Steering Binding Up?

mtnflyguy · August 25, 2009

I have a 1998 1500 that is giving me steering problems. I will be driving down the road and it is almost as if the steering is binding and then "pops" or releases? I get it in curves and turns more than on the straight aways but I do get it everywhere? Before I go and replace the entire front end hoping to solve the problem I thought I would ask all of you. Thanks for any help and advice you can give!

bossier62guy · August 25, 2009

I have a 1998 1500 that is giving me steering problems. I will be driving down the road and it is almost as if the steering is binding and then "pops" or releases? I get it in curves and turns more than on the straight aways but I do get it everywhere? Before I go and replace the entire front end hoping to solve the problem I thought I would ask all of you. Thanks for any help and advice you can give!

Have you physically inspected all of your front end components? Does it do it constantly? Either right or left turns/curves? Sounds like it could possibly be related to the steering box to me...

mtnflyguy · August 25, 2009

I have crawled under there and things seem to be pretty tight. When it "releases" it releases to the right. I have had it do it when i am going straight, left and right. Does that maybe solidify the steering box?

Matt_ · August 25, 2009

How did you determine everything is tight? It often takes some strategically placed pry bars to determine which parts are giving in. Unless parts like the balljoints are completely worn, you often can't tell just by wiggling the tire.

Jack the front end up from as far out on the lca as you can so that the suspension does not droop. Then try using a pry bar inbetween the knuckle and control arms to see if the pop side-to-side. Do a similar check at the control arm bushings and check to make sure all the bolts are torqued.

Edit, jacking the truck up from the crossmembe allows the suspension to sag which puts pressure on all of the joints thereby making it difficult to identify worn components

bossier62guy · August 25, 2009

I have crawled under there and things seem to be pretty tight. When it "releases" it releases to the right. I have had it do it when i am going straight, left and right. Does that maybe solidify the steering box?

You can hear a pop when it releases? Does it violently pull to the opposite direction? Do as Matt suggest and make sure your front end components are not the culprit and let us know what you find....

mtnflyguy · August 25, 2009

I have crawled under there and things seem to be pretty tight. When it "releases" it releases to the right. I have had it do it when i am going straight, left and right. Does that maybe solidify the steering box?

You can hear a pop when it releases? Does it violently pull to the opposite direction? Do as Matt suggest and make sure your front end components are not the culprit and let us know what you find....

Thanks Matt and John. I will do that and let you know what I find. There is no sound when it pops, it is almost like someone grabs the wheel and tugs it to the right. I will let you know what I find, thanks!!!!