ARGH! Steering wheel is way off...after wreck

[RhainyC]

Greetings Folks,

I will try not to whine too much...I promise.

When I drove my truck to the mechanic this morning, the first time I drove it after the wreck, I found that the steering wheel was off by about a full 1/4 turn...what kind of damage is most likely what we are looking at?

Truck was on freeway, went into the center median. It slid almost straight into the cable barrier, the impact slung around so that hubby was facing the wrong direction, and the momentum, cause the front bumper damage. The truck hit hard enough to pop the passenger side front tire off the bead (and flattened it).

The truck seemed to steer pretty normal with a bit of push to the driver's side...but the steering wheel position has me very worried...my mechanic is checking out the power steering pump, as it appeared to be damaged from the impact, as it puked a bunch of fluid out.

Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions? My mechanic is a trusted one, but he is not a 4WD mechanic...

Truck is '91 Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0, 5speed manual.

Thanks,
Rhainy

 

[kunar]

i know when i got hit, i got hit on my left rear tire and it bent a rear leaf spring hanger. my rear axle was crooked in the truck and made the steering wheel crooked. if you hit a front tire that much you may have bent a tie rod or something similar

 

[brendank]

I don't see what it could be other than bent steering linkage.

 

[Jspafford]

Whew.. it could be the steering gear box.. The power steering pump would have NOTHING to do with it. It could be a bent linkage, the tie road end, tie rod adjusters, etc.

Mine was hit in the driverside tire and was the exact same way you described. I replaced the ball joints, tie rod ends, and steering box. Did the alignment myself afterwards.

 

[RhainyC]

Thanks folks! My next question is, are these things my mechanic will be able to see visually, or tell when he is under the rig? He is good and I do trust him, just want to have an idea of what to expect.

Also, should I take it to a couple of local *Collision Shops* for a look over??? I hate not knowing what I am doing with this....*huge sigh*

Thanks,
Rhainy

 

[Mutant Pony]

Does your mechanic have frontend alignment equipment? If not then you need to find an alignment shop. Your mechanic should know one to send you to.

 

[rickcdewitt]

you need an alignment.good shops will replace what is broken while they align it.they will also tell you if a frame shop is needed(if the setback is out of spec)

 

[MAKG]

I agree that the steering linkage is most likely.

But you should check for bent axles arms and especially a bent frame considering this is a collision result.

And I'll bet that wheel shakes like an 8.9 at highway speed.

 

[AllanD]

from the sound of it I really doubt the frame is bent, but if the signature is correct and the truck is a 1991 then it's atleast possible that the radius arm bracket is bent.

I've bent a couple myself.

Bending the beam? Possible, I've seen it done.

Bending the pivot bracket for the drivers side beam? Yes.

Bent steering linkage? Yeah, possible, but not easy to do.

Dammaged steering box? possible, not likely.

Yes, you need an alignment shop they can usually figuire out what's bent.

AD

 

[RhainyC]

Thank you everyone, I will look into getting it to an allignment shop for sure to be checked. I don't think my mechanic has the equipment for that as he is pretty much a straight forward basics guy, who only does *big stuff* like swaps and such, on his own rigs.

Allan, yes my truck is a '91 Ranger XLT 4wd, 4.0, 5spd. Thanks for the input, I will check out the possibility of the *pivot bracket for the drivers side beam* But, would it be the drivers' side, if the impact was on the passenger side?

Once again you folks simply ROCK! Thanks for all the help and will keep you posted...


Cheers and Happy Holy Days!

Rhainy

 

[MAKG]

As strange as it sounds, no.

TTB and TIB Fords (which includes yours) have the axle beams cross. The driver's side beam has a pivot bracket on the passenger side, and vice-versa.

 

[RhainyC]

Thanks MAKG! I am pretty good with basic mechanics, but this suspension stuff is a bit over my head...but I am learning! ROFL

 

[MAKG]

Well, to be fair, TTB suspension makes quite a lot of folks' eyes bug out. Though it's a bit worrisome when those folks work under alignment racks.

The last alignment tech I went to (I'm not going back....) returned my truck saying it was unalignable due to a frozen pinch bolt. I put an 18 inch breaker bar on it and it came right out. He just didn't want to deal with it.

 

[rickcdewitt]

yeah if you aren't familiar with the set up its easy to lose your ass on flat rate aligning one of these trucks.i like to have a couple hours on the weekend for mine to put enough bags of cement in the drivers seat and bed to represent a normal load on the truck and play with different eccentrics until its right were you want it instead of just in the ball park and ship it down the road.

 

[RhainyC]

Well, mechanic is also contracted with local PD and had his hands full the last couple of days...*Sighs* But he's promised to get her up on the rack and take a look at what's up...first thing in the morning.

Saying lots of prayers and sacrificing fuel, grease and various nutz n boltz to the Ranger Gods....