Power steering problems

bradrhale · 10-17-2008, 05:18 PM

i need yalls ideas. the peterbuilt is having some steering issues. when you first go to turn the wheel, she is real stiff but finally will give up just a second later and turn just fine. i have looked into the fluid and even changed the filter. my next guesses are going to be at the pump or the box. but cant replace those at the pump is about 300 for a rebuilt and the box i think i can get for a little over 500. dont really want to do either of these things but need some things to look at. someone told me to yank the pump out and check the tolerance for the gear. i can do that but wanted some other thoughts no matter how wild they are.

75K30 · 10-17-2008, 05:56 PM

I will play.
I always think outside of the box, and throw some crazy ideas out there. This is not any different. Is there a chance that one of the king pins in the front axle is all bound up or it has a tight spot?
While the steering box should turn this without too much of a problem, stuck pins can be a pain.
When was the last time the box was adjusted? If you isolate the drag link, does the box still turn with resistance?
This would isolate the box from the linkage or king pins.

bradrhale · 10-17-2008, 06:03 PM

75, you know i am all about crazy ideas. the king pins were replaced about a year ago. so was some of the linkages. believe i replaced the drag link on it maybe 6 months ago. remember that i change out so many parts between the different trucks its hard for me to keep track of it. they get greased on a regular basis so i do not believe this is a problem. but this problem did just start about a month ago. the driver doesnt mind it too much as unless you have driven one, you might not could tell there was something wrong.
i thought about maybe a hose problem but have kinda threw that idea to the curb.

87c10slammer · 10-20-2008, 10:50 AM

i would look for binding in the steering linkages... perhaps the column also... if its hard at first and then frees up i would say something befor the box is loading up and then giving way... i am not familiar with peterbuilts so i could be way off but iwould say its gotta be in the steering shaft from the column to the box. does it have knucles anywhere or is it just a streight run...

bradrhale · 10-20-2008, 10:53 AM

it has 2 knuckles before it hits the box. both are free and easy to turn by hand.

87c10slammer · 10-20-2008, 10:58 AM

have you disconected the drag link and checked to see if it still has resistance.... i doubt its the pump cause when they go bad you know... it wont turn at all... i can only imagine what its like turninga rig with no power stearing.... lol...

bradrhale · 10-20-2008, 01:50 PM

its just like turning anything else. i have not tried disconnecting the drag link. i might try that one weekend. this happens no matter what kind of ground you are on. might try lifting the front axle and watching someone turn the wheels back and forth and look for something binding as well.

87c10slammer · 10-20-2008, 09:19 PM

yeah if its not a constaint strain then its something binding and then letting go... ya know what i mean?

bradrhale · 12-09-2008, 03:53 PM

if this aint the best i have ever seen with this truck. the steering is working like its brand new now and didnt do a single thing to it. i am contributing this to the cold weather as when the temps started dropping, the problem went away until he is on his way home.
my guess is that the ring behind the impeller has slower worn away much like the ring behind the water pump. maybe it is time to start thinking about a new pump or rebuilding the old one.

gmctrucks · 12-09-2008, 04:13 PM

I guess that would eliminate a lot by disconnecting the drag link. I remember replacing the king pins on my 57 Ford they were hard to remove I bet on your Peter you had fun.

10-17-2008, 05:18 PM	#1
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,003	Power steering problems i need yalls ideas. the peterbuilt is having some steering issues. when you first go to turn the wheel, she is real stiff but finally will give up just a second later and turn just fine. i have looked into the fluid and even changed the filter. my next guesses are going to be at the pump or the box. but cant replace those at the pump is about 300 for a rebuilt and the box i think i can get for a little over 500. dont really want to do either of these things but need some things to look at. someone told me to yank the pump out and check the tolerance for the gear. i can do that but wanted some other thoughts no matter how wild they are.

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10-17-2008, 05:56 PM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	I will play. I always think outside of the box, and throw some crazy ideas out there. This is not any different. Is there a chance that one of the king pins in the front axle is all bound up or it has a tight spot? While the steering box should turn this without too much of a problem, stuck pins can be a pain. When was the last time the box was adjusted? If you isolate the drag link, does the box still turn with resistance? This would isolate the box from the linkage or king pins.

10-17-2008, 06:03 PM	#3
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,003	75, you know i am all about crazy ideas. the king pins were replaced about a year ago. so was some of the linkages. believe i replaced the drag link on it maybe 6 months ago. remember that i change out so many parts between the different trucks its hard for me to keep track of it. they get greased on a regular basis so i do not believe this is a problem. but this problem did just start about a month ago. the driver doesnt mind it too much as unless you have driven one, you might not could tell there was something wrong. i thought about maybe a hose problem but have kinda threw that idea to the curb.

10-20-2008, 10:50 AM	#4
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	i would look for binding in the steering linkages... perhaps the column also... if its hard at first and then frees up i would say something befor the box is loading up and then giving way... i am not familiar with peterbuilts so i could be way off but iwould say its gotta be in the steering shaft from the column to the box. does it have knucles anywhere or is it just a streight run...

10-20-2008, 10:53 AM	#5
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,003	it has 2 knuckles before it hits the box. both are free and easy to turn by hand.

10-20-2008, 10:58 AM	#6
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	have you disconected the drag link and checked to see if it still has resistance.... i doubt its the pump cause when they go bad you know... it wont turn at all... i can only imagine what its like turninga rig with no power stearing.... lol...

10-20-2008, 01:50 PM	#7
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,003	its just like turning anything else. i have not tried disconnecting the drag link. i might try that one weekend. this happens no matter what kind of ground you are on. might try lifting the front axle and watching someone turn the wheels back and forth and look for something binding as well.

10-20-2008, 09:19 PM	#8
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	yeah if its not a constaint strain then its something binding and then letting go... ya know what i mean?

12-09-2008, 03:53 PM	#9
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,003	if this aint the best i have ever seen with this truck. the steering is working like its brand new now and didnt do a single thing to it. i am contributing this to the cold weather as when the temps started dropping, the problem went away until he is on his way home. my guess is that the ring behind the impeller has slower worn away much like the ring behind the water pump. maybe it is time to start thinking about a new pump or rebuilding the old one.

12-09-2008, 04:13 PM	#10
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,027	I guess that would eliminate a lot by disconnecting the drag link. I remember replacing the king pins on my 57 Ford they were hard to remove I bet on your Peter you had fun.