'96 4X4 steering "flops" to the left

[roycet4]

For the last two days my son said his steering wheel in his '96 4X4 has be "jumping" to the left and has to forcefully hold onto the steering wheel. I was expecting a low tire or dragging brake caliper but when I drove the truck the steering wheel would almost pull out of your hands and turn left. The best I can describe is as a lifter being at the peak of a camshaft and as the cam is rotated the lifter falls rapidly down the profile of the cam. When we jacked the front end up and I had my son turn the steering wheel and the tierods looked fine but when the wheels start move off center you can see the front axle U joints bind up and then jump (rotate) and at the same time you hear a slight klunk. The truck has 193K miles,we've had it for the last 50K so I'm guessing the U joints are bad. I do not think its the steering box.. Also this is happening with the axle UNLOCKED (have Warn hubs) so when I spin the wheel the axle does not rotate.

Any sugestions?? If I pull both axle shafts and replace U joints, is that a day job or weekend job??

Thanks
Royce

 

[Combs Customs]

Had the same happen to me in my Explorer. Go around a turn, and the steering would *lock* turned, you had to force it back straight to stay out of the ditch. It was the outer u-joints. If you have taken the spindles off before its a fairly simple job. Getting the spindle off without damaging the front ABS is the hard part, ive yet to pull that off.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

For stubborn spindles:

+

 

[roycet4]

disconnect steering box to isolate issue??

thanks for the info. I didn't know if I should disconnect the steering box from the center link so I can eliminate the steering box as the "potential" problem.

This would allow me to turn the box and check for binding and also grab a wheel and turn the steering assembly (minus the box) left to right and look for the binding....

waste of time??

 

[roycet4]

not good...

So last night I investigate more. I locked the left hub and then spun the front driveshaft by hand, the left wheel not only turned but the steering turned to the left as well. I shot some PB Blaster into the u-joint and it got better, so the left one is bad. I did the same to the right side and the wheel turned and stayed straight, the u-joint on this side is about to fall out.. bearings are totally shot, I'm surprised it did not "explode" last winter on my son. I also noticed that the u-joint on the "Stub" shaft (if that is what its called) is a bit loose. Might as well replace all three. My question is will the "stub" shaft pull out of the housing once I get the right side axle shaft out or do I have to pull off the ring/pinion carrier to get it out??

Probably a 2 weekend job since I have to do this outside (don't want the Mustang 'vert or the M/C's outside..)

Thanks
Royce