Steering Question

Swimholm · Post by **Swimholm** » March 15, 2007, 11:06 pm

alright so lately my steer and been really fidgety, let me explain

when i make turns at about 10 mph, like getting on an on ramp or something, i can feel somehintg shift and the steering wheel is about 90 degrees in one direction, in order to go straight, and pulling to the opposite direction, then when i make another turn the wheel shifts back into place, or further in the other direction. and it constantly does this

Also, the wheel, is most of the time extremely difficult to turn. But sometimes after it i feel the shift, the wheel all of the sudden becomes easy to turn (as easy as non power steering can be) and when its hard to turn, i mean hard, my elbows and shoulds hurt after about a 15 minute drive, and i think im in pretty good shape.

So what could this be, the steering box? linkages? suspension?

help please, my elbows hurt so bad

thanks
-Dave

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » March 16, 2007, 6:53 am

My first instinct is to check the rag joint in the column.
I'd then look at the linkage.
Kingpins greased?
I'd vote steering box last, though I've heard of guys replacing them.

6166 Junkyard Dog · Post by **6166 Junkyard Dog** » March 16, 2007, 7:04 am

make sure that the drivers side cab mount is not ate out with cancer cause the cab can drop while the gear box stays in the same place causing a lot of several different problems , also is the gear box have oil in it

banjopicker66 · Post by **banjopicker66** » March 16, 2007, 8:19 am

Check the radius arm bushings.

Mellvis · Post by **Mellvis** » March 16, 2007, 10:50 am

I had the exact same thing with my 66. I jacked up the cab, STRATEGICALLY placed in a piece of oak 2x6, and away we went!! Norm Abrahms would be proud. This is not a good fix, but will last until I do the cab swap.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » March 16, 2007, 11:02 am

To me, sounds like a combination of a collapsed cab mount and a rag-joint going south. The rag joint requires your immediate attention, it will bust one day soon and you wont have any steering at ALL!!

Swimholm · Post by **Swimholm** » March 17, 2007, 9:52 pm

thanks for the ideas

i looked at the cab mounts today, and they were cracked and dirty, pretty old looking, but they didnt look busted. what should they look like?

where is the rag joint? in the column? do i need to pull the sterering wheel? do i need to go buy a steering wheel puller for my slick?

also, whenever i make turn i hear a loud what seems to be a shifting noise. Could that be from lack of the chasis being lubed? How would i go about doing that?

sorry for the amplitude of questions? and thanks for the help, now i have to go ice my elbows

6166 Junkyard Dog · Post by **6166 Junkyard Dog** » March 17, 2007, 10:25 pm

rag joint is the coupler between the gear box & end of the column with a thick piece of rubber with several layers in between the rubber like a car tire cab mount should not have any cancer there looking dirty is ok but not rotted out

lincolnslick · Post by **lincolnslick** » March 18, 2007, 4:35 am

i would say check the spring bushings in the front if you have leaves and grease those king pins

64 f100 · Post by **64 f100** » March 18, 2007, 8:48 pm

Checking out the front end is really a two person job. What you are describing could be any number of things. the rag joint will eventually wear out, but usually it's being stressed by something causing it to go bad. Rag joints are only on 65 and up pickups, and not 64 and older. Cab sag puts a strain on rag joints and causes early failure by puting pressure on the column. You have to check for bad mount pads and rust in the cab mount causing metal colapse. Where do you live? Surely someone lives near enough to come help you diagnose the problem. Be glad to help if you live anyplace close to southern Illinois. What your describing sounds serious enough to be dangerous. Incidently, even if the rag joint fails, the steering should go on working, but should not be driven that way. There are two pins on teh rag joint, that should keep the joint from complete failure, but I would not trust this other than as an emergency case just to get the truck home.

Rich

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » March 18, 2007, 11:43 pm

Here's a small rag joint pic.

Grab the steering shaft & turn it left/right. If there's slop between the column & the gear box, replace the rag joint.

Lowell · Post by **Lowell** » March 19, 2007, 10:03 am

I didnt get what year your truck is, but check out your leaf springs and shackles ( if thats what you have) to be sure nothing is about to come apart.

Swimholm · Post by **Swimholm** » March 20, 2007, 2:07 am

thanks for the help, I havent had a chance to really even look at the truck ive been working on my senior design project for the last 50 hrs straight (with a few breaks) the truck is a 64, im not sure if it has a rag joint or not, i did howver get a chance to grease the king pins, dont think it really did anything. I think tomorrow when i get a chance i will be checking out the leaf spring mounts.