Grinding when at part throttle

[bcammons]

Hey guys the name is Brandon.

Just got a 94 2wd splash with a 4.0 ohv and manual trans.
Did a brake job (rotors, bearings, pads, and reman calipers. Lubed everything up well.) New shocks all the way around as well.
My question is I can not seem to figure out what this noise/grind is when Im driving down the road and at part throttle. I can feel it in the floor board and hear it in the cab. When Im slowing down by letting off the throttle there is no noise, at full throttle there is no noise either.
I am thinking that it may be some kind of bushing (trans, engine, or rad arms) or U-joints maybe (but there is no clunking when shifting or taking off from a standing start.

Also, the steering wheel has a good bit of play (like a sawing motion) and I am thinking that it may be the pitman arm? Not really sure cause the tie rods seem pretty decent on it.

Any help would be appreciated on this issue.
Thanks
Brandon

 

[RatDog8o8]

Have someone cycle the steering wheel a bit....turn it from side-to-side....while you watch the steering linkage for loose parts and/or play.

Just a guess, but the part-throttle noise/vibe is something in the active driveline. The u-joints in mine were dying, but without the "normal" noises they usually make. Just a part-throttle vibe.

 

[bcammons]

Got under the truck and could twist the tie rods (all of them) back and forth. So Im guessing they are pretty worn and need to be replaced.

While working on it another issue arose.
My temp guage is not working and I do not believe that my t-stat is opening up. Going to get another t-stat and flush and fill the rad.
Might grab a new temp sensor in it as well to see if that works. If not the gauge is screwed. It always stays below the normal level and never moves up.
Pull the cap off and let the truck run, gauge never mover and the truck kept pushing coolant out of the rad but I never saw a drop run out from the tubes in the rad.

 

[RatDog8o8]

Still might want to have a buddy cycle the steering, to show all the components in motion.

 

[adsm08]

The proper test of the steering links is to jack up the front end, grab the tires at the 3 and 9 positions, and shake back and forth, feel for a flopping and look for play. The ability to roll (note that they are to roll around a ball and socket joint, not flop like an asian man in a hooker who just earned her gold watch) the outer tie rods forward and back along the length of the vehicle is normal.

If the wheel flops at a rate of about 1 hz you probably have a bad rod end. If it vibes much faster, you probably have a bad rotor.

 

[RatDog8o8]

I've just always done it with someone cycling the steering wheel, so I can get a visual verification of any loose components. All the parts, from the steering box to the tie-rod ends. Checked the ball-joints and wheel-bearing play using the jacking method, and grabbing at 12 & 6.

(No formal training)

 

[bcammons]

So one more issue.
Took the throttle body off to give it a clean and now when I give it gas the truck sticks revved up for a second of so. Anyone else ever have this issue?

 

[RatDog8o8]

All the springs and vac lines reconnected?

 

[bcammons]

Yeah all the springs and vac lines (only one) are hooked up and dont look like there are any cracks in the line.
Got the temp sensor working. It was just the temp sensor gone bad.
Thanks for all your help ratdog. This aint my first rodeo on trucks just never had a ranger before and for some reason google search is killing me on finding answers!

 

[RatDog8o8]

If I was any help, I am glad to be helpful! I just ask stuff that I've had to check on for my own rides. Sometimes the smallest thing is overlooked. I've learned that the hard way!

 

[bcammons]

So Ive narrowed down the loose saw like motion in the steering is most likely in the shaft its self or the steering box
I can grab the steering shaft and turn it in either direction quite a few degrees.
Any input?

 

[RatDog8o8]

You'd have to check a detailed manual or maybe the info is online, but I believe there's a "preload" adjustment that can be made on the steering box.