Shutter when turning

[steadyhand]

I just noticed today I have developed a shutter when turning left or right in my 99 Mountaineer. It is worse when turning right. The truck has been down for a few days to replace the oil pan gasket. I got it up and running today for the first time and I noticed when I turn the wheel I feel a vibration in the steering wheel.

It does not occur except when turning. There is audio from it, just the shutter or shake.

I have replaced the lower ball joints, upper control arms, inner and outer tie rods, new shocks all around, and the truck has been aligned with an aftermarket camber kit.

Any ideas what would have suddenly caused this shutter when turning?

I am lead to believe it is either the steering pump or rack, but neither make any noise and neither showed any signs or leakage when I was repairing the other parts.

Thoughts?

99 Mountaineer 2WD, Auto, 5.0

 

[Cranmaro99]

I have this too recently, only when turning left. I think it has something to do with the steering as well but it works fine with no leaks as well... Interesting.

 

[rabbit91]

wheel bearing?

 

[steadyhand]

wheel bearing?

I forgot to mention I replaced those as well, both inner and outers. There is no noise from the bearings. They spin freely. It is only when turning and I feel it in the steering wheel.

 

[buckwill]

dpo you get this shudder at any amo8unt of wheel turn or do you turn your wheel to the lock, in other words slight turn or hard turn all the way to steering wheel lock

 

[steadyhand]

dpo you get this shudder at any amo8unt of wheel turn or do you turn your wheel to the lock, in other words slight turn or hard turn all the way to steering wheel lock

This shutter occurs as soon as I start to turn the wheel and continues while the wheel is being turned. I never turn the steering wheel to lock in any of my cars.

I can turn the wheel slightly to the left or right and leave it there and the vehicle will continue rolling into the turn with no shutter, but as long as the steering wheel is being turned and there is a "load" so to speak on the steering system it will shutter.

So it isn't the act of the vehicle moving in a turn or circle that causes it, but rather the pressure on the steering system from the driver turning the steering wheel.

 

[Cranmaro99]

This shutter occurs as soon as I start to turn the wheel and continues while the wheel is being turned. I never turn the steering wheel to lock in any of my cars.

I can turn the wheel slightly to the left or right and leave it there and the vehicle will continue rolling into the turn with no shutter, but as long as the steering wheel is being turned and there is a "load" so to speak on the steering system it will shutter.

So it isn't the act of the vehicle moving in a turn or circle that causes it, but rather the pressure on the steering system from the driver turning the steering wheel.

So yours happens when you are in motion? Mine just happens when I dry-steer at a stop. (Which I rarely do for obvious reasons.)

 

[buckwill]

i wud say your pump is likely in failure mode but could be rack ,,, i wud say jack up front end so wheels are clear, start engine, find a place where u can hold pressure hose safely in your hand, have someone turn wheel under power, feel hose pulsing, still even pulsing cud be either pump or demand valve in power rack, that pulse would transmit all the way back to steering wheel, i also would have someone turn wheel and u listen closely to pump, is it whining growling
watch the wheels being turned, not driving, does it lurch, shudder as its being turned, little jitters
my bet,, pump

 

[drbenz]

For whatever reason the p/s system will get air in it if you turn the steering with the engine off, the air is what causes the noise/vibrtation. The easiest way to fix the problem is to turn the steering wheel almost all the way to one side or the other with the engine running then shut the engine off and let the air bubbles rise in the reservoir. Then start the engine up again and turn the wheel the other way almost to lock and shut the engine off to let the air rise in the reservoir. This may have to be done more than once to get rid of all of the air.

 

[windsors03cobra]

^ +1 for air in the rack.

 

[my98nnj]

. I never turn the steering wheel to lock in any of my cars.
.

You need to do a few lock to lock turns over the next day or so in order to get the air out of the system. Our trucks are known to somehow get air in the power steering system when the steering is moved when then engine in not running. This usually occurs when work is done on the front end. Very common issue.

 

[gonenuke]

Ditto above. This same thing happened to me after changing out the ball joints.

 

[bilzy7]

I had a small steering leak from one of the metal hoses from front of rack. It started to whine a bit and REALLY shake during turns. Since then I added stop leak and it actually stopped the leak, for now anyways. Also I was low on steering fluid, so that little bottle of stop leak filled the reservoir. The problem is gone now. Since I've cranked the torsion bars and it's ALOT nicer of a ride. Too stiff at times but generally good.

 

[bilzy7]

Ohh btw steering wheel shook so hard I was fighting to keep it straight. It would fight opposite direction of turn really bad.

 

[windsors03cobra]

I had death wobble type symptoms on a rougher road. Couple tight figure eights and I was all good.

 

[justinf89]

I've got the same problem with the shutter. Whenever I back out of the driveway or something and turn the wheel, the wheel vibrates in my hands for a second or two. This seemed to start after I replaced the lower ball joints. Oh and new michelin ltx ms2 tires.

 

[JNN]

I had the shutter after changing ball joints. Lots of driving around the blocks to purge steering system. Problem solved

 

[menemshaman]

For whatever reason the p/s system will get air in it if you turn the steering with the engine off, the air is what causes the noise/vibrtation. The easiest way to fix the problem is to turn the steering wheel almost all the way to one side or the other with the engine running then shut the engine off and let the air bubbles rise in the reservoir. Then start the engine up again and turn the wheel the other way almost to lock and shut the engine off to let the air rise in the reservoir. This may have to be done more than once to get rid of all of the air.

 

[menemshaman]

I know this tread is older but I had the same thing happen after I replaced the front end wheel bearing hub assemblies. I did turn the wheel several times without starting the engine to gain better access to bolts. The noise I get s pretty much the same as you experienced. When I turn the steering wheel left or right when I begin to move I get a shudder. It stops as soon as I am going forward and am at higher speed. I did as you suggested and raised the front end and turned the wheel to the right and shut off the engine, waited a few minutes and did the same to the left side. I performed this procedure several times. I still have the shudder but it seems to have lessened. If you have any idea how any times does it usually take to get the air out of the ps system?

 

[milkyway]

drbenz Thank you soooooo very much for the advice about the air ing the p/s pump. worked like a charm.