Steering self centering

[peganit2]

My 97 4WD Ranger's steering does NOT self center at all.. I have to manually straighten the steering wheel back after every turn. It does fine on tracking.
What's normal for these rigs?

 

[RonD]

No not normal.
In 4WD it can pull in a turn when accelerating, but in regular 2WD it should come back to center.

Something is binding up just enough to prevent easy return.
Could be alignment but long shot if it acts the same on right and left turns, what is the tire wear like?

Jack up the front end and remove tie rod ends then turn each wheel side to side to see which one is binding, could be ball joint.

Might be steering box but again it would be a long shot without other symptoms, like loose steering

 

[Andy D]

The Rat has 6 or 8 grease fittings . Try greasing yours

 

[peganit2]

2wd mode.

The tires are brand new so no wear.

I'll check things...

 

[enjr44]

Coming back to center is a function of caster. No caster (or not enough) no comeback. I assume it did not just start this (since you asked if it was normal)?

So after you check for bad parts an alignment should fix it.
And, I don't know about Rangers; but, most vehicles use different settings for manual, power steering and/or 4X4. Usually more caster for vehicles with more stuff to center.

Rangers uses positive caster, so, it is possible to screw it up by running into something. However, I doubt it is that.

 

[peganit2]

This is the first 4WD Ranger I've owned and the third Ranger I've driven. The other one I owned was an 84 2wd with a 5.0 and manual steering .

I just got this one running after buying it as a fixer upper so I have essentially no history with it.

 

[adsm08]

I'd check two things, in whatever order you want to.

1) Alignment, not enough caster will cause this.

2) The front axle u-joints. If one is bound up it will cause this as well.

The u-joints are probably the more likely cause, they get stuck from being stationary for extended periods.

 

[peganit2]

2) The front axle u-joints. If one is bound up it will cause this as well.

The u-joints are probably the more likely cause, they get stuck from being stationary for extended periods.

This thing has been sitting for quite a while, possibly over a year. I bought it in July myself and just got it going.

 

[peganit2]

2) The front axle u-joints. If one is bound up it will cause this as well.

The u-joints are probably the more likely cause, they get stuck from being stationary for extended periods.

This thing has been sitting for quite a while, possibly over a year. I bought it in July myself and just got it going.

I have to say by just eyeballing the alignment looks fine.

 

[bobbywalter]

you will know right away if you drive it in 4x4.

 

[adsm08]

I have to say by just eyeballing the alignment looks fine.

Eyeballing caster is like walking blind folded into a dark basement and saying the painting on the wall is a master piece.

Caster, the angle responsible for steering return, is an imaginary line drawn through the ball joints. You are not going to be able to see a problem with caster by "eyeballing it". And caster doesn't wear tires, so you won't find it that way either. And since alignment is usually done in tenths of a degree, so you can have a problem that isn't visually apparent.


I still think the u-joints are the more likely culprit here though.

 

[peganit2]

Eyeballing caster is like walking blind folded into a dark basement and saying the painting on the wall is a master piece.

Caster, the angle responsible for steering return, is an imaginary line drawn through the ball joints. You are not going to be able to see a problem with caster by "eyeballing it". And caster doesn't wear tires, so you won't find it that way either. And since alignment is usually done in tenths of a degree, so you can have a problem that isn't visually apparent.


I still think the u-joints are the more likely culprit here though.

I knew I should have put a caveat about caster in that post..

I know suspension geometry pretty good adsm... hell geometry in general. Just saying no obvious issues with alignment. PLUS!!! Your call about sitting appears to be the right one cause it's getting better with more driving.

Thanks!!

 

[peganit2]

I'll grease everything I can ASAP..

 

[adsm08]

I knew I should have put a caveat about caster in that post..

I know suspension geometry pretty good adsm... hell geometry in general. Just saying no obvious issues with alignment. PLUS!!! Your call about sitting appears to be the right one cause it's getting better with more driving.

Thanks!!

Cool. I throw stuff like that out there for a few reasons.

1) I don't always know the level of knowledge of the people I am responding to directly

2) It's nice to have out there for the future in case someone else looking for similar info stumbles across the post.



I like geometry. It's probably the most fun you can have with math.

 

[peganit2]

Cool. I throw stuff like that out there for a few reasons.

1) I don't always know the level of knowledge of the people I am responding to directly

2) It's nice to have out there for the future in case someone else looking for similar info stumbles across the post.



I like geometry. It's probably the most fun you can have with math.

Yep, except that the best math is that two and two =one!


All good stuff adsm.