[regarrr]

I posted this question quite a while back, and I can't seem to be able to find it. I will start over as I have not done any work on the vehicle yet.

Basically, I was making a U-turn and slid off the road slightly. When I got back on the road I noticed that my truck pulled hard to the right. I figured I knocked it out of alignment. When I got to the first intersection, I made a left. After completing the turn, and straightening the wheels, the truck now pulled hard to the left. I drove over a bump in the road and the steering straightened. Then when I made a right turn, the truck again pulled to the right. So basically when I turn either left or right, the truck will pull hard to the left or right. I was told by a friend that it is probably my tie rod ends, but I wanted to tap the BroncoZone brains to see what else to consider.

[AdamDude04]

Never heard of that before.. Clearly you did something you shouldn't have!!

Sounds like a loose front end part..but you can still steer, and it's still connected to your truck (hence you can still drive ofcourse).. Let me ask my bud and get back to you later on that

[regarrr]

AdamDude04, on 08 February 2010 - 09:05 PM, said:

Never heard of that before.. Clearly you did something you shouldn't have!!

Sounds like a loose front end part..but you can still steer, and it's still connected to your truck (hence you can still drive ofcourse).. Let me ask my bud and get back to you later on that

Thanks, I have to drive it from Maryland to Michigan, where I'll park it, because I'm getting stationed in Japan, and I have to get it "road worthy". Steering is the no.1 issue. I'm limited to my tax return for repairs, so I want to get a good idea of what I'll need before I start throwing parts at it.

[Bronc76]

Have you checked tie rods for play? You may also want to check wheel bearings for looseness or front end may need to be aligned.

[regarrr]

Bronc76, on 08 February 2010 - 10:23 PM, said:

Have you checked tie rods for play? You may also want to check wheel bearings for looseness or front end may need to be aligned.

Right. I was figuring as much. When this snow finally clears out I will check for play in the tie rods. I recently checked the wheel bearings and re-packed them. I am an aircraft mechanic and have quite a bit of experience with aircraft wheel bearings, they're pretty much the same as an auto, so that was the first thing I checked.

After putting on a 6" lift from JBG, I took it in to a local shop (this was before the odd steering) to have an alignment. It didn't turn out very good, but I watched them do it and it was as close as they could get it. The toe was good, but the tops of the tires cambered out quite a bit. I wonder if that, coupled with bad tie rod ends, could be the problem. If it is, I can just replace the tie rod ends, but then I need to figure out why the camber won't come in. Both upper ball joints have been replaced within the past year, maybe I need to re-seat them and try some new alignment bushings. The alignment bushings are the ones that came with the kit. The kit is a Super Deluxe SuperRunner with extended radius arms.

[Bully Bob]

Hmmmm..,
I doubt it's the steering joints...but anything is poss.
You might have damaged the steering dampener....causing it to bind...?
--OR-- poss. the steering box or pump is malfunctioning.
Put it up on stands & cycle the steering with eng. runn'n & again with it off.
Cycle the steering with eng. off by hand using the front wheel.
(Listen & "feel")

[regarrr]

Bully Bob, on 09 February 2010 - 05:36 PM, said:

Hmmmm..,
I doubt it's the steering joints...but anything is poss.
You might have damaged the steering dampener....causing it to bind...?
--OR-- poss. the steering box or pump is malfunctioning.
Put it up on stands & cycle the steering with eng. runn'n & again with it off.
Cycle the steering with eng. off by hand using the front wheel.
(Listen & "feel")

Thanks, yeah I will do that once some of this Mid-Atlantic snow begins to clear out. Irony being; I've got an awesome 4x4 that I can't really use at the moment.

[Bully Bob]

GOOD LUCK..!!
Gotta be lov'n this "global warm'n" Ae'....??
Seen any of those wind powered., battery operated snow plows out there yet...?

[regarrr]

Bully Bob, on 10 February 2010 - 12:28 PM, said:

GOOD LUCK..!!
Gotta be lov'n this "global warm'n" Ae'....??
Seen any of those wind powered., battery operated snow plows out there yet...?

Nope, all I have is a good old fashioned 'manual' snow plow...aka shovel