gen 1 steering issue

[baxtej44]

when i turn, it seems to want to keep going the same direction i turned the wheel, like i have to force it to go straight....

but also, to go "straight" depending on my recent turns, the steering wheel won't actually be straight.


what could cause this? i think i do have a mild power steering leak at my lower hose, but that's been there for a while... also, my drivers side knuckle and/or manual hub might be going bad, could it be that? also just repacked my pitman arm on my drivers side (not sure if there is more than one lol)...

could any of that be the culprit? if not, what's going on? this just sucks

 

[4x4junkie]

Repacked your pitman arm?? I think you might be mistaking something else... there's nothing to "pack" on a pitman arm.

If the steering is not returning to center when you let go of the wheel, my guess would be you don't have enough caster angle. Do you have a spacer lift or leveling coil lift?

 

[baxtej44]

Repacked your pitman arm?? I think you might be mistaking something else... there's nothing to "pack" on a pitman arm.

If the steering is not returning to center when you let go of the wheel, my guess would be you don't have enough caster angle. Do you have a spacer lift or leveling coil lift?

grease fitting maybe... something like that. sorry hah.

haven't had any structural changes in the steering since it was first put together in 88... possibly a few replaced parts, but other than that, everything should be bone stock (my grandpa was the first and only owner up until me)

 

[SMTGREG]

Binding in Suspension.... ball joints,tie rod ends, steering column u-joint/lower shaft.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah that was gonna be my next guess.

Probably time to jack it up and see if everything under there moves freely without any binding.

 

[baxtej44]

quite honestly, i know what nearly none of that stuff means.

and by moving freely, you mean turning wheels side to side and spinning them forward and backward? i can't think of anything else for moving

 

[4x4junkie]

Making sure the steering moves from full left to full right and back again without it becoming hard to turn or it sticking.

If you don't have a good understanding of it, it might be a good idea to find an alignment shop that can take a look at it for you.

 

[baxtej44]

Making sure the steering moves from full left to full right and back again without it becoming hard to turn or it sticking.

If you don't have a good understanding of it, it might be a good idea to find an alignment shop that can take a look at it for you.

i've got 3 family friends that would be able to look at it who are close, and an uncle that is a little bit further. i will hopefully get to try at least one of them this weekend or so.


it seems like one thing after another, but i guess that's how it goes with 22 year old trucks.