Steering problem. Help!!

[Motorboy8769]

It did this to me a couple days ago i was on post and thought the heavy trucks hauling construction had grooved the road.... Not the case. I looked at the pitman arm drag link tie rods and all seem to be ok. But when driving the truck will pull kind of Abruptly to the right and left. It's hard to explain but I have to work a lot more to keep the truck on the road. I have a feeling it could be power steering... But I am not sure and I have to pull my race car back home for 450 miles and in this condition I don't want to pull it any ideas what this could be?


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[Pmac21]

Something in the steering has slack in it. I would jack up the front end and have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch all the steering components. This is how I figured out that my trac bar bushing was shot.

[rowcoach]

Mine did this at 70 mph. Very scary. The front passenge side u joint failed. Check the ujoints.

[Motorboy8769]

Ok u joints and track bar bushing I had my wife turn the wheel back and forth the first time it happened didn't see slack but the weeks were on the ground. And by Track bar do you mean the shorter diagnal bar about 2.5' long? I thought that was the drag link... Or just dif termanolagy. I am taking it to my mechanic today to look at for free see what he sees doing that about noon over lunch socill keep y'all posted

[Motorboy8769]

Also noticed this a few days ago when I put it in drive to pull out of a parking spot and start to accelerate I hear and feel a clunk not really loud not a bang but you can tell That it may not be normal.. Ujoints??? Balljoints??

[rowcoach]

Get the ujoints replaced. I went through all you are questioning. The 2 front joints are a pain to replace becaues of the hubs. The vacuum seal will have to be replace for the esof. that is the most expensive part. You can get a spicer ujoint for 20 bucks. While it is apart you can check the ball joints. Whichever is bad replace the ujoints anyway because it will be apart and they are cheap.

[Motorboy8769]

Ok what is the esof and how much would the whole thing cost roughly

[rowcoach]

eletronic shift on the fly. 4x4. Should be around 70 bucks per side if you do it your self.

[Motorboy8769]

after you mentioned that i disconnecter my 4x4 solenoid to see if maybe it was trying to engage and still does it.. are there any write ups in here about doing ball joints and u joints?

[sinner6.0L]

balljoints and u-joints are tricky for a do-it-yourselfer. There's a few special tools you should have and air tools are almost a must. Before you go too far remember that you'll need atleast a balljoint press, hub seal installer and a big *** hammer......oh and some snap ring pliers for the axle