03-02-2019, 08:33 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Knoxville
Posts: 7
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Heavy steering, man
My '88 has always had a heavy feel to the steering wheel. I'd like to know if it's the pump or the steering sector making it hard to steer and if anyone else has experienced this.
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03-02-2019, 12:43 PM | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,912
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Re: Heavy steering, man
Have you checked the basics?
Your truck is 31 or 32 years old. Have you changed the power steering fluid? If you have hydroboost it'll get really nasty but 30+ years of use will make it pretty nasty too. I just flushed out my 2005 and it was really really nasty. It's only 15 years old and just under 87,000 miles. Are your front tires aired up to proper pressures? Have you monkeyed with the steering box adjustments? If not... I doubt it's binding up. Have you greased all four ball joints , all four tie rod ends, the idler arm on the RH frame rail, and the pitman arm joint?
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And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 03-02-2019 at 12:53 PM. |
03-07-2019, 08:09 AM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Knoxville
Posts: 7
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Re: Heavy steering, man
Thanks for the reply and sorry for the absence of info. It's an '88 Silverado, two wheel drive; 250,000 miles, but pampered. Always lubed at 3-5,000 miles; new front 235-55-17 front tires; recently aligned, no worn linkages, etc. But, as I said, it has always had a heavy feel to the steering, but, it seems, on paved backroads at less than 60 mph, that the feel is worse now. It's not free feeling, and you have to really concentrate on every input or you won't be on the line you want, does that make sense? On good Interstate pavement, it steers pretty well. But, around town, it's heavy. And, I've changed the fluid 5 years ago. It's not HARD to steer,like it's binding up, just like a motorcycle with stiction in the forks. I have adjusted the sector a little but no diff. It tool a little play out of the steering but not the heavy feel.
Thanks, again, HOB |
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