Steering Challenged S-10

[Greg]

On Monday, I went back to our local Chevy dealer to compare how the 4 versus 6 S-10s drove.  The salesman drove a 4 up to the showroom from the back lot and I drove a V6 up and parked it - no problem.  After a drive in the 4, we jumped in the V6 and I started to back out.  Suddenly the steering got really easy - like we hit an ice patch.  I pulled back into the spot and asked the salesman to get out and look at the front wheels.  As I spun the steering wheel, the front tires did nothing.  Oh well, I had him get another V6 we went out for a drive.  He was freaking out saying "What would have happened if we were on the freeway?"  "Brake, soon." was my response.

 

They towed the truck back to the service bay today and don't know what went wrong yet.  Any ideas?  The wheel spun easily and had a slight racheting feel to it all the way around.

[Shaners]

Geez...  that could have been really ugly!!!

 

I'm guessing the linkage came apart, or a tooth broke out of the rack. (Or do S-10's have recirculating balls?)