Spring thaw. Later road crews will come out and ruin the ride of your truck.





Sounds like it could be the steering box. Binding and popping loose

 

[rampage]

Check the free stuff mentioned first. Buying an expensive steering box in hopes that it fixes it wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[diesel4me]

I'd check the axle shaft u-joints. Doesn't matter that the hubs are unlocked and it's in 2WD, the u-joints will still affect the steering if they are dry and binding. They still need to move when the wheels are turned. If they are binding then when you turn the wheel suddenly they'll give and give you weird steering. Take the axleshafts out and check them. When you hold them level the end should flop around easily in all directions.

My truck had a axle u-joint with no needles that was binding up and it would feel like someone else grabbed the steering wheel and turned it,and you could feel it resisting your efforts to correct it--like it was haunted!..

--the truck would move over a lane very fast unexpectedly,then swerve the other way once you got the steering wheel past the "bind"..then as fast as it happened,it would go back to "normal"--it did it more when I first drove off after it sat awhile..

This was in 2wd with the hubs unlocked too---when I tried locking the hubs in 4wd,the truck did that side to side "slide"waddle when you turned the wheels sharp to take a corner ,worse than it usually would too...I heard a few pops from the u-joint sometimes too..

Once I replaced the axle joint it hasn't done it again..

Leaf spring bushings worn out and broken center bolts are often to blame when the steering starts getting unpredictable too..and front shackle bolts are only 7/16" too,they can wear down to a nub after many years where the shackle rides on them...one truck I took apart had one that was broken in two,but it could not come out due to the other bolt holding the shackle together ....

 

[mlaux]

Two funny things about this I forgot to mention. The truck drives perfectly fine at speed with the hubs locked in and In 4WD (Not at 65) and there is no real change in the steering wheel that I can feel. I don't get any noticeable jerk, binding or overcenter feeling the truck just sidesteps.

 

[mlaux]

Spring thaw. Later road crews will come out and ruin the ride of your truck.





Sounds like it could be the steering box. Binding and popping loose

Next time your down, come by and take it for a drive.