1/8'ish turn steering play.

[newbietrucker]

Hi,

Had my truck for almost 15 years now. Been a charrm, started at 311k km, taken it to 460 or so. It's mostly a personal vehicle, but great for weekends and friend/family/charity favours.

I was out driving less than a week ago when I noticed the steering seemed loose : much more play than the usual tightness. Over the next couple of days it's gotten to the point where no-resistance "play" seems to be 1/8 turn with a light clunk at each end... expandable to maybe 1/4 where the resistance is the same as usual.

The power-steering level has been at the same position for the entire time I've had the truck. It still is, but there's wet spot on my parking spot. up at the front.

It's never been flushed, so a clog built up at the bottom of the filling neck ? So, when a leak finally happened, it still looks like the reservoir is full of liquid.

Experiences ? (and, of course, is that it for the ps box, truck)

Thanks

 

[19Walt93]

Flushing it ain't going to fix looseness. I would have someone turn the steering wheel side to side while you look at the front end parts, the amount of play you're describing should show up. Another thing to check is the rag joint in the steering shaft between the steering box and the firewall, have your helper turn the wheel while you look at that, too. And please stop driving it until you find and fix the problem. It may be possible to drive carefully with no brakes, you can't drive if you can't steer.

 

[Josh B]

My primary concern would be the "clunk" at each side of play.
My E300 I drove with half a turn play before I finally got some new bushings and tore it down, rebuilt the entire front end, but it never had a "clunk"
I think you may have something damaged in there

 

[SenorNoob]

Clunk means something is moving that shouldn't be. Best guesses and the first things I'd check would be tie rod ends, steering gearbox, and that previously mentioned rag joint. If you have a leak too, look extra closely at that gearbox.