Sticky Steering?

bgrif005 · July 9, 2008

My steering gets very slightly sticky after driving straight for a while...especially sitting in traffic. It happens when i turn the wheel just a coupla degress slowly and feel a sticky/light grnding feel. Then if I move the wheel back and forth quickly and whith a lot of travel in the wheel the sticky goes away for a while.

What is causing this and how can I fix it?

I know there are some grease point on the tie rods (i think). Do they need greasing?

jrrod2004 · July 9, 2008

My steering gets very slightly sticky after driving straight for a while...especially sitting in traffic. It happens when i turn the wheel just a coupla degress slowly and feel a sticky/light grnding feel. Then if I move the wheel back and forth quickly and whith a lot of travel in the wheel the sticky goes away for a while.

What is causing this and how can I fix it?

I know there are some grease point on the tie rods (i think). Do they need greasing?

yup...that could be it or it could be your ishaft dry...tough to tell, how long you had the truck???

bgrif005 · July 9, 2008

Jan 08...only has 10,000 miles. It started this at 5k or so.

BigJayDogg3 · July 9, 2008

IDK about this, but do you think it could be 4WD kicking in?

bgrif005 · July 9, 2008

no...its no where near that profound. i know its either steering linkage or the tie rod. like i said, it will only do it after not moving the steerin wheel for a while and feels sticky only when i move the wheel like a half an inch or less - slowly.

besides i have a manual stick for 4x4 engage.

Zembonez · July 9, 2008

no...its no where near that profound. i know its either steering linkage or the tie rod. like i said, it will only do it after not moving the steerin wheel for a while and feels sticky only when i move the wheel like a half an inch or less - slowly.

besides i have a manual stick for 4x4 engage.

That's odd. Does it make any noise in the column when this happens?

One possibility is that it takes a small degree of movement before the power assist comes in... could you be feeling this? I've never had a vehicle where that was an obvious sensation but I guess it is possible. Is the PS reservoir full?

bgrif005 · July 9, 2008

no noise. the power assist theory sounds like it could be that, but like i said previously - if its sticking I move the steering wheel back and forth in a big motion and then it stops. I have no idea if the PS resevior if full...just take the cap off while the truck is off and see??

jrrod2004 · July 9, 2008

yep park the truck on a level surface and let it sit for 5 mins or so and then check the level

bgrif005 · July 9, 2008

will the fluid level be all the way to the top of the fill hole?

bowtie2007 · July 9, 2008

I know exactly what you are talking about. It does it on mine and I do not have 4 wheel drive. It is a gritty feeling when turning the wheel slowly at slow speeds

Unfortunatly, I also do not know what it is so I can't give you any help but I am interested to find out.

coffeeman2881 · July 9, 2008

I've got a Z71 4x4 and it does it on mine as well in 2 wd. It does not do it often, so I have not bothered taking it to the dealership yet.

bgrif005 · July 10, 2008

I know exactly what you are talking about. It does it on mine and I do not have 4 wheel drive. It is a gritty feeling when turning the wheel slowly at slow speeds

Unfortunatly, I also do not know what it is so I can't give you any help but I am interested to find out.

I am glad some people are feeling this too...it was hard to explain since it was so subtle of a feeling.

anyway, i am going to grease the tie rods soon and see if this helps.

coffeeman2881 · July 10, 2008

I also noticed that mine only does it when you turn to the left, I have never felt it when turning to the right. Zoso, let us know how greasing the tie rods works.

bgrif005 · July 10, 2008

I also noticed that mine only does it when you turn to the left, I have never felt it when turning to the right. Zoso, let us know how greasing the tie rods works.

will do. might try top get it done this weekend. I need to change the oil and rotate tires too

slimjim2525 · July 10, 2008

I also noticed that mine only does it when you turn to the left, I have never felt it when turning to the right. Zoso, let us know how greasing the tie rods works.