Steeringbox acting strange...

[Glider]

When I turn the steering wheel there's a strong(!) "brake" feeling in the wheel just about when I've started turning left, & when I keep turning it goes easy again...
& yep; I've lifted the front clear from ground.
At first I thought there might be dirt inside but why does it only apear at the same spot every time??? Box looks like this:

 

[Big_John]

You might have air in the pump or a slipping belt.

I went through something like this once. The return hose had a small leak that would suck air into the pump.

 

[Glider]

I just tried it with the hoses disconnected & the engine off, it's half a turn from straight turning to the left. & it's seriously hard to steer but when that half turn on the wheel is done it goes fine again.

 

[twostick]

Back this adjustment off a turn or 2 and see if your problem goes away.

If it does, tighten it up again until you feel it drag again and then back it off just enough for it not to catch.

If it doesn't go away, there may be something internal wrong with the box but I would expect it to be dragging in random spots instead of the same place.

I'm sure there is an adjustment procedure in the service manual that will go along the lines of bottom out the adjuster and back it out X, but I don't have it in front of me.

Upon further thought, it would only take that adjuster being a few thou too tight for it to catch, so maybe back it out a 1/4 turn at a time and see what happens. If you keep backing it off, and it doesn't fix it, problem is elsewhere.

Kevin

 

[Glider]

Sometimes, like now(!), I feel superstupid as I didn't think of that... Sure hope that's the problem, thanx!

 

[Just Carbs]

Disconnect the pitman arm from the drag link, repeat test.
Still stiff?
Disconnect the steering wheel shaft from the steering box, repeat test.
Not stiff?
Replace box.

 

[MoPar~Man]

Interference between steering linkage and exhaust pipe?

 

[Glider]

Done disconnecting shaft earlier, no difference, pitman arm next, exhaust is clear.

 

['66 Fury I]

Check the FSM. There is a "high spot" at the center position where the gear mesh is tighter. Procedure is to disconnect the pitman arm, turn the steering wheel from lock to lock, counting the turns, and return it to the exact center position before setting the preload. If something is bent or mis-adjusted, the high spot might be what you are feeling. Lindsay

 

[Owen11x]

I actually just dealt with this over the weekend. In all my life I've never touched that adjustment at the top of steering box but I replaced it with a different box from another 76 royal monaco and it was leaking from there. Had to really crank it tight with a ratchet but it fixed the problem

 

[413]

Tight spot half a turn from straight May mean the the column in the box is off by I/2 turn. See if it has the sam number if turns left and right from the tight spot and from your current straight ahead.

Check the FSM. There is a "high spot" at the center position where the gear mesh is tighter. Procedure is to disconnect the pitman arm, turn the steering wheel from lock to lock, counting the turns, and return it to the exact center position before setting the preload. If something is bent or mis-adjusted, the high spot might be what you are feeling. Lindsay

 

[Glider]

Due to "the rest of life" I haven't been able to get much done until just now & so I loosened the adjusting screw & I think it might have got a wee bit better, but the strange thing is that after almost one turn up with the Allen Key I couldn't back it up more... & there's still a bit resistance.

 

[Glider]

Got the resistance cleared out, now to another problem...
I don't get any powersteering at all! I've checked the pump with the pressure hose to spit in a glass container & the return hose in a bottle with oil & that worx fine, but when I put the return hose now coming from the box into the glass container & the sucking hose into a container with fluid nothing comes into the clear glass container...

 

[Glider]

So does anyone know a cure for why the oil don't pass thru the box??? As in the hoses & such are good...

 

[david hill]

So does anyone know a cure for why the oil don't pass thru the box??? As in the hoses & such are good...

The simple answer is the power steering box must be rebuilt. Stay away from Cardone steering boxes and the like (cheap is not good). The best rebuilders I recommend are firm Feel and Steer and Gear in Columbus Ohio.

 

[Big_John]

Got the resistance cleared out, now to another problem...
I don't get any powersteering at all! I've checked the pump with the pressure hose to spit in a glass container & the return hose in a bottle with oil & that worx fine, but when I put the return hose now coming from the box into the glass container & the sucking hose into a container with fluid nothing comes into the clear glass container...

So does anyone know a cure for why the oil don't pass thru the box??? As in the hoses & such are good...

Quit messing around with the bottle and connect the hoses to the pump. Read this about filling, note the "air bind" comment. Suggestions for Filling Your Power Steering System — Powersteering.com

You haven't mentioned what type of pump you have.

 

[Glider]

Okidoki, gonna read that & see what I've missed...
Pump looks like this:
(what ever type that is)

 

[413]

It's a Saginaw from late 70's

What vehicle do you have?

 

[Big_John]

Yep, Saginaw pump.

 

[Glider]

Tried bleeding as the link sugested, nothing happens... I think I'll scrap the car.