The steering on my '54 Chevy truck feels a little strange.... it's very stiff, and it moves kinda notchy. By stiff, I don't mean that it's merely difficult to turn. It feels more like there's some friction somewhere in the system that needs to be overcome. Once you do get it moving, it's kinda jerky... not at all smooth and consitent. The front suspension is from an 80's GM. I didn't put it there, so I can't tell you much about it. In fact, I've only owned the truck for a day! Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated! Thanks, Ed
Lotsa possibilities here. If it feels "lumpy", and the "lumps" are always in the same place, it's very likely that you have a steering u-joint at too hard of an angle. To fix this, you'd need to rearrange your steering shafts/joints so the angle is not as hard. this might involve things like adding another joint (and a support bearing), or relocating your steering column. Also, there is a very slight chance there could be some corrosion or something on the gears in the steering box or the ball joints. Jdubbya mentioned the bearing, which is a much more likely thing than the box or the bal joints. You can chack this by disconnecting the sttering column from the shafts, then turn the steering wheel. If you still feel lumps, it's the bearings in the column.
ed is it a power box? if so it may have something to do with the pump.. I had a similar problem once.. Jeff
Does it feel like the steering is going up and down a hill as you turn in one direction? If so, it is velocity varaition due to incorrect u-joint angles and phasing..... or You could have a bent column shaft. Check the runout of the shaft at the steering wheel and i-shaft connection point. If you can see it wobbling by eye, then replace it. If the turn effort seems to break-away as in high effort to start and then low effort to continue, it sounds like friction in bearings of the steering column or box. IRAN the system like 'Slide' mentioned... If none of these then possibly check your front-end alignment? My 3 cents..
someone could have over-tightened the steering box adjuster (that allen-head bolt with a nut on the top of the box). They have to be set a specific way but sometimes people just tighten them until the steering feels tighter.
I'm with mojo on this one. Sounds like somone tightened the lash in the box. This is usualy done to compensate for a worn out steering box. Try backing the allen screw out a couple turns.This may fix the problem and cause another,as in excesive steering wheel play. If that is the case, you nead a new box.
Here are some pictures of the steering u-joint. Tell me if it looks too severe. I measured something like 20° - 30°. My angle finder was a too long to fit on the upper shaft, which made it difficult to get an exact angle. Thanks, Ed PS- The oil is from the valve cover breather, not the steering box or pump.
Ed, 30° is the maximum a standard u-joint can operate within. That said, I deal with new u-joints designed into OEM vehicles and I am not familiar with your style of joint. By eye the angle looks a little tight. I would recommend splitting the angle with another joint and adding support. BTW Do you have a tilt column? If so see if the 'lumpy' feel goes away at the max tilt angles. Hope this helps... Justin
Ed, I have a pile of new u-joints with various end connections. I could send you a couple if you give be your shaft dimensions... (steering shaft dimensions, please....)
in the 1st pic, the "u-joint" is a factory-type thing and it doesn't like that much angle. replace it with borgeson or flaming river joint and be done with it... (or a GOOD USED one if you can find an appropriate one)
Yeah 'Murder-that factory joint is good for 10-15 degrees and it looks more like it workin closer to 30 degrees there..... Either replace it with a quality bearing type UJoint- OR......... you could maybe loosen the mount at the firewall end of the steering column and bring it upwards a few degrees till it operates smoothly and set it there.....
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