Help.

Driving home from work today I went to make a right turn and the steering just felt like it hit a "stop" a quarter turn from straight. I cranked on the wheel and it went through it but I heard a clank noise. Then I drove down that street and repeatedly tried to steer to the right where this stop was and it was still there.

I then went to turn left into my driveway and the steering stopped again going left. fortunately I was able to power through it and get it parked. Good thing it didnt do it on the highway or Id be dead!

Its not the power steering pump belt slipping cause I know what that sounds and feels like. this feels like the steering gear inside the box is not meshing correctly or there is some notch in the steering linkage.

What could this be!!!

 

Don't know if this is relevant to you or to me - my steering has been developing a dead spot over the last year - just pulled the steering box, and found that there is about 20-30 degrees looseness in the input shaft, with little or no movement in the output shaft. The dead spot is not in the centre, but wherever the wheel happens to be at the time, ie it feels like its got 'lag' when you turn it.

Anyhoo, after getting the box out, turning it over you can hear something clunking around inside, which I assume isn't normal. Over here in Oz, the stock box is replaced for a r/h box, usually from an HQ-WB Holden. Doing some research on these boxes at least, I have found that the ball race holding the reciprocating ball bearings is apparently well known for splitting and ejecting ***** (!) Maybe the same applies to the OEM box.

 

I'd be looking for a new box, post haste. I've never had much luck finding repair parts for Saginaw boxes (the older Ford boxes used to have kits available since they wore so fast) so I've always just replaced them.

 

Because of the way steering gearboxes work, it's nearly impossible for them to do that.

I'd suspect the idler arm.

Easy way to find out if it's the gearbox, is to put the front of the car up on jack stands; disconnect the Pitman arm from the center link; and see if you can still feel it in the wheel. I'm betting you won't. I'd save dinking around with the gearbox for after you've checked and/or replaced everything else.

Try greasing the idler arm (frame end especially). If it gets better, or if water and rust and such come out when you grease it, bingo.

 

Just to update (sorry about the delay) it was the steering box. A gear tooth came loose and was bouncing around inside the box. every 10th time I would hit a bump it would jump between the gears and presto no steering!!! Tough to diagnose with it on stands since the gear peice just sat in the same place unless I drove it.

 

No one can say that you're not patient, or at least persistent. Thanks for the update. As the King of the Couch mentioned, they don't fail very often, and you were just the unlucky one in a million (or more).

 

wow thats pretty crazy, never seen or heard of this happening, thats not a good thing to see happen, damn

crazy,
was the only symptom ever noticed the sudden stop in the steering ?

nothing else ever ?

good luck

 

Any chance the car ever took a hit on the front end? I've had boxes apart and those teeth are BEEFY. I've worn them out, like may have, to the point you have more than 1/4 turn of slack at the wheel but never broken one or even had any friends who have ever broken one (and I have a lot of car friends). I'm suspecting that box took a shot in an previous accident or one heluva curb hit.

 

I dont know as I am not the first owner.