Help with Steering Problem

[Sinjin]

After a recent run, I noticed that my steering feels different. When ever I make a left or right, the wheel doesnt spin all the way back to go straight, it will just stay going the same direction and the same angle, left or right, and I have to turn the wheel back to get going striaght again.
Anyone have any ideas, thanks,


[Edited by Sinjin[PEZ] on 10-05-2000 at 01:46 PM]

 

[Ray Lobato]

Rod, didn't you just have a 3" body lift put on? sounds like your steering column is binding. I would check the extender that you used to extend your column and see if it is binding anywhere or has moved after doing some wheeling.

 

[Sinjin]

Yep, thats me with the 3" body lift, thanks for the suggestion Ray, but I dont quite understand what you mean by "check the extender that you used to extend your column and see if it is BINDING anywhere", I still dont know what Binding is, or how to identify it. Thanks for your help,

Gerald, GoFast any suggestions?

 

[GJarrett]

The extender is that aluminum piece that didn't quite fit right because it was made for a Ranger that Rob dremel-tooled out to make it fit your steering column that I unbolted.

"Binding" feels like it is "catching" in places while being turned. Does the steering stay off and you feel it "catch" a little when you turn it back until you feel it release, or does the steering simply not re-center back but still turns smoothly.?

If your steering is still smooth as you turn the wheel but will not straighten itself out, my first guess would be that your castor got out of whack and you'll need a realignment. Actually, that's my only guess. If that's not your problem someone else will have to point you where to look.

[Edited by GJarrett on 10-06-2000 at 08:41 AM]

 

[Sinjin]

Well since I got the lift on, I still havent gotten an alignment, maybe thats the problem.
Because it does turn smoothly, but does not straighten out.
Thanks for the Help Gerald.

 

[Gofast]

Caster...Yep, that's it.

I agree with Gerald.

Caster will affect your steering returning to center after you turn. The more posative your caster the less it will center after you make a turn. Also, the more clearance you will have between the back of your tires and the fenderwell.

I had them add as much +caster as possible on mine to avoid rubbing. ( Of course the 3" bodylift helped that too )

I roughly know the measurments ( clearance wise ) on my front end now, so I can tell if I've knocked camber or caster out etc.

Check your tire wear too. Camber & Toe-in will affect the wear on those tires. Rotate the tries every 5K miles too.

Bad Camber ruined aet of tires just going to CCR2000 and back. The difference in wear between the front & rear was huge.

 

[mattadams]

a week ago my alignment forced the steering wheel to be usually at 45 degrees to the left, now it has to be between 45 and 90 degrees to the right... getting serious... but it ticks me off that no alignment place can get it figured out... the only thing I did differently was going to red cone but I don't think that would have effected it that way... it seemed fine driving home from Red Cone... ah well... I figure Im going to have to repack my bearings again this weekend, maybe I'll see something obvious like a loose bolt or something... Speaking of which... what should the torque be on the pitman arm? The 1 5/16" bolt? I was checking for loose bolts, this one seemed loose so I torqued it down, not sure if I should have though.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Rod,
I agree with Rob and Gerald also. You need to go get an alignment.